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Author Topic: At home/DIY tanning kits?  (Read 1640 times)

Offline jackelope

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At home/DIY tanning kits?
« on: August 27, 2023, 02:44:19 PM »
I’m a 4-H market rabbit project leader and one of the things I want to do with my group is tanning hides and their hide is another usable part of the rabbit. I’m dealing with kids from 9-18 years old and I’m wondering if anyone has any experience with any of the at home tanning kits you can get at Cabelas or anything similar to that? I’ll have hides off of ~20 rabbits here pretty soon and figured it’d be a good way to have the kids knock out an entry for next year’s fair.
Thanks in advance.
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Offline MeepDog

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Re: At home/DIY tanning kits?
« Reply #1 on: August 27, 2023, 02:55:27 PM »
I've used the "deer hunters and trappers hide tanning formula", but I used it after a full fleshing, salting and pickling. I pickled it with vinegar and water, then rinsed it off and lathered that orange bottle all over the hide once it was bone dry. Seems like it did a good job of keeping any smells down and bugs off.

Offline greenhead_killer

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Re: At home/DIY tanning kits?
« Reply #2 on: August 27, 2023, 03:28:24 PM »
i saw a youtube video where the guy used alum. seemed pretty simple and straightforward. i bought some to try it, but just have never gotten around to it. i did try the orange bottle home tanner. i did two big beaver hides. was way to much work for my lazy butt. im sure rabbits be much easier. its just a lot of little steps. should be fun for them to try and learn though.

Offline MonstroMuley

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Re: At home/DIY tanning kits?
« Reply #3 on: August 28, 2023, 06:42:33 AM »
Van Dyke's/McKenzie - "Smorgasbord" of Home/DIY Tanning Kits.
https://www.vandykestaxidermy.com/Tanning-Kits-C18.aspx

Have Used Alum & Leukanol (Now Lutan?) [Hair On/Hair Off] in past on Cow to Deer Hides ... with "Fair" results ...
Curatan Kit may have better results ...  :dunno:

Taxidermy.net - More DIY Tanning Info
https://www.taxidermy.net/threads/190871/

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