Handling backskins...Axis deer

05 October 2010, 07:37

I'd like to start collecting a few Axis Deer backskins from my hunts and hang them on my walls and/or drape them over the sofas as I find them so pretty

I'll be doing my own euro mounts but do want to display a few backskins...

How do I handle these skins properly?

Wash, then apply Borax, then dry?

Any help would be greatly appreciated

05 October 2010, 09:15

jwm

My experience is limited to whitetail backskins, with which I've experimented for years trying to do a good home tan. For sure borax will produce a nine-square-foot potato chip...dry, crispy and unattractive. I've also tried a couple of the home-tanning kits, all of which promise a smooth, supple, soft piece of leather but which in my experience result in a stale potato chip, i.e. not as crispy as a fresh one, but far from supple.

The closest I've come to the results I wanted was when I did the required kneading, stretching, pulling, tugging and working of the skin after tanning. This gave me a nice soft pelt but WOW...that was a LOT of work! I won't be doing that again anytime soon.

I'd still love to know if there's an easier way, and I hope someone chimes in with it. I don't know the answer to your question, but I'm pretty sure that borax isn't it. Good luck with whatever you try.

John

05 October 2010, 19:48

Mary Hilliard-Krueger

Sending the skins to a commercial tannery is the best way to get them in the condition you desire for wall hangers and display throws.

Home tanning, as John stated, will not leave the skins in a soft, supple state when completed unless you spend many man hours of "breaking" the leather fiber which still will not give you the end result a commercial tannery can give you. Skins that size would be very inexpensive to commercially tan.

Kind regards,
Mary

Taxidermist/Rugmaker

06 October 2010, 05:08

TrophyShotPrints

quote:
Originally posted by Mary Hilliard-Krueger:
Sending the skins to a commercial tannery is the best way to get them in the condition you desire for wall hangers and display throws.

Home tanning, as John stated, will not leave the skins in a soft, supple state when completed unless you spend many man hours of "breaking" the leather fiber which still will not give you the end result a commercial tannery can give you. Skins that size would be very inexpensive to commercially tan.

Kind regards,
Mary

Thank you Mary for your advice

PM sent!

06 October 2010, 06:32

L. David Keith

I second what Mary is telling you Roland. If you take a really nice hide (try for a high neck or head shot), skin it out, remove all fat and meat and salt well. You'll need to let fluids drain and keep it in a cool, dry place. Next day, brush off the salt, reapply and drain another 24 hrs. Get it to a taxidermist IF there is a tannery on the island. If not, you may have to send some dry, salted hides to the States. You'll only need tanning unless you get an exceptional one good enough to rug. Mary's your gal for that. She does high grade professional work that will last a lifetime.
Regards,
David

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06 October 2010, 07:25

TrophyShotPrints

David,

Thank you my friend!

And that's the problem I was facing...NO TANNERY here in the islands so I have to consider shipping it out based on the comments I've received here!

I PM'd Mary as I know she does great work as shown here for many years...I know if I go with her it will be a fantastic product!

Aloha!

Roland