I'm just curious on how many taxidermist skip the pickling process for deer capes. My taxidermist said there is no need to pickle the cape. He says the tanning solution takes care of the bacteria. Any thoughts on this. I'm a beginning taxidermist and was wondering if this makes sense or if this guy is out of his mind.
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If pickling weren't necessary then why would so many people use it? Just my opinion but I think the guy is full of POO! I know there are a bunch of ways to tan hides or just preserve them but if you want a good quality tan it involves the pickle. Also, most tans to do not contain the amount of salt that the pickle has. The salt helps to set the hair. I use Bruce Rittels products and I play by his rules so I am kinda hell bent on pickling.
"The pickle prepares the hide for the flood of tanning agents."
Until the mid 1950's pickling wasn't a STEP, it was THE PROCESS. It's exactly the process used in Krowtann and its the methods used with the AutoTanner. I use a paint on tan, John Rineharts Tanning Solution and I NEVER, EVER pickle a fresh hide. I've NEVER, EVER had any slipping problems. So next time anyone tells you you're "Out of touch, out of mind" ask them where their head is.
If you are satisfied with using Alum - then a pickle isnt necessary - but the newer tans, the ones that are not based on Alum, and the ones that outlast Alum in shelf-life, do require a pickle to set up an acid differential, and tan the skin properly. The newer tans are much superior to Alum - they will not weaken with age, and in many cases they are even washable, like EZ-100. "Let the buyer beware"!
Not a problem. Correct me if I am wrong. Didn't you tell me in one of my errors that PICKLING is a very important step to using a brush on tan when in my ignorance thought that a brush on tan was not a real tan. You sent me an email and said that if the PICKLING is done properly that brush on Rinehart was a really good tan. I remember you saying that very well.
And it still holds true. IF you normally pickle a hide, JRTS WILL be a very effective tan saturating the hide very quickly and completely. Just like Liqui-Tan and McKenzie tan. BUT, I maintain, like John Rinehart long before me, that pickling ISN'T that important when using a tan containing a lanolin or water soluble oil. That's why I leave the JRTS on the cape for over 6 hours. So it can absorb into the hide.
I consider Bruce a good friend and an expert in this field. NO ONE is better than he, but he knows, we've always agreed to disagree on this point with the PAINT ON TANS. If you're using a submersible tan, I'll be in front of the line telling you to pickle the hide first.
Now, what's the problem?
I was just taken back by your comments. I took what you told me to heart and then you turn around and said something that sounded completely opposite of what you told me. I have a great deal of respect for Bruce and you alike. I mean no offense I was just trying to figure out where you were coming from when you said you never EVER pickle a fresh hide. It was not what I understood told me earlier.
Now I'm confused? I can't tell whether picking is needed or not. If I go with a paint on tan, do I still need to pickle? I'm beginning to like the idea of a paint on tan, like McKenzie's.
Thanks for joining the confusion club! LOL