Tanning Elk Hide???

The black stuff is a gland and needs to be removed.......... did you mix more tan for the elk than you would for a deer would be my first question.

 

We,, and animals, have enzymes inside of us, that are kept in check when we are alive, when we die, these enzymes take over and start breaking down cells, and start the rotting process. Soap's have enzymes too. So it is best if you use any soap, to rinse it very well, extra well, to remove it.
Did you monitor the pH in your solution daily?

 

I wash all my capes in kemal 4 prior to tanning.........I use shampoo on my head so I don't know if that would do it or not

 

what does the instructions for your tann to say? 6 is damn near neutral isn't it? I would say the soap screwed up your ph or you didn't mix enough chemical porportianal to the size of your hide.

 

I don't know if the soap is or isn't causing it to rot. Bactria is, maybe the one to two week soak is the problem,, why so long?

 

the shampoo will neautralize the acid in the pickle what you basically have is a raw hide in water I believe plain water is a ph of 7 but could be wrong.

 

check out AMy's tutorial in the tutorial section on tanning I pulled this from it.

"No matter what acid you use, after mixing the pickle up, you should check the pH level using quality pH papers or pH meter. It should read below a 2.0. Best is to have it around 1. You should not let the pH go about 2.5 during pickling, and definitely not about 3.0, because then bacteria will continue to grow."

 

yes plain distilled water is a pH of 7 anything below 7 is acidic and anything above is considered basic/ or a form of alkalinity, i think that it is possible for the soap to have neutralized the acid and therefore just been a cape in water.

 

Sounds to me, that she didn't pickle with acid at all. And as thick as Elk are, the skin is probably still raw in the center, rotting from the inside out. She might have been lucky not pickling the small thin stuff in the past, the thicker skins need shaving to avoid surface tan.

 

Why havent you pickled it in an acid bath?

 

After the salting and rinse, an acid pickle for a week would kill the bactira prior to your tan.
Buy some Safety acid, add salt and water. Follow the instructions on the label.

 

WASCO, or Vandykes. No, a acid pickle is not a tan, it kills the emzines and bacteria in the skin so it doesnt stink or rot when you tan it in your Alum mix.