DIY Tanning...how hard could it be?

[Coastal_native]

I'm willing to admit that tanning and preparing a cape for mounting is both an art and a science, but I'm not willing to admit that it is an insurmountable task for a beginner with determination, attention to detail, and gobs of time.  The only part that seems intimidating to me is thinning/shaving the hide without a fleshing wheel.  I understand this is an important step to having a quality mount in the end.  Has anyone attempted it?  What were your successes and failures? Is it as painful of a process as everyone says?  If not thinned enough, will it have a noticeable effect on the final product for someone looking for a hobbyist-quality mount?

Convince me to give it a try...or convince me to take it to a commercial tannery.

[Michelle_Nelson]

Take it to a Tannery.  I'm not going to try and convince you.  I have 12 years of knowing what I am talking about.  And the "Been there, Done that" T-shirt.

[sebek556]

I learned to do traditional brain tanning over the summer, but you end up with more of a suede than a hide. If you want hide, I would take it to a tanner. Unless its just another yote then go for it, if you mess it up just go call up another one. 

[Coastal_native]

Take it to a Tannery.  I'm not going to try and convince you.  I have 12 years of knowing what I am talking about.  And the "Been there, Done that" T-shirt.

  that's pretty convincing...I take it the t-shirt is not as cool as it sounds?

[Weehunt66]

If you have the time and the cape/hide.... Then I would go for it. I did some home tanning last year and I have a new appreciation for Taxidermists.  The more you do the better you will get at it. 

[Coastal_native]

If you have the time and the cape/hide.... Then I would go for it. I did some home tanning last year and I have a new appreciation for Taxidermists.  The more you do the better you will get at it. 

Were u tanning capes for mounting?  If so, What kind of tools did u have for fleshing and shaving?

[DeerThug]

I have tried it and ended up with a pile of hair and a slimy stinky skin - followed the instructions to a t and still ended up with a mess... get it wet tanned and then do your own mount from there - did that route and it was a success..

[Ricochet]

Tried to home tan an elk hide once.  I've bought plywood that wasn't as stiff as that hide turned out.  You can get away with home tanning some of the thinner hides, but its still not worth it unless you don't value your time. You also must accept the fact that failure is a definite possibility.  Commercial tanning isn't that expensive, I wouldn't recommend home tanning unless you're REALLY bored and don't give a rip if the hide gets ruined.   

[Elkstuffer]

Take it to a Tannery.  I'm not going to try and convince you.  I have 12 years of knowing what I am talking about.  And the "Been there, Done that" T-shirt.

I have the same shirt and it doesn't fit. And thats after 14 yrs.

For $35 in tanning fees why would anyone waist HOURS of there time messing with it. Like Deerthug said "get it wet tanned and mount it yourself". The end result will be a lot better.

[Michelle_Nelson]

Take it to a Tannery.  I'm not going to try and convince you.  I have 12 years of knowing what I am talking about.  And the "Been there, Done that" T-shirt.

  that's pretty convincing...I take it the t-shirt is not as cool as it sounds?

I've got it packed a box somewhere.  If I find it do you want it?  I don't need it anymore.

[bigdave]

I tried this once.......I got Anthrax.....and my fingers swelled up like summer sausages. It took four doctors to figure out what it was and what to treat it with. That is a job I'll gladly let someone else do from know on.

[sebek556]

What were you using to get anthrax from tanning? What were you tanning? That's crazy.

[bigdave]

It was a deer hide........the doc that finally diagnosed it said that anthrax natural occurs in nature; it's spores are in the dirt.  Animals pick them up and carry them in their hair. When I was working with the hide, I wore rubber gloves but they ripped and I just kept working on it anyway.  My hand got scratched from the dehairing tool I was using and the anthrax spores entered my hand through the wound. It took a infectious disease doc who had to go get this big book from his library to finally diagnose it AND get the right antibiotic to treat it. It took a very expensive special drug to get the job done. I didn't know you could get anything but inhaled anthrax infections, but you can.


From the interweb:

Anthrax is an infection caused by the bacterium Bacillus Anthracis. Bacillus Anthracis exists in animals that eat grass, such as cows and sheep. It is most commonly found in the farming areas of Asia, South America, Africa, the Caribbean and southern and eastern Europe.
(and Athol, ID.  )

Bacillus Anthracis makes spores. These spores can lay dormant in the soil for a long time. When the environment is right, they germinate and cause infection - anthrax.

Typically, Bacillus Anthracis spores germinate and cause infection in the:

Skin (Cutaneous anthrax) - accounts for 95% of all anthrax infections. People at risk may work in abbatoirs (slaughterhouses), tanning workshops, and places preparing wool, hides or leather. Workers can become infected if there is a cut on their skin.

A 1 to 3 centimeter-wide ulcer develops on the skin. The ulcer becomes black within a week. If left untreated there is a serious risk of blood poisoning and death.

[ICEMAN]

Holy moly bigdave, you should start a separate thread about that, sure to get more coverage than lost in this thread. Scary story.

[sebek556]

  wow never knew.. I have 3 deer hides that I am getting ready to brain tan... thinking about getting some good gloves now

[deltaops]

What if you don't want to mount it. I have a mule deer hide that I just want to cure to either hang on the wall or use as a blanket, whatever. Would it be better to do it yourself or have a professional do it? What would the cost to have Michelle do it?

[runamuk]

I'm willing to admit that tanning and preparing a cape for mounting is both an art and a science, but I'm not willing to admit that it is an insurmountable task for a beginner with determination, attention to detail, and gobs of time.  The only part that seems intimidating to me is thinning/shaving the hide without a fleshing wheel.  I understand this is an important step to having a quality mount in the end.  Has anyone attempted it?  What were your successes and failures? Is it as painful of a process as everyone says?  If not thinned enough, will it have a noticeable effect on the final product for someone looking for a hobbyist-quality mount?

Convince me to give it a try...or convince me to take it to a commercial tannery.

you may find less intimidating advice searching for tanning sheep hides there are lots of sites with great info for the small sheep farmer dealing with how to prep and then tan hides, or you can send them out to a place back east that will return you a tanned hide that can be washed like any other blanket....