This is possibly the cheapest way to tan a hide. It takes a whole lot longer, but there is more satisfaction in doing it yourself.
Step 1. Dissolve 3 pound of canning salt into 5 gallons of water. Soak hides in water/canning salt solution for 12 hours.
Step 2. Ring out hides after 12 hours and then let dry for 30 min. Afterwards, salt hides with canning salt for 1 day or more.
Step 3. Put second layer of salt on hides and roll up the hides. Make sure to put them on a slanted surface to allow oils to roll of.
Step 4. Drap hides over a board and begin fleshing the hides with a semi-sharp knife. You can use a putty knife to scrape all of the fat and salt off.
Step 5. Wash hides in dish soap and water and wring them out. Repeat 2 more times.
Step 6. Put hides in a mixture of 5 gallons of warm water, 3 pounds of canning salt, and 1 pound of alum. Allow hides to soak for 3 days for squirrel-sized hides, 4 racoon-sized hides, 5 days for coyote sized-hides, and a week for deer-sized hides. Stir twice every day. You’ll know that there done when you cut a piece off and it is tanned all the way through. It will be all white not pink or red.
Step 7. Before you begin working the hides, allow to dry for about two hours. Give it a strong wring to allow to get all of the water out. Keep working hide on a tight rope for about 45-50 min. to remove all moisture and soften the hide.
Step 8. Once you’ve worked it, cover the skin with canola oil and roll it up over night.
Step 9. Afterwards, work hide again over a 2x4 cut at an angle at the tip for about 15-30 min. Make sure it is worked on the skin side.
Step 10. Wash hide one more time and allow to completely dry naturally.
Note: hair loss may be caused by soaking it in water too hot, over aggressive fleshing and/or working, or too many hides in the tanning solution.
The hides last a long time and are supper soft.
