Anntann":15m5xb4d said:I've been fondling the group that are about to go off to the stew pot...
It can be overwhelming, for sure. I think the biggest mistake I made with one of the first bunches I tanned was that I tried to do too many all at once. Holy, I was fleshing those pelts for days, literally, and the pelts were from older rabbits, so the fleshing was much more time consuming.I can't tell you how many times we have filled up the freezer with good intentions.
It just seems such a huge undertaking. We did a few small batches years ago when the kids were home to help but needed more practice. Some ended up with holes in them and other little problems but we do hate wasting such a beautiful resource.
I need to learn to get the skins perfectly finished!
B~
Kyah":2fw2j919 said:I use the back of a chair from the kitchen, lol. Any little rough bits that are left can be sanded off with really fine sandpaper.
Kyah
Yes, I actually do break the hides by hand, and they are pretty easy easy to do if it's a fryer sized rabbit. The older thicker skinned rabbits though, omgosh they can sure make your arms tired, lol.How do you use the chair? I remember reading about just breaking it with your hands. Does the chair make it easier and faster somehow? (Maybe a video? )
They do work really well, just as long as you keep a watchful eye on the ph of the pickle (esp. the first day) when the hides are in there and raise the ph with baking soda when you're all done for safe disposal....I've been a little skittish, though, about all of the dangerous-sounding chemicals. The stuff you mention sounds like a great alternative.
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