First time tanning

[BenTernan]

So After trapping season I saved a couple small hides that I'm  going to try to tan myself. Before even attempting I've done a ton of research and talked to a local taxidermist and got all my ducks in a row to get this project started. I'm tanning a small raccoon and a small beaver. Which I understand are fairly greasy hides. These being pretty small they don't have a ton of grease in them but I think I should still degrease them. I just put them in a saftee acid pickle tonight and After a few days plan to degrease them. Can anyone give me any products that'll cut the grease out of these things and how long to wash or soak them. This is the only step I'm not really clear on. Thanks!

[Smoke]

never tried coon or beaver... did a deer once... the most important thing starting is a clean hide... need to scrape all the fat and meat off the inside down to bare hide... pretty sure any oils left in the hide after that will be handled by the pickle

[Red leaf 67]

You can purchase degreasing agents specifically for tanning such as  Super Solvent ( a Bruce Rittel product) however, Dawn dishwashing detergent as well as Simple Green are very effective & available most anywhere. Dawn now makes Dawn Ultra, which is a concentrated formula... they claim 2 times the grease cleaning power, just bought some to try. Just be sure to wear gloves. these detergents are harsh on hands/ skin .  Any smaller skins are good to practice on, even squirrels.  you can also cut  deer hides into smaller pieces for practice tanning. I use dawn & simple Green for degreasing oily fish skins like Lake trout & Salmon also.

[YoterHunter]

I did a big beaver a few years back . Used white gas soak hide in it for a few hours . Then reanse with shampo worked great . Was told by a taxi

[BenTernan]

You can purchase degreasing agents specifically for tanning such as  Super Solvent ( a Bruce Rittel product) however, Dawn dishwashing detergent as well as Simple Green are very effective & available most anywhere. Dawn now makes Dawn Ultra, which is a concentrated formula... they claim 2 times the grease cleaning power, just bought some to try. Just be sure to wear gloves. these detergents are harsh on hands/ skin .  Any smaller skins are good to practice on, even squirrels.  you can also cut  deer hides into smaller pieces for practice tanning. I use dawn & simple Green for degreasing oily fish skins like Lake trout & Salmon also.

Did you just wash it in the sink and scrub the hide with dawn or do you soak it in a dawn or simple green bath?

[BenTernan]

I did a big beaver a few years back . Used white gas soak hide in it for a few hours . Then reanse with shampo worked great . Was told by a taxi

How did it turn out?

[Red leaf 67]

To use the Dawn, just a couple good squirts for every gallon of water to make up a soaking bath. Repeat if needed with a fresh batch & rinse very well with fresh cool water.  Plastic bins or under bed boxes make good soaking tubs.... 5 gallon pails if hide is small enough.

[YoterHunter]

Hide turned out nice  you can also use baby powder on the hair to soften it