borax

[gooseman]

well being the creative person i am i have decided i want to try some home tanning i poked around my stomping grounds today and managed to get to rabbits i skinned them out but i was wondering if borax is the best product to use for tanning them or not if there is a beter product please advese me. thank you

[honda450]

We used to use borax to cure salmon roe for bait but not sure how it would work on rabbits.

[Bushmaster]

It won't "tan" the hide but it will protect it from bugs, etc.

[Short Round]

Try soaking for a week or so in a 50/50 Turpentine/Methyl-Hydrate solution. Take em out, wash em a few times with soapy water, then water with borax, then rinse in water till they come out not smelling like turpentine. Then stretch em to dry -- once they're mainly dry, but the leather is still damp, rub them down with neatsfoot oil and work them over the edge of a board to soften them.