Preparing/curing rabbit and other pelts

[Lennard 10]

Dear all,

 

I've been surfing around for a good method to cure rabbit pelts...but I am kind of confused what is the best (easiest, nicest result) method.

 

What do you do; borax, salt, spirits? Something else? Can you recommend a method or do you know a good link to a how-to-do-it website?

 

Thanks!

 

L

[BlueCoyote 0]

http://www.nativetech.org/tanning/

 

i have yet to try these methods myself as i do not have any hides right now... though years ago when i was a kid i preserved two squirrel skins using salt and borax (a method my grandad taught me)

 

an indian fella told me about brain tanning which you will find in the above link. the other thing he said - and made me laugh- was to soften the hide after tanning you put it in a dryer with no heat and a couple of pieces of hard wood or a pair of shoes and let them roll around a while.. until soft anyway.

 

here is another link i found just now.

http://islandgems.net/tanning.html

[Lennard 10]

thanks!

 

The acid method seems do-able to me...I'll report when I have any results

 

L

[BlueCoyote 0]

thanks!

 

The acid method seems do-able to me...I'll report when I have any results

 

L

please do, and show some pics of the end result too!

 

if i may ask, what do you plan to do with the pelts?

 

i wish i could post pics of the squirrels i did... had them head, whiskers, ears and all..... was quite proud of them! but lost them when i moved out of my moms place.

Edited January 2, 2008 by BlueCoyote