Last year I tanned several skins including 10 coyotes,3 bears, 3 mule deer capes, 1 cougar and 2 coons. The only skins I had problems with were the deer capes all slipped. The capes were done one at a time and new pickle for each and kept the ph under 2 for three or four days. The tanning recipe I used came straight out of the lutan f box that I used. All were frozen skins thawed, rough fleshed, eyes ears nose toes lips turned, salted, dried,pickled,refleshed,nuetralized and tanned. The only variable that I could see was that the hollow hair of the deer tended to float the capes but never to the point that the skin was exposed to the air. please help new year more capes to tan. thanks DB
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I tan with Lutan -f also, and work to the same process as you, the only difference is that I pickle only 24 hours, neutralize 1/2 hour, rinse then tan 18 - 24 hours. I try to flesh and salt in cold weather only, anywhere between 30 and 45 degrees. When I salt in warm weather, I always get some slip spots. I seem to have good luck working the capes in cold weather, and use short pickle and tan soaks. This works for me.
I use plastic tubs to pickle and tan with. I use a Plexiglas top cut smaller than the inside measurements of the tub, it has many holes drilled in it to let the air bubbles out, and I place a few 1/2 gallon jugs of water on top to keep the cape submerged. Some folks use a gallon jug of water right on top of the cape to hold the cape down. Just an idea.
and Mr. T has a great recommendation. That's what I had to do to keep the capes under the water.