I just finished soaking 3 small hairless deer hides in a 4 gallon solution of 1lb. alum and 2 lbs. salt for 2 1/2 weeks. Why that long? Well according to a test that I read about, involving putting a small piece of the hide in boiling water to see if it curls up, and the fact that the hide looks no different I don't think the tanning worked. I think this is due to the fact it was in a 45 degree garage or a low quanitity of chemicals for the number of hides. So here I'm stuck. Should I just make the solution again and tan it longer at room temperature? Should I use a different recipe? I've read that salt-alum tanning is a good prep but not necessarily a good finishing tanning agent for leather. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Return to Tanning Category Menu
Jaclyne,If I remember right,I think Bruce Rittel said atan such as ez-100 would only surface tan at cooler temps.
John touched on a good point about temps. Also, alum alone doesnt reach a low enough ph to provide a good tan, without pickeling with an acid first. There are too many untannable protiens left in the skin. Oil penetration will be low at best, and you will be left with a well preserved piece of rawhide. Curl tests are conducted with a slow rise in temprature. Gradually increase the temp. Even chrome will curl past 200 degrees. If you want to experiment start with 120 degrees, and go up from there.
What you made, was lattigo. Not suitable for taxidermy tanning.
If you are trying to make leather, an alum tan will not do well with a hot water shrink test. Chrome or an aldehyde tan will fare better.
well i am in the process of tannign a doe hide. right now it is being salted. any sugestions for me in the next step? i dot know what kind of a tan to do or anything please tell me what works best if u could. greatly apreciated. if u have any information please e-mail me at heathholman26@hotmail.com thank you
I'm trying to tan a deer hide for the foirst time . I have salted it after cleaning off all the fat and meat I could. The directions I have say to next scrape off the salt and then use Naphtha as a degreaser. The use saw dust to soak up the Naphtha. Then to place in a large bucket with salt and alum in water. The problem is that I can't find a place to buy 1 1/2 pounds of alum. Any Ideas?