Tanning my first hide. Advice?

[LittleLizaMarie]

Having a go at tanning my first deer hide. I'm wanting to use the "pickling" method. Any advice you have for me or tricks of the trade? I'm a total amateur!

[saintsfan]

no advice but im tuned in to see how this process works.

[yanta61]

tanning is the easy part...Breaking the hide is another story. What tan are you going to try?

[spike25]

I put mine in a bucket of warter vinegar and salt for a couple days then let it dry before I put the tan on. It is very hard to brake one if you use to much tan

[doright]

I used the kit from McKenzie taxidermy. It was not that difficult. If you have an outside area where you can do this it will help. I you have to do it inside the aroma will not be pleasant. Sort of a mixture of dying Easter eggs and canning pickles.

[critter69]

Luton F, or krowtan, just follow directions with them.

[JWW]

Maybe it is not the best method, but the last time I tanned a deer hide, I used the Mckenzie kit on one and used a homemade method out of the Texas Monthly Magazine on another. After they were done, I used an angle grinder with wire brush wheel to break it. It softened up quick. I was a leathery mess but some compressed air cleaned it all off

[LittleLizaMarie]

tanning is the easy part...Breaking the hide is another story. What tan are you going to try?

Sorry misread the question... I saw a tanning oil product on amazon I may order but I've been wondering if neatsfoot oil would work? I read to run the hide over a sawhorse or the edge of a table to soften it.

[LittleLizaMarie]

I put mine in a bucket of warter vinegar and salt for a couple days then let it dry before I put the tan on. It is very hard to brake one if you use to much tan

What product do you recommend?

[LittleLizaMarie]

I used the kit from McKenzie taxidermy. It was not that difficult. If you have an outside area where you can do this it will help. I you have to do it inside the aroma will not be pleasant. Sort of a mixture of dying Easter eggs and canning pickles.

I'll look into the kit!! Yes, I'm definitely doing it outside and my yard smells like vinegar!!

[LittleLizaMarie]

Maybe it is not the best method, but the last time I tanned a deer hide, I used the Mckenzie kit on one and used a homemade method out of the Texas Monthly Magazine on another. After they were done, I used an angle grinder with wire brush wheel to break it. It softened up quick. I was a leathery mess but some compressed air cleaned it all off

Neat idea! Thanks! I'm using the method from Texas Monthly as well.

[Lungbustr]

Krowtan is what was reccomended to me by my taxidermist. Although I never got around to doing it because I have been too busy.

[Rakkasan2187]

Brains.

[MASTERS]

I fleshed one with a pressure washer, then used the tanning kit from Mckenzie. When I oiled it it softened up decent at best. If I was an Indian wearing it it would have been like wearing some stiff starched jeans and buttondown shirt. I had a couple done by a company in town and they are much nicer than I could have done.