DIY hide tanning - Page 2 - TexasBowhunter.com Community Discussion Forums

AggieBall · 03-31-2009, 02:45 PM

Great tread. What is your total cost and time spent?

Big Brass · 03-31-2009, 03:38 PM

Sorry I haven't updated. The hide is still in the pickle as I got sidetracked with work and kids the last couple of days. I will update tonight when I neutralize and tan the hide.

AggieBall.

The cost is pretty cheap. The lutan f kit is about $20 and there is enough to probably do 4-5 deer hides.The boxes of salt are pretty cheap. The total time for skinning, fleshing, and thinning is probably 1-3 hours (I'm pretty slow at this). I salt for 24 hours. The pickle lasts for a minimum of 72 hours. Then neutralize for 30 minutes and the tan takes about 16 hours. Then you have to dry, stretch and oil the hide (I'm guessing 24 hours here). All total that is around 6 days but most of that time is just soaking in solution and does not require any real work on your part other than waiting. The only real labor involved is in skinning, fleshing, thinning, stretching, breaking, and oiling and all together that is less than 5 hours of work. But like I said, I am slow.

TEX_hunt_AS · 03-31-2009, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Brass

Sorry I haven't updated. The hide is still in the pickle as I got sidetracked with work and kids the last couple of days. I will update tonight when I neutralize and tan the hide.

AggieBall.

The cost is pretty cheap. The lutan f kit is about $20 and there is enough to probably do 4-5 deer hides.The boxes of salt are pretty cheap. The total time for skinning, fleshing, and thinning is probably 1-3 hours (I'm pretty slow at this). I salt for 24 hours. The pickle lasts for a minimum of 72 hours. Then neutralize for 30 minutes and the tan takes about 16 hours. Then you have to dry, stretch and oil the hide (I'm guessing 24 hours here). All total that is around 6 days but most of that time is just soaking in solution and does not require any real work on your part other than waiting. The only real labor involved is in skinning, fleshing, thinning, stretching, breaking, and oiling and all together that is less than 5 hours of work. But like I said, I am slow.

Do you have any pictures of past skins you have done?

Big Brass · 03-31-2009, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TEX_hunt_AS

Do you have any pictures of past skins you have done?

Here's the blackbuck doe hide I did around 4 years ago.

The hide does not shed at all and makes a very soft, cool comfortable throw over the ottoman. I need to sand the skin side a little more but other than that it turned out well.

Big Brass · 03-31-2009, 07:26 PM

Update.

I started out this afternoon by taking the hide out of the pickle and rinsing it well. Then I rinsed the tub well and added about 4 gallons of water.

Then I added 4 ounces of sodium bicarbonate. I weighed this out at work today. The lutan f instructions call for 1 ounce of bicarb per gallon of water. This is the neutralizing solution.

I mixed it well to make sure all of the bicarb was disolved and then put the hides in the neutralizing solution.

In 20 or 30 minutes I'll take them out, rinse them, and prepare the tanning solution. Pics to come.

Big Brass · 03-31-2009, 08:04 PM

Probably 30 minutes went by and I took the hide out and rinsed it. I emptied the neutralizing solution and started refilling with about 4 gallons of fresh water.

The lutan recipe calls for 1/2 lb of salt per gallon of water so I add 2 gallons of salt and mix that until it is all disolved.

The recipe calls for 2 ounces of lutan f per gallon so I put in the remaining 8 ounces of lutan f.

After I had that thoroughly mixed until everything was disolved, I put the hide in the tanning solution.

The hide needs to stay in for about 16 hours so I will take it out somtime after lunch tomorrow. I will update then.

JSAPP · 03-31-2009, 08:51 PM

I had a taxidermy shop for a few years(untill I had to grow up and get a real job), and for an at home job you are doing great. As far as the thawing process, your brine does help some but the main thing to remember is keep the hide cool through the skinning and fleshing process. Heat is your enemy. Good job.

Big Brass · 03-31-2009, 09:15 PM

Thanks JSAPP. That's good to hear from a pro.

bowhunter08 · 03-31-2009, 09:46 PM

I love this thread. Thanks for taking the time to post all the pics and walk us through the process.

KHo · 03-31-2009, 10:04 PM

Thanks for keeping us updated. REALLY cool thread.

coon007 · 03-31-2009, 11:38 PM

kool can't wait to see it

Big Brass · 04-01-2009, 08:54 PM

Here's today's update.

I took the hide out of the lutan f solution, rinsed it well with the hose, and hung it up to drain for a while.

After drying for about an hour, I mixed up the Pro Plus tanning oil.

The instructions call for 1 part tanning oil to be mixed with 2 parts hot water. I added the oil to the water and mixed them well.

I spread the hide out and poured the oil over the hide and rubbed it in over the entire skin side of the hide.

I'll let the hide dry thoroughly and tomorrow I will start breaking and stretching the hide.

woodsman1031 · 04-01-2009, 11:34 PM

cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

badkarma · 04-02-2009, 08:52 AM

How well does the hide take in the oil. Are you just moving around puddles until it soaks it up or is there a process that works better?

Big Brass · 04-02-2009, 10:18 AM

It's almost like rubbing in very thin lotion. The hide does not soak it up very rapidly. I am just making sure there is plenty of it covering the entire surface of the hide so it will soak in as the hide dries.

Reaper · 04-02-2009, 02:42 PM

keep it coming, I'm planning on printing this thread and trying this myself when you are done.......THANK YOU FOR SHARING

trozy55 · 04-02-2009, 07:03 PM

this is a great thread

TrevorE · 04-02-2009, 10:52 PM

Thawing in a salt brine doesn't hurt. I prefer not to work with a water logged skin myself.

Look up fleshing with a pressure washer. It will remove all of the red meat and membrane before you salt. A bobcat takes about 5 minutes if you have one.

It's not a good idea to rinse a pickled hide in plain water. Once a hide goes into the pickle you really should use a salt brine to rinse your hides. Failure to do so can lead to acid swelling. Not a good thing and if not corrected promptly, will destroy the skin structure.

If you let the skin dry some before you oil, it will absorb much faster.

Good luck

Big Brass · 04-03-2009, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bowhuntnnut

Thawing in a salt brine doesn't hurt. I prefer not to work with a water logged skin myself.

Look up fleshing with a pressure washer. It will remove all of the red meat and membrane before you salt. A bobcat takes about 5 minutes if you have one.

It's not a good idea to rinse a pickled hide in plain water. Once a hide goes into the pickle you really should use a salt brine to rinse your hides. Failure to do so can lead to acid swelling. Not a good thing and if not corrected promptly, will destroy the skin structure.

If you let the skin dry some before you oil, it will absorb much faster.

Good luck

Thanks for the tips. I'm going out to do some predator calling tomorrow. Hopefully I'll come up with something to try the pressure washer on.

I'll try using a separate tub with a brine to rinse next time also.

Brannon74 · 04-03-2009, 05:27 PM

very neat thread. thanks for posting.

bowhunter08 · 04-05-2009, 09:42 PM

Any updates

jmac2410 · 04-05-2009, 10:42 PM

Sweet Thread. Gonna have to try this.

OLIVER65 · 04-07-2009, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bowhunter08

Any updates

x2

TEAM SHARK · 04-07-2009, 02:43 PM

Can this process be applied to any animal? (pig, goat, deer)

04-07-2009, 02:54 PM

Interesting keep it coming

Big Brass · 04-07-2009, 07:18 PM

Sorry for the delay. I've been tied up with a project for work the last few days. I hope to have this finished this weekend. The skin is dry, I just need to break and stretch it.

Texastaxi · 04-07-2009, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TEAM SHARK

Can this process be applied to any animal? (pig, goat, deer)

Yeah, and they're actually a little easier in a way.
Any fur bearing animals (bobcats, coyotes, fox, beaver, etc.) will slip a lot easier and are tougher to successfully tan.

I would cringe at trying to tan a bobcat. Big brass has got big @#$%^!

Drenalin_Ag99 · 04-07-2009, 09:44 PM

That was an intense learning session, I will definately try this and will come to your thread for directions, I was dissappointed as I scrolled I was very anxious to see the finished product, cant wait. Just got the euro thing down, now this, sweet.

preaaron · 04-08-2009, 12:06 AM

awesome show and tell!!!!

Schmidty · 04-08-2009, 09:26 PM

interesting.. cant wait to see it finished!!

woodsman1031 · 04-08-2009, 10:26 PM

Its like waiting for Christmas!

badkarma · 04-10-2009, 08:35 AM

Do you have a pic of the flesh side of the doe hide you already finished?

bowhunter08 · 04-12-2009, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodsman1031

Its like waiting for Christmas!

I don't know Christmas may come first. J/K Look forward to the finished product.

Hawkins · 04-15-2009, 02:10 PM

results?

Lippy · 04-15-2009, 06:41 PM

Thanks for sharing that process. I just killed a fox yesterday and didnt know where to start but a buddy of mine suggested that Lutan F kit so its shipping from Cabela's in a couple days. So how did it turn out?

jettech17 · 04-17-2009, 09:31 AM

hello?

CarlP · 04-18-2009, 12:24 AM

Great info. Thanks for posting.

jc87 · 04-20-2009, 12:00 AM

Thanks for posting this. Im gonna have to remember this so i can give it try some time

woodsman1031 · 04-20-2009, 01:35 AM

Big Brass,

Your killing us with anticipation

Tommy

Reaper · 04-23-2009, 02:21 PM

keep it coming BB

k5blaser88 · 04-23-2009, 04:09 PM

im hooked keep the posts comeing

zcole04 · 04-23-2009, 05:54 PM

Come on man post the results we are hanging on by a thread here.

Tom Kidwell · 04-23-2009, 06:02 PM

Interesting thread. Keep it up!

topherstrux · 04-23-2009, 06:35 PM

Well????

Live2Hunt · 04-24-2009, 08:00 AM

I want to try this and then use the result to make a quiver, might turn out pretty nice with the right animal...

topherstrux · 05-02-2009, 05:21 AM

was it a bust or what ?

bowhunter08 · 05-02-2009, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by topherstrux

was it a bust or what ?

x2

badkarma · 05-04-2009, 08:54 AM

C'mon,let's see it!!!

trozy55 · 05-25-2009, 04:52 PM

just wondering how you measured out the ounces

bsills · 05-25-2009, 08:57 PM

Hope all is well

04-02-2009, 10:52 PM	#68
TrevorE Four Point Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Braunfels Hunt In: Uvalde	Some pointers Thawing in a salt brine doesn't hurt. I prefer not to work with a water logged skin myself. Look up fleshing with a pressure washer. It will remove all of the red meat and membrane before you salt. A bobcat takes about 5 minutes if you have one. It's not a good idea to rinse a pickled hide in plain water. Once a hide goes into the pickle you really should use a salt brine to rinse your hides. Failure to do so can lead to acid swelling. Not a good thing and if not corrected promptly, will destroy the skin structure. If you let the skin dry some before you oil, it will absorb much faster. Good luck

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03-31-2009, 02:45 PM	#51
AggieBall Ten Point Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: BCS Hunt In: Lometa	Great tread. What is your total cost and time spent?

03-31-2009, 03:38 PM	#52
Big Brass Ten Point Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kingwood Hunt In: SHNF	Sorry I haven't updated. The hide is still in the pickle as I got sidetracked with work and kids the last couple of days. I will update tonight when I neutralize and tan the hide. AggieBall. The cost is pretty cheap. The lutan f kit is about $20 and there is enough to probably do 4-5 deer hides.The boxes of salt are pretty cheap. The total time for skinning, fleshing, and thinning is probably 1-3 hours (I'm pretty slow at this). I salt for 24 hours. The pickle lasts for a minimum of 72 hours. Then neutralize for 30 minutes and the tan takes about 16 hours. Then you have to dry, stretch and oil the hide (I'm guessing 24 hours here). All total that is around 6 days but most of that time is just soaking in solution and does not require any real work on your part other than waiting. The only real labor involved is in skinning, fleshing, thinning, stretching, breaking, and oiling and all together that is less than 5 hours of work. But like I said, I am slow.

03-31-2009, 07:26 PM	#55
Big Brass Ten Point Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kingwood Hunt In: SHNF	Update. I started out this afternoon by taking the hide out of the pickle and rinsing it well. Then I rinsed the tub well and added about 4 gallons of water. Then I added 4 ounces of sodium bicarbonate. I weighed this out at work today. The lutan f instructions call for 1 ounce of bicarb per gallon of water. This is the neutralizing solution. I mixed it well to make sure all of the bicarb was disolved and then put the hides in the neutralizing solution. In 20 or 30 minutes I'll take them out, rinse them, and prepare the tanning solution. Pics to come.

03-31-2009, 08:04 PM	#56
Big Brass Ten Point Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kingwood Hunt In: SHNF	Probably 30 minutes went by and I took the hide out and rinsed it. I emptied the neutralizing solution and started refilling with about 4 gallons of fresh water. The lutan recipe calls for 1/2 lb of salt per gallon of water so I add 2 gallons of salt and mix that until it is all disolved. The recipe calls for 2 ounces of lutan f per gallon so I put in the remaining 8 ounces of lutan f. After I had that thoroughly mixed until everything was disolved, I put the hide in the tanning solution. The hide needs to stay in for about 16 hours so I will take it out somtime after lunch tomorrow. I will update then.

03-31-2009, 08:51 PM	#57
JSAPP Pope & Young Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Katy Hunt In: Lavaca Co.	I had a taxidermy shop for a few years(untill I had to grow up and get a real job), and for an at home job you are doing great. As far as the thawing process, your brine does help some but the main thing to remember is keep the hide cool through the skinning and fleshing process. Heat is your enemy. Good job.

03-31-2009, 09:15 PM	#58
Big Brass Ten Point Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kingwood Hunt In: SHNF	Thanks JSAPP. That's good to hear from a pro.

03-31-2009, 09:46 PM	#59
bowhunter08 Eight Point Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sherman Hunt In: Bandera County	I love this thread. Thanks for taking the time to post all the pics and walk us through the process.

03-31-2009, 10:04 PM	#60
KHo Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kingwood Hunt In: Leon and Nacogdoches Counties	Thanks for keeping us updated. REALLY cool thread.

03-31-2009, 11:38 PM	#61
coon007 Ten Point Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Zapata, Tx Hunt In: South Tx and Hill country	kool can't wait to see it

04-01-2009, 08:54 PM	#62
Big Brass Ten Point Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kingwood Hunt In: SHNF	Here's today's update. I took the hide out of the lutan f solution, rinsed it well with the hose, and hung it up to drain for a while. After drying for about an hour, I mixed up the Pro Plus tanning oil. The instructions call for 1 part tanning oil to be mixed with 2 parts hot water. I added the oil to the water and mixed them well. I spread the hide out and poured the oil over the hide and rubbed it in over the entire skin side of the hide. I'll let the hide dry thoroughly and tomorrow I will start breaking and stretching the hide.

04-01-2009, 11:34 PM	#63
woodsman1031 Eight Point Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Dallas, Tx Hunt In: Freestone County	cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

04-02-2009, 08:52 AM	#64
badkarma Four Point Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Ringgold, GA	How well does the hide take in the oil. Are you just moving around puddles until it soaks it up or is there a process that works better?

04-02-2009, 10:18 AM	#65
Big Brass Ten Point Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kingwood Hunt In: SHNF	It's almost like rubbing in very thin lotion. The hide does not soak it up very rapidly. I am just making sure there is plenty of it covering the entire surface of the hide so it will soak in as the hide dries.

04-02-2009, 02:42 PM	#66
Reaper Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Austin Hunt In: the woods	keep it coming, I'm planning on printing this thread and trying this myself when you are done.......THANK YOU FOR SHARING

04-02-2009, 07:03 PM	#67
trozy55 Eight Point Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Burnet Hunt In: Hill Country	this is a great thread

04-03-2009, 05:27 PM	#70
Brannon74 Pope & Young Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cache, Ok Hunt In: sw oklahoma	very neat thread. thanks for posting.

04-05-2009, 09:42 PM	#71
bowhunter08 Eight Point Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sherman Hunt In: Bandera County	Any updates

04-05-2009, 10:42 PM	#72
jmac2410 Eight Point Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Moulton Hunt In: Fayette, Lavaca County	Sweet Thread. Gonna have to try this.

04-07-2009, 02:43 PM	#74
TEAM SHARK Ten Point Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Tampa, Florida Hunt In: Everywhere I can!	Can this process be applied to any animal? (pig, goat, deer)

04-07-2009, 02:54 PM	#75
Zwickey Guest	Interesting keep it coming

04-07-2009, 07:18 PM	#76
Big Brass Ten Point Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kingwood Hunt In: SHNF	Sorry for the delay. I've been tied up with a project for work the last few days. I hope to have this finished this weekend. The skin is dry, I just need to break and stretch it.

04-07-2009, 09:44 PM	#78
Drenalin_Ag99 Ten Point Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Flint, TX Hunt In: Henderson County	That was an intense learning session, I will definately try this and will come to your thread for directions, I was dissappointed as I scrolled I was very anxious to see the finished product, cant wait. Just got the euro thing down, now this, sweet.

04-08-2009, 12:06 AM	#79
preaaron Four Point Join Date: Feb 2009	awesome show and tell!!!!

04-08-2009, 09:26 PM	#80
Schmidty Four Point Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: The Colony, Tx Hunt In: Jack County	interesting.. cant wait to see it finished!!

04-08-2009, 10:26 PM	#81
woodsman1031 Eight Point Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Dallas, Tx Hunt In: Freestone County	Its like waiting for Christmas!

04-10-2009, 08:35 AM	#82
badkarma Four Point Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Ringgold, GA	Do you have a pic of the flesh side of the doe hide you already finished?

04-15-2009, 02:10 PM	#84
Hawkins Ten Point Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Graham,Tx. Hunt In: Young & Jack county	results?

04-15-2009, 06:41 PM	#85
Lippy Four Point Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: San Antonio Hunt In: Freer, TX	Thanks for sharing that process. I just killed a fox yesterday and didnt know where to start but a buddy of mine suggested that Lutan F kit so its shipping from Cabela's in a couple days. So how did it turn out?

04-17-2009, 09:31 AM	#86
jettech17 Ten Point Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pearland,Tx Hunt In: comstock, public	hello?

04-18-2009, 12:24 AM	#87
CarlP Six Point Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Tomball, TX Hunt In: Winters, Texas	Great info. Thanks for posting.