Badger fleshing

Hi,

I'm am about to tan a badger but I find it very difficult to flesh because its fat is uncommonly anchored to the skin.
I've tried Churchill's method involving kerosene, but it did't help.
However kerosene seems good to degrease ... and to kill that guy who asked me to tan the badger for him!.
Should I tan it and remove the fat when the skin is dryed? (strange way, I've never done like that)
I won't use Rittell's products because I live in Italy and it would be too expensive buying them.
Thanks.

Return to Tanning Category Menu

You need to flesh before tanning

If you don't flesh the skin you will have an absolute nightmare and poor tan at best. Yes, badgers are one of the toughest things to tan. The belly side will be relatively easy to flesh clean, but on the back you are going to need to use a sharp double handle fleshing knife or a sharp butcher knife. You should degrease the badger after the first fleshing, put it back into the pickle and then flesh and degrease again. I see you don't want to use Rittels products, but nothing beats acid bate for really removing alot of the remaining inner fat pockets after that second degreasing.

Good luck
Chris

Turkey Creek Tanning & Taxidermy

Working

Ok, it's all working, but I'm still keeping on fleshing, degreasing (with a common dish soap) and pickling (salt and NaCl, Ph 2.5).
Maybe another two times (6 in total, not 2) and the skin will be ready for tanning.
Thanks.