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Alum Tanning With Tumble Tanner Or Pressure

Discussion in 'Tanning' started by Thorn Creek Taxidermy, Dec 1, 2022.

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  1. Dec 1, 2022 #1
    Thorn Creek Taxidermy

    Thorn Creek Taxidermy New Member

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    It has been said that you can skip the salting step when using the alum tan with the auto tanner. I'm not using one of those but I am using a agitated barrel tanner. Is it OK to skip the salting steps with the alum tans? I'm not feeling real confident about that idea. Would it adversely affect the tan if I went ahead and salted and dried the capes first?
     
  3. Dec 1, 2022 #2
    Thorn Creek Taxidermy

    Thorn Creek Taxidermy New Member

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    Also.... do I have to freeze them or can I dry the alum tanned capes and rehydrate them for mounting?
     

  5. Dec 2, 2022 #3
    Frank E. Kotula

    Frank E. Kotula master, judge, instructor

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    I don’t skip that part and I don’t auto tan either as I static tan mine plus pickle Jmo here
     
  6. Dec 2, 2022 #4
    Thorn Creek Taxidermy

    Thorn Creek Taxidermy New Member

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    Are you using an alum tan for you static tan? I'm trying to eliminate the pickling process with the alum tan. But I just don't believe there is a faster better way to stabilize a cape than with salt.
     
  7. Dec 2, 2022 #5
    3bears

    3bears Well-Known Member

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    I'm curious as to why you want to skip the pickle step. I'm pretty sure that is probably the most important step to the tanning process. You can skip the salting process and go straight to pickle, I've done it but don't do it often.
     
  8. Dec 2, 2022 #6
    Thorn Creek Taxidermy

    Thorn Creek Taxidermy New Member

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    I'm basically trying to mimick the auto tanner only using no air pressure just constant agitation. The auto tanner's claim is that you can skip the salting and the pickling steps. Put in a raw hide, shave it once then a little while longer in the tanner and it's done. I've read quite a bit on the auto tanner and the concensus opinion is that the agitation and the alum are the key components not the air pressure.
     
  9. Dec 2, 2022 #7
    3bears

    3bears Well-Known Member

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    Is it not getting pickled in the auto tanner? I know little about them. Does the auto tanner recipe mix pickling crystals with the alum, so you aren't eliminating just condensing. Yeah, I doubt that air pressure forces the pickle/tan into the fibers of the skin. The purpose of the salt stage is to draw out untannable fluids from the cell structure, is it not? I have a hard time believing that you can get a tan to adhere to the cell structure while they are full of other substances, but then I am not a scientist by any stretch of the word.
     
    Last edited: Dec 2, 2022
    Jherron219 likes this.
  10. Dec 2, 2022 #8
    tazzymoto

    tazzymoto Well-Known Member

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    The aluminum sulphate pickles and plumps the skin it sets the hair as well. I would recommend you use a good quality oil with it as well.
     
  11. Dec 2, 2022 #9
    Thorn Creek Taxidermy

    Thorn Creek Taxidermy New Member

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    That it is condensing the process makes more sense. I tried the first two shop capes as they recommend without salting. They are all finished and I have to say they look great. They were the easiest capes I've ever shaved as well. Like shaving a marshmallow. And the hair is set.
    That being said, I am going to still going salt my capes prior to new process. My salting table is at a compound angle with a bucket for the liquids. I just can't leave those liquids in for the process and feel good about it. While I do like to try new methods I am a firm believer in the belt and suspenders way of doing things.
     
    Frank E. Kotula and 3bears like this.
  12. Dec 9, 2022 #10
    drwalleye

    drwalleye Active Member

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    I've been using a auto tanner for 12 years. I never salt the cape.
     
    Deadduck and tazzymoto like this.