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Old 07-23-2020, 09:06 PM
Gilly Gilly is offline
 
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Default Tanning bears

Well after a successful spring bear hunt I’ve decided it’s time to tan my own bears in house. My question is what kind of fleshing knife works best ? What pickle type tan are guys using ? These are gonna be tanned just to hang up in the trophy room. Splitting and turning everything isn’t an issue for me I’ve done lots of it but not having a wheel I’m gonna flesh em all by hand. Just looking for some suggestions for the best tools for the job to produce a good soft tan guys. So you guys that have done them what worked best for you ? I’m likely gonna end up doing a bunch of coons to for the room as well.
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Old 07-24-2020, 07:56 AM
Battle Rat Battle Rat is offline
 
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More important than the type of pickle or tanning solution will be thinning of the hide.
I use a air powered mini fleshed and a bear is just about too much work for it.
Using a knife will be be a chore, but could be done.
Use the thinnest knife you own and steel it often.
Pay a lot of attention to the shoulder, neck and head and get the hide as thin as possible.
I use oxalic acid for the pickle and Lutan F, or EZ-100 for the tan.
Good luck.
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Old 07-24-2020, 11:40 AM
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philintheblank philintheblank is offline
 
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I used a wire buffing wheel on my grinder. worked pretty good to thin the hide. I probably went a little deep on some spots, but over all it went well.
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Old 07-24-2020, 11:44 AM
Battle Rat Battle Rat is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by philintheblank View Post
I used a wire buffing wheel on my grinder. worked pretty good to thin the hide. I probably went a little deep on some spots, but over all it went well.
Haven't tried that yet.

Was that before or after it was dry.
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Old 07-24-2020, 11:48 AM
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philintheblank philintheblank is offline
 
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its hard to explain, it wasn't getting hard or stiff when I started, but some of the thicket/wetter spots I needed to do at the end to give them a bit more time. if they were too wet it didn't seem to work as well.

I started with the face, and by the time I got down to the neck I was getting the hang of it.

I also used a very stiff wire wheel made from stainless, not sure a brass wheel would have the bite to take the skin down, that's just a guess though.
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