Need Advice With Alum And Salt Tanning

I am new to this as well but I have read that you can soak them in Luke warm water mixed with 4oz of salt per gallon for 1 hour, let drip dry then place in a plastic bag at room temp to sweat over night. Ready to be mounted or frozen the next day. Hope this helps.

 

If you are wanting soft skins, you will need to "break" the leather after you have tanned, regardless of what tan you use. Commercial tanneries place several skins in a large tumbler half full of sawdust, pour in 5 gallons of tanning oil, flip the switch, and let her roll for several days. In your case, place an old axe head in a vise, and run to skin back and forth across it til its soft to your satisfaction. After you've done this a while, you'll learn that the $8-10 bucks a tannery charges for tanning a squirrel is a bargain!

 

Yes

 

When I tanned with alum, I used tanning oil and work it back and forth over a clean shovel head with the handle held in a vice. I was never able to get a really soft skin, however, I was able to get somewhat soft and pliable enough to use as a wall hanger or rug. There are much better tans now days, but, alum still works. I used sulphenated ( spelling incorrect) Neets Foot Oil at first and then went on to use a oil used after tanning.