running out of freezer space

[GBov]

Can I stretch my hides and salt them and then store them until I can create the time to cure them?

Am fast running out of freezer space :lol:

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Depends on your method of tanning? I plan to use a pickling solution so I cannot salt 'em. What method do you use?

 

[GBov]

I have NO IDEA what tanning method I am going to use.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

Well, I haven't had the time to try this yet but supposedly this pickling recipe works well: http://www.ssrsi.org/Onsite/bunny.htm

On the last soaking, you can leave them in the solution for like a year if need be, so that might free up a lot of space.

 

[Hazel]

dont believe everything you read on the internet<br /><br />__________ Tue Jul 24, 2012 10:10 pm __________<br /><br />if you dont care enough about tanning them to leave them for a year, just dont deal with them at all

 

[Piper]

Some people put enough together to do them all at one time - If you are wanting to do them the same time as you are doing a cow or deer skin.

 

[Hazel]

a litter of rabbits is enough to do at one time, use a five gallon bucket to soak them in. If youve never done it before, thats a good way to start.<br /><br />__________ Tue Jul 24, 2012 10:36 pm __________<br /><br />I think you will find that its not that difficult. But young hides are thin, careful not to cut them.

 

[GBov]

Has anyone used this way? http://www.motherearthnews.com/Modern-H ... Hides.aspx

Any hints or tips would be great!

My hides range from 12 week old friers to well over five year old ex pet rabbits to raccoon, squirrel, goat and a lamb skin.

So you can see how freezer space is getting a bit tight, esp. as we put two pigs in there too not to long ago. :lol:

Which is why I thought of just stretching and salt drying them all and storing them in a cardboard box until I get TIME to cure them all.

I did get a GREAT tip for breaking hides using a dryer that I am itching to try. You disconnect the heat and turn off switch so it just runs and runs and runs on air only. Then you put your just damp and ready to be stretched hides in with a few shoes and let them all bang around for a day or two.

They should come out dry and soft and fluffy.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

On that site she offers two tanning methods, both "pickling" style...Alum and Acid, the link I shared above is the same exact thing with Acid.

 

[GBov]

I forgot she gave two ways to do it. Its the alum method I was planning to try.

Any idea if a salted hide will work with that method?

 

[skysthelimit]

I forgot she gave two ways to do it. Its the alum method I was planning to try.

Any idea if a salted hide will work with that method?

Yes.

 

[azbowhunter]

Though it takes some work, brain tanning is fantastic, and leaves a very nice suppleness to the hide.