TanningHides

Tanningmammalskins,fromthesmallestrodenttothelargestdeer,isarewardingandinvolvinghobby.
Likemostjobsworthdoing,considerablephysicaleffortandasubstantialamountoftimearerequiredto
produceahighqualityfinishedproduct.Asinanyotherskill,practiceisnecessary.Youmayproduce
topqualityleatherinyourfirsteffort,butifyouarelikemostbeginningtanners,severaldecentbutless
thanperfecthideswillcomeoffofyourprocesslinebeforeyouaresatisfiedwithyourtechniqueand
"recipe"adjustments.
Thetanningprocessinvolvesthefollowingsteps:
1. Skinpreparation.Thistakesplacebeforeanytanningprocedures.Itstartswithcarefullyskinning
theanimal,saltingthehidetoloosenremainingfat,flesh,andmembrane,andendswithscraping
andcleaning.
2. Breakinguptheskinglue.Thesearesimplechemicalproceduresifyoufollowdirections.Properly
done,thiswillhelpmakethefinishedleatherproductsoftandpliableinsteadofstiffandbrittle.
3. Hairremoval.Personalpreference,intendeduseofthehide,andtypeofanimalinvolvedwillhelp
youmakethedecisionwhethertoremovethehairornot.Ifyouchoosetoleavethehairon,simply
skipthehairremovalportionsoftherecipesandprocedurestofollow.
4. Tanningtheskin.Thisisthestepthatassuresthelongtermpreservation,durability,andlifeofthe
hide.
5. Workingtheskin.Thepurposeofworkingtheskinistosoftenandstretchitasitdries.
6. Finishingtheleather.Thiscouldinvolvelightsandingtomakeachamoislikeleatherordyingwith
somecommerciallypreparedproduct.

ProjectRequirements

Readandstudythemanualbecausetheinformationwillhelpyoucompletetheprojectexhibits.
Tanthreeanimalhides.Twowillbeofthesamespeciesandwillbetanned,onewiththehairon,
andtheotherdehaired.Thethirdhidewillhavethehaironandbeexhibitedflatasawallmount.
Completetheexhibitrequirementsfoundattheendofthisunitandshowatyourcounty4Hclub
showorfair.
Completetheprojectrecordsheets.

PrecautionsandGeneralGuidelines

1. Inmanycases,youwillbedealingwithaprotectedspeciesofgameanimal(hasasethunting
season).BecertainthatyouharvesttheanimalinaccordwithStateFishandGameregulations.
2. Whethertrappingorhuntingtocollectyourhides,befamiliarwiththetechniquesandequipmentso
thatyourpersonalsafetyisassured.
3. Duringtheskinningprocess,asharpknifeisessential.Beespeciallycarefulwithitsuse.Thedull
knifeorscraperusedforfleshingisonlyslightlylessdangerous.
4. Sulfuricacidisdangerous.Donotallowittogetonyourhandsorclothing.Wearrubbergloves
whilehandlingitorthehideimmersedinit.
5. Whenmixingthesulfuricacidsolution,alwaysPOURTHEACIDINTOTHEWATER,DONOT
pourwaterintoorontotheacid.Ifyoudomakeamistakehere,anextremelyviolent,spattering
reactionoccurs.Anyoneoranythingnearitisindangerfromtheflyingsulfuricacid.
6. Uselargepolyethylene,stoneware,orceramiccontainersformixingchemicalsandtreatinghides.
Polyethylenegarbagecansorwastebasketsworkwell.Purchasethekindwithlids.Threetofive
gallonsizesworkwellforsquirrels,rabbits,andraccoons.

7. Thesuggestednumberofdayspertreatmentcanbeexceededbyadayortwowithoutdoing
damagetothehide.Asyourexperiencegrows,youwillbeabletodeterminewhenaskinisready
toberemovedfromatreatmentwithoutlookingatthecalendar.
8. Thetemperatureofyourtanningroomgarage;barn,basementisnotcritical.Roomtemperatureof
70'isideal.Ifacoldbarnorgarageisused,thewholechemicalprocesswillbeprolonged,perhaps,
anadditionalweekormore.
9. Allchemicalsareavailablefromawellstockeddrugstore.orfromyourlocalbuilderssupply(inthe
caseoflime).

PreparingtheSkin

Skinning.
Skintheanimalassoonaspossibleafterharvestingit.Skincanberemovedveryeasilyfromawarm
carcass.Ifyou'lltakeafewextraminutesatthispointandpullawayasmuchfat,muscleandmembrane
fromthehideasyoucan,you'llsaveyourselfalotofworklater.Itisyourchoicewhetheryouuseacased
hideorahideopenedalongtheentireventral(stomach)midline.
Salting.
Spreadtheskinonaflatsurface,hairsidedown.Rubordinarytablesaltintoeveryinchofthefleshsideof
thehide.Becertaintoincludeallcrooks,bends,andedges.Usealotofsaltandrubhard.Leavetheskin
settinginthissaltedconditionfortwoorthreedays.Theskinmay"leak"some,souseatrayofsomesort.
Scraping.
Afterthesaltingstep,shakeofftheloosesalt.Findasharpknifeandacomfortablespot,sitdown,andstart
toremoveallfat,flesh,andmembranefromthehide.Itisallrighttoactuallyshaveawaysomeofthehide
thicknesswhiledoingthis.Justbecarefulnottocutholesintothehide.
BreakingUptheSkinGlue
Pour3gallonsoffreshwaterintoa5gallonorlargerpolyethylene,stone,orceramiccontainer.(Morewill
benecessaryfordeersizehides.)Nowaddslowly,gently!41/2liquidouncesofcommercialsulphuric
acidtothewater.Tothis,add2to3poundsoftablesaltandstiruntildissolved.(Startwith2pounds;ifit
dissolves,addmoreuntilitnolongerdissolvesandbeginstosettleout.)
Placetheskininthissolutionandstiruntilthehideisthoroughlywetted.Stirtwicedailyforthreeorfour
daysoruntiltheskin"cutsready."Todetermineready,selectthethickestpartnearanedgeandcutoffa
smallportionofit.Iftheskiniswhiteallthewaythrough,itis"ready"Ifthereisanydarklineinthe
center,putitbackinthesolutionformoretime.Thesolutioncanbereusedforadditionalskins.
Afteryouremovetheskin,youmustneutralizetheacid.Startbyrinsingtheskinthoroughlyinrunning
water.Place3gallonsofwaterinanothercontainerandadd1/4poundofbakingsoda.Stirwellandaddthe
skin.Expectthesolutiontofoam.
Stirtwicedaily,adding1/4poundmorebakingsodaonthesecondandagainonthethirdday.Removethe
skinandrinseitthoroughlyinclearwater.Squeezeoutasmuchwaterasyoucan.
RemovingtheHair
Purchase10poundsofunslakedlime,andplacethisinanemptycontainerasbefore.Slowlyaddabout1/2
gallonofwaterwhilestirringDONOTALLOWSPLASHINGONYOURSKINOREYES.Nowaddthe
remainderofthewater21/2gallonsmoreandstirwell.Placetheskininthisandstiruntilitisthoroughly
wetted.Checkandstirtwicedaily.Whenthehaircanbepulledorrubbedoffeasily,removethehide.This
willtakefromonetothreedayslongerincoldweather.

Removeallthehair.Washtheskinseveraltimesinclearwater.Soaktheskinfor24hoursin3gallonsof
watertowhichhasbeenadded1pintofvinegar.Thisistostoptheactionofthelime.Afterthevinegar
soak,rinsethoroughlyseveralmoretimes.
TanningtheSkin
Place3gallonswaterinanothercontainer.Tothisadd11/2poundssaltand2poundsofalumoraluminum
sulfate(feedstoreorgardencenterpurchase)andstirwell.Placetheskininthisandstiruntilthoroughly
wetted.Stirtwicedailyuntilthehideturnsalightgreen(althoughnoteveryhidewillturngreen).
Theprocessmaytakefrom6to12days.Youcannotovertanthehidewiththisprocess.Betweenstirrings,
thecontainershouldbecovered.
SofteningtheSkin
Squeezeoutexcesswaterandstretchthehidewhilewetoversomesortofframe.Ifnoframeisavailable,
tackitwhilestretchingittoaflatsurface.Whentheskinisdampdry,takeitdownandworkitpull,
stretch,knead,scrape.Now,restretchitandtackitdownagain.
Usethissolutiontooilthehide:
31/2ouncesNeatsfootOilCompound
31/2ouncesverywarmtohotwater
1ouncehouseholdammonia
Ruborpaintacoatingofthisontothefleshsideonlyofyourhide.Repeat30minuteslater.
WorkingtheSkin
Fromthispointonuntiltheskiniscompletelydry,taketheskindownfromthestretcherandworkitas
oftenasyoucan.Thisisamustifyouaretokeepitsoftandpliable.
Oneofthebestwaystoworkitistograspitatoppositesidesandpullitfromallanglesacrossasmooth,
blunt"knee"suchasabaseballbat.Scrapingitwithadulltableknifewhileitisstretchedisalsogoodfor
thehide.Aftereachworking,restretchandretackituntilitisairdried.
FinishingtheLeather
Actually,thisstepisnotnecessaryifyouwishhaveanaturallookinghideeitherhangingfreeformor
wallmountedinyourroomorden.However,youmayelecttotrimthehidetosomeshapeorform,dyeit,
oruseitinthemanufactureofsomeclothingoroutdoorarticle.
Withtheirfirstattemptsattanninghides,mostpeopleprefertoleavethemnaturalortouseonlysandpaper
tosmoothoversomeskinningimperfections.

Fromoldermanual,Ithink
TanningHides

Tanninghidesproperlyisalotofwork.Tanninginvolveschangingthechemicalnatureofananimalskinto
produceleather.Theacidtanningprocessdescribedinthebulletinseldomfails,butitinvolvespotentially
dangerouschemicals.Italsoposesachemicalwastedisposalproblemwithpotentialdamagetoplumbing
ortheenvironment.Undernocircumstancesshouldsomeoneuntrainedinhandlingcorrosivematerials
attempttousethismethod.Ifconfident,experienceleadershipisavailableacidtanningproducesan
excellentproduct.Thereisnoneedtopicklethehidepriortotheactualtanning,however.Ifthehideisto
betannedwiththehairon,itcanbeplacedinthetanningsolutiondirectly.Ifitistobemadeintoleather,
thehairshouldberemovedbeforetheactualtanningtakesplace.

DehairingTechniques

Removingthehairisrelativelyeasy.Unslakedlimeorlyemaybeusedasdescribedinthebulletin.In
eitherevent,theyouthshouldbesupervisedbecauseofthepotentialforinjuryfromthecausticchemicals.
Extremecautionisadvised.Athirdpossibilityistosoakthehideinasolutionofwoodashes.Allthree
techniqueswillleavethehideslightlytostronglybasic.Itwillneedtobeneutralizedbyaweakaddbefore
continuingwiththetanningprocess.Themethodsuggestedinthebulletinisbothsafeandeasilyused.
Oncethehidesaredehaired,theymaybetannedusinganyofthemethodslistedbelow.

TanningTechniques
BoraxAlumTanning.
Forverysmallskinsorverythinones,simplyworkingapasteofboraxandalumintothefleshsideofthe
peltmaybeadequatetotantheskin.Usually,thepeltneedstobeimmersedinordertoadequatelytanitfor
lateruse.Severalmethodsofalumtanningareusable.
HeimbuchMethod
ThismethodissuppliedcourtesyofDr.DouglasHeimbuch,whousedittotandomesticrabbitpeltsfora
varietyofuses.Preparetwosolutions,keepingthewatercoldatalltimes.SolutionAismadebydissolving
2poundsofpotassiumalumin2gallonsofcoldwater.SolutionBispreparedbydissolving1poundof
noniodizedtablesaltand8ouncesofwashingsodain1gallonofcoldwater.Veryslowly(takeabout10
minutestodoit)mixisolutionBintosolutionA.ThemixtureWillbubbleandfroth.Placethecleaned
peltsintothesolution,stirringthematleasttwiceeachdayforabouttwoweeks.(Youcannotovertanpelts
withalum,soleavetheminlongerifthereisanydoubtabouttheirbeingdone.)Removethepeltsfromthe
solutionandwringthemoutthoroughly.Placethetannedpeltsinasolutionof4ouncesofboraxin4
gallonsofwater,stirringthemfor15minutes.Rinsethepeltsincoldwateruntilthewaterrunsclear,then
wringthemoutagain.Stretchtheskinonaflatsurfaceandallowittodrypartially.Worktheskinovera
dullinstrumentorapostuntilitIdries.Additionalsofteningwillbeaidedbyaddingwarmedneatsfootoil
andworkingthehideoverastakeagainuntilitdries.Finishthedriedhidebysandingthefleshsideto
smooththeleather.
Cornell4HMethod
Thethoroughlyfleshedandcleanedpeltisplacedinasolutionofsaltandalummadebydissolving21
poundsofpotassiumaluminhotwaterthenthoroughlymixingthealumsolutionintoasolutionof5
poundsofnoniodizedtablesaltin10gallonsofwater.Solutionsoflessthan10gallonsarenotpracticalfor
skinsofanymodestsize.
Skinsshouldbesoakedintheresultingsolutionforseveraldays,dependinguponthethicknessoftheskin.
Thinhides,likethoseofrabbitscanbetannedinaboutthreetofivedays.Verythickhideslikebearpelts
mayrequireeightormoredaystobeCompletelytanned.Deerhidesusuallytakeaboutsixtoeightdaysat
roomtemperature.Thehidesshouldbestirredseveraltimeseachdaytoassureapropercontactbetween
theskinsandthetanningsolution.Afterthetanningiscomplete,drainthehideandrinseitthoroughly
runningwaterforatleast20minutes.Touchthepelttothetonguetoseeifrinsingiscomplete.Ifittests
salty,continuetorinseituntilittastesfresh.Wringthehidefreeofmostofitswater,thenhangittodry.
Whentheskinisnearlydry(damp),begintoworkitoverastake,post,ordullinstrumenttobreakthe
fibers.Theworkingprocesscanbeaidedbyusinganyvegetableoranimaloil.Usetheoilsparinglyand
continuetoworktheskinuntilitisdry.Excessoilmayberemovedfrom.thehidebyrubbingitwith
hardwoodsawdust.Theskinmaybefinishedbysmoothingthefleshsidewithcoarsesandpaper.

VegetableOilLiquidSoapTanning

Thismethodisamodemadaptationofthepioneermethodknownasbraintanning.Inearliertimes,the
fattytissuesofthebrainwereusedtomodifythestructureoftheskin,producingatannedhide.Usually,
thehidewascuredbysmokingitoveralowheat,usingthesmoketogivetheskinanappropriatecolor
(tan,gray,orbrown).Thismethodusesasaltcuredhide(haironoroff).Itissaturatedwithvegetableoil
fromtheskinsideuntiltheentirehideappearstobetranslucentthatis,itlookslikeithasbecomeclear.
Onceithasbecomesaturatedwiththeoil,thehideissubmergedinastrongsolutionofliquidsoap.Itis
allowedtoremaininthesoapsolutionwithfrequentstirring,kneading,andmovingaboutuntiltheentire
hidehasbecomeopaquewhite.Droppingatinystripintoboilingwaterwillshowifthetanningprocessis
finished.Acompletelytannedhidewillremainflexibleafterbeingboiled.Ifthestripcurlsandbecomes
hard,theskinisnotyetfinished.Onceitisfinished,theskinmayberemovedfromthesoapsolutionand
rinsedclean.Itshouldbewrungoutasdryaspossible,thenworkedoveradullaxeheadoraslightly
roundedstakeuntilitisthoroughlydry.Themoreitisstretched,drawn,andpulled,thesofterthefinal
productwillbe.Thefinishedhideshouldbenearlywhiteunlessthetannerhaselectedtoaddadyetothe
solution.

ChromeTanning

Inthisprocess,chromiumsaltsareusedtochangethechemicalstructureoftheskin.Thetanningmixtures
areavailablecommerciallyfromanumberoftaxidermysupplyhousesunderanumberoftradenames.
Basically,thepickledskinisimmersedinthechromiumsaltsolutionuntilthechemicalchangeworks
completelythroughthematerials.Usually,theprocessiscompleteinafewdaystoaweekorso.This
processleavestheskinabluegraycolor.Thefinishedhidemaybedyedothercolorsifdesired.Chrome
tannedhidesareusuallyairdried,thenrewettedwithaNeatsfootoilandwatersolutionbeforetheyare
"broken."Undersomeconditions,chrometannedskinsmaybecomeverybrittle,socautionshouldbeused
intreatinghideswiththismethod.
Tanninghidesproperlytakesalotofwork.Foraninitialeffortinthisarea,asinglehideshouldbean
adequatedisplay.Theultimateuseofthehideshoulddeterminewhetheritistannedwiththehaironoroff.
Thesizeoftheanimalselecteddictatestheultimatesizeofthetannedhide,sosizelimitationsshouldbe
waivedorthecountyshouldspecifythetypesofanimalsthatwillbeacceptable.Anythinglargerthana
woodchuckoradomesticrabbitwouldexceedthelengthandwidthlimitslistedinthemanual.Asthe
youngpersonprogressesinthisarea,theymaywishtotanadditionalhidesforotherpurposes,e.g.wall
hangings,rugsorthrows,leather,orevenrawhide.Theanticipateduseshouldbestated,sothejudgecan
properlyseeifthetechniquesusedhaveyieldedanappropriateproduct.