Basic Tanning

This is a typical tanning procedure for thin skinned annimals like a fox. Most commercial tans use this procedure but it is always best to check the instructions that came with your particular tan. This is the steps I use when tanning with Rittel's EZ-Tan. Thin skinned animals are much easier for the novice tanner to tan.

1. Consult the pre-care instructions on this site before considering tanning.

2. Thaw out the fur in a cool area. Usually 12 hours is enough to thaw out a thin skinned animal.

3. If the fur is stretched and dried it must be wet back to it's original condition.. To do this add 3 ozs. of Dawn dishwashing detergent and 8 ozs. of pickling salt to 5 gallons of cold water. Keep cold over night and check the next day. Stir and work the fur as much as you can to restore it to being just skun. When soft, rinse thoroughly. Relaxing dried skins is best accomplished by using Rittel's Ultra-Soft.

Pickling (oxolic acid)

1. For every gallon of water used add 1 lb. Of pickling salt and one ounce of oxolic acid. 6 gallons of pickle will take care of 4 average fox. Stir thoroughly.

2. Add your drained fur, skin side out, and mix into the solution. Make sure the solution totally covers the skins.

3. Stir the solution twice a day.

4. Remove from the pickle, drain, and flesh out the face area using a razor blade, exacto knife or skife knife. At this point you can split the lips, turn the ears, and remove the cartilage from the nose. Rewash in Liquid Dawn and cool water. Rinse, drain and return to the pickle. Pickle at least two more days.

Neutralizing

1. Remove your fur from the pickle, drain, and wash again in Dawn.

2. For every gallon of water used add 1 oz. of baking soda.

3. Depending on the thickness of your skins place in the neutralizing solution for 10-20 minutes. Fox require 10 minutes. Remove and rinse thoroughly.

Tanning

1. While your furs are neutralizing and draining, Prepare the tan according to the directions provided with your tan. Tan should be at room temperature when you enter your furs. For EZ-2000, I usually brew a pot of water in my coffee maker and pour it in the powdered tan to dissolve it. When mixed and at the proper temperature, the tan should read 4.0 on the pH scale. Adjust if necessary by adding small amounts of baking soda, (to raise the pH) or acid to lower the pH. Temperature affects pH. If you have no way of measuring pH, following the directions precisely as to weights and and amounts of water should get you pretty close.

2. Leave the skins in the tan for the time needed to tan completely. Fox, muskrat, weasel can tan in 10 hours. Other skins such as beaver may take 24 hours. It is better to over tan rather than under tan. After the skins have been in for the first hour, the pH should be checked again and adjusted if necessary.

3. When done, give the skins a quick rinse and hang to drain. Try to dry the fur as much as possible using towels, but leave the leather wet. If you have a saw dust tumbler, a quick tumble will dry the fur and leave the leather wet.

Oiling

1. Mix the oil according to directions. I like to heat it slightly in a microwave before applying.