Tubari

[Humptulips]

I thought I would mention this in case anyone is contemplating sending fur off to the tannery. I shipped a bunch of stuff to Tubari last year and just got it back recently. First time I had shipped them anything.
I have to say I am unhappy with the results. Probably never send them anymore.
Bunch of beaver they all look like the fur has some kind of chemical burn. Wavy and not straight fur anymore. Some of them the guard hair is in tufts. Does not look good. Probably suitable for lining something. Interestingly enough I was at Amanda Platonis to deliver some furs for the Miss Rodeo vest and she had some beaver that came for Tubari and they looked the same way. Coon and skunks didn't come out too bad and a couple otter look OK but to tell the truth they don't look as good as what I have received from Moyle in the past. Beaver are the real killer though.
Live and learn.

[KFhunter]

Moyle is the place to go eh?


What's the difference between taxidermy and dressing on the fur price list?

[Kit Carson]

I used Tubari recently (first time).

Only sent one beaver in but it is exactly as you described.
I don't know a damn thing about fur compared to you but my coons, cats, otters, & mink all look okay 

What I was turned off by was the "customer service", or lack thereof.
At times, it almost seemed (and sounded on the phone) like I was dealing with some mafiosos  .
Actual turnaround time was about 3-4 months longer than what I was told before sending in my furs. Don't know if that's a normal thing just to get you to send your stuff to them (and not to Moyles instead) or if they were swamped.

When they finally called to say my stuff was ready, I paid with my credit card. I was told my furs would be sent out the next day after I paid. They weren't sent out for another 6 business days and that was after I had to call them to remind them to ship my stuff.

Won't use them again. Not sure why I did in the first place. Moyles is much closer to home and seems a lot better. Already sent them some furs.

[Humptulips]

Moyle is the place to go eh?


What's the difference between taxidermy and dressing on the fur price list?

I don't know that much about it but my understanding is garment dressed furs are thinned to make them more pliable for garments. Taxidermy dressed are not thinned. Maybe more to it then that.

[Kit Carson]

I have heard the difference is that garment tanning can not be rehydrated.
Taxidermy tanning can be rehydrated (to be stretched and mounted on a form).

I was told they're both thinned on some type of fleshing machine.

[Trapper John]

I have heard the difference is that garment tanning can not be rehydrated.
Taxidermy tanning can be rehydrated (to be stretched and mounted on a form).

I was told they're both thinned on some type of fleshing machine.

Nope, the taxidermist will do his own thinning if he has to, to mount the animal skin on the animal form.

Garment tanning is thinned because it is turned into a garment and you don't want something heavy.
Garment skins are cut into strips for example and sewed back together.
If it is not thinned you will have a very hard time sewing the skins and break a lot of needles either by machine or by hand.

I know enough about both industries.  I've been involved with Fur Makers way back into the 1980's, including Fredrick and Nelsons stores.
I have a very close friend that is a taxidermist and has had it for close to 50 years.
JC   

[KFhunter]

If a guy just wanted a skin to hang on the wall or toss over the back of a chair then go with taxidermy ?   

Friend wants a coyote skin just to have so I think I'll give him one, he can send it down to the tannery on his dime but he'll need the particulars

[Kit Carson]

I have heard the difference is that garment tanning can not be rehydrated.
Taxidermy tanning can be rehydrated (to be stretched and mounted on a form).

I was told they're both thinned on some type of fleshing machine.

Nope, the taxidermist will do his own thinning if he has to, to mount the animal skin on the animal form.

Garment tanning is thinned because it is turned into a garment and you don't want something heavy.
Garment skins are cut into strips for example and sewed back together.
If it is not thinned you will have a very hard time sewing the skins and break a lot of needles either by machine or by hand.

I know enough about both industries.  I've been involved with Fur Makers way back into the 1980's, including Fredrick and Nelsons stores.
I have a very close friend that is a taxidermist and has had it for close to 50 years.
JC   

So, the tannery doesn't do any thinning on a pelt for "taxidermy tan"?

[Kit Carson]

If a guy just wanted a skin to hang on the wall or toss over the back of a chair then go with taxidermy ?   

Friend wants a coyote skin just to have so I think I'll give him one, he can send it down to the tannery on his dime but he'll need the particulars

Garment tanning if you are hanging on a wall or over a chair.

Taxidermy tanning is if the pelt is going to be mounted by a taxidermist.

[Humptulips]

If a guy just wanted a skin to hang on the wall or toss over the back of a chair then go with taxidermy ?   

Friend wants a coyote skin just to have so I think I'll give him one, he can send it down to the tannery on his dime but he'll need the particulars

  I have a friend that does some tanning and does a very good job I might add. He gave me a beaver he had tanned but he didn't thin it. The thing was very stiff almost like sole leather.

Garment tanning if you are hanging on a wall or over a chair.

Taxidermy tanning is if the pelt is going to be mounted by a taxidermist.

[bear hunter]

If a guy just wanted a skin to hang on the wall or toss over the back of a chair then go with taxidermy ?   

Friend wants a coyote skin just to have so I think I'll give him one, he can send it down to the tannery on his dime but he'll need the particulars

Garment tanning if you are hanging on a wall or over a chair.

Taxidermy tanning is if the pelt is going to be mounted by a taxidermist.

Taxidermy tanning cost twice as much and it's a different tanning process. I was told by them.

[lewy]

Anyone had good or bad luck with promise land in omak?

[TeacherMan]

I've had great luck in the past with Moyle on fox, lynx, wolverine, beaver, otter, mink, muskrat, marten and wolves! In other words everything I trapped in the past went to them. All my fur goes to them no question. Plus the prices are amazing.

[Machias]

 

[Humptulips]

Moyles ruined some civets I sent them plus they were pretty rough on some other small furs I sent a couple years ago. That was the reason I tried Tubari. Moyles did a good job on small stuff in the past for me but with their increase in business and I guess new personnel it seemed things went down hill. If I send in larger animals it will probably be Moyles but still searching for someone to do small stuff better.

[TeacherMan]

Moyles ruined some civets I sent them plus they were pretty rough on some other small furs I sent a couple years ago. That was the reason I tried Tubari. Moyles did a good job on small stuff in the past for me but with their increase in business and I guess new personnel it seemed things went down hill. If I send in larger animals it will probably be Moyles but still searching for someone to do small stuff better.

I did loose a tail on a marten their last shippment but figured it was my skin job and they didnt do a good job on an ermine. I figure out of the 100 furs I've had done with them thats pretty good. I NEVER "rush" the order.

[AL WORRELLS KID]

Sounds like Tubari needs to work on their "Tanning Solution", maybe a bit too strong on their Alkalies.
(Bruce, they might look better if you were to have them Sheared.)
Doug

Beaver hats were fashioned from felt made from the thick underfur. Hats made of beaver fur were more water resistant than ones made of other materials, because the fur was adapted to being wet and dried repeatedly. Unfortunately, the process required the use of mercury, which is a toxic substance that affects the nervous system. Hatmakers often developed mental problems, which led to use of the phrase “mad as a hatter.”

"Acids have relatively little action on the hair, when applied in dilute solutions. The scales of the cuticle or epithelium are somewhat opened, the fibre becoming slightly roughened thereby. Even at high temperatures, the hair is quite resistant to the action of dilute acids. Concentrated acids destroy the hair with the liberation or formation of ammonia, hydrogen sulphide, and various amino acids. When treated with dilute acids, the hair, especially if it is of a very woolly nature, retains considerable quantities of acid, this phenomenon being probably due to the fixation of the acid by the basic groups in the hair. Nitric acid produces a yellow coloration when applied in dilute solution for a short time. Sulphurous acid, the acid formed by the burning of sulphur, has a bleaching action on the hair.

Alkalies attack the hair, even in dilute solutions, and by longer action complete decomposition sets in, with formation of ammonia and amino-acids. Ammonium carbonate, soap, and borax are practically harmless in their effect on the hair. Sodium and potassium carbonates roughen the hair on prolonged action, even in dilute solutions. Calcium hydroxide on continued action removes sulphur from the hair, causing it to become brittle."........Principles and Practice of Fur Dressing and Fur Dyeing, by William E. Austin (Consulting Chemist to the Fur Industry) 1923

[Bigjon]

Bruce I thought about buying a tanning machine to do my own stuff, is it pretty easy to learn or how does all that work?

[wags]

Bruce I thought about buying a tanning machine to do my own stuff, is it pretty easy to learn or how does all that work?

I wish it were as easy as just buying a "tanning machine", I've never heard of such a device, and if someone is trying to sell you one I also have some ocean front property in Arizona I'd like to sell you.
Seriously though, tanning or more properly "fur dressing" is as much of an art as it is a science, just following a set of instruction will not get you the product you want.  I've done a bit of it, I have a fleshing machine for thinning the skins etc., and it's still cheaper and you get a better quality in the long run if you send your skins off to a commercial tannery.

[Kit Carson]

  You mean simply using that little orange bottle (without even fleshing) won't actually do a nice, soft and supple tan on a whole buffalo hide...?

[Humptulips]

I guess I should address this seeing as I was asked a question.
Like Wags I have never heard of a tanning machine. I do know professional fur dressers use a lot of machines such as drums, tumblers, thinning machines etc. The machines are just tools but not a replacement for knowledge, experience and just plain work.

Friend of mine does a really nice home tanning job but even at that not as nice as a commercial tannery. He put an old dryer into service as a tumbler to save some labor. Even at that it is a labor of love and he sometimes ships to a tannery.
I'm not sure how you could compete with someone like Moyles if you value your time for anything.