I am about to embark into bear tanning and wondering if the difference in fall between a 6 foot tumbler and a 8 foot tumbler will make a difference in the softness of a bear hide?
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it most certainly will make a difference. I wish now that I had built mine 8 instead of 6.
Both heights (6' or 8')will effectively soften your Bear skins. However building it 8' will also increase your capacity. More skins per load.
However - also increase the amount of sawdust for the 8' Drum. Normally 2 50 lb. bags are used in a 6' Drum - so I'd use 3 50 lb. bags for the 8' Drum.
Actually a 6' X 6' Tumbling Drum would be even better. Especially if you're doing a lot of Alaskan Brown Bear skins. Sometimes large wide skins tend to fold in on themselves and roll up while being tumbled. Particularly Cowhides when using a Drum only 4' wide.
you might want to make sure you have a good shaker drum. this will soften and clean at the same time. which is always a good thing in tanning. doing two steps at once that is.
ej
Bruce, you told me once that with more skins and more area to drop that it would effect the softness. Also, if there is only one skin in the tumbler, won't the additional area of drop and additional saw dust weight help the softness?