soft tanning

[mountainman elkohalic]

Hey guys just want any thought on how hard this is and what it would take??
Anybody have any exsperience at doing it at home?? i'm looking into trying to tan my own coyotes, bear etc

[mountainman elkohalic]

Anybody know anything

[Buckwheat]

Here's a good website on brain tanning

http://www.braintan.com/

never had much luck at it myself

[Bushmaster]

Get the google meister working for you !! Tons of info online.....check this out.

http://www.taxidermy.net/forums/

[Map Maker]

not sure of the term soft tanning, but heres a buckskin hide i did last year.
soft on the flesh side and smooth on the hide side.

not hard at all, just soak it in dishsoap. scrape the fat, meat off
then soak it in builders lime, scrape the hair off.
tack it out and get some tanning chemicals.
then sand it down with sandpaper.

flesh side
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v124/alpinehigh/Hunting/fleshsidebuckskin.jpg

hide side
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v124/alpinehigh/Hunting/hairsidebuckskin.jpg

[mountainman elkohalic]

mapmaker looks like you did a good job, I am looking for a soft tan with fur on, i want to make a coyote blanket.

[Reddog]

Get the book 'The complete Book of Tanning Skins and Furs' by James E. Churchill. You won't be disapointed. Great book for learing. Especially for what your looking to do. Has a chapter devoted to doing a home bear rug.

[Map Maker]

mapmaker looks like you did a good job, I am looking for a soft tan with fur on, i want to make a coyote blanket.

hey M-E
for a hair on hide -just delete the builder's lime step.

I would recommend getting the home kit from halford hide. It uses non-toxic chemicals and all the tools you need for about $40.
From then you can learn more and experiment with different solutions.
The biggest thing about hides is to work them when they are fresh. I had a hide salted and frozen for two years but no matter how much sanding, the hide was pretty stiff.
the one above, i did it all fresh.