Thanks
Paul K

[ 03-16-2003, 17:53: Message edited by: Paul K ]

Paul,

Hate to tell ya, buddy, but you got your chain yanked! When sent to a good tannery, zebra hides should be soft and pliable just like your eland. It sounds like one of three things happened:

1. The hide was not properly "broken" during the drying stage - meaning it's tumbled in large tumblers to keep flexing the hide as it dries. The tannery may have taken it out too soon.

2. The hide was not properly thinned during the "shaving" process - the hide is thinned from the back side to make it more flexible when it dries.

3. The taxidermist tried to tan it himself to save a few bucks. On a big hide like a zebra it takes specialized equipment to handle the hide properly. Most taxidermists don't have that equipment and the result is a poorly tanned hide.

It's not impossible to have it re-tanned at another tannery but you do run the risk of some hair slippage during the handling.

Find out from your taxidermist which tannery he sent it to. Then start looking for another taxidermist!

Go to www.taxidermy.net and click on the Forums link. Then go to the Tanning page and post your question. You should get a lot of help from experts all over the US.

Good luck!

JDS

Thanks

Paul K

[ 03-16-2003, 17:55: Message edited by: Paul K ]

Hi Paul.

There are a couple of good tanneries in Texas, the biggest being Advantage Fur Dressing in Houston. South Texas Fur Dressers is also good.

Hair slippage is when the hair on a mount or rug starts coming out. I don't mean the occasional hair or two - I mean serious "coming out". if you wipe your hand across the hair and patches of it start coming out, the damage is already done and it cannot be saved.

If your zebra is still in Africa, let www.kwiktan.com do it. They do excellent tanning. If not, here's a link with a list of reputable tanneries in the US:

http://www.taxidermy.net/suppliers/tanning.html

JDS