I’m looking for somewhere to tan my elephant hid to use as leather for scabbards, etc. I know, I know I should have had it done in Africa and I tried but somehow it got shipped without being tanned. My taxidermist suggested New Method in SF and they told me they don’t do leather, just tanning for mounting. They suggested Fox Valley in Salt Lake but they told me they don’t do exotics.
Any suggestions?
West Coast preferred but reputation/quality and price supersede location.
Most every tannery will exclude rhino or elephant. You might check with Golden State in Turlock, Calif. or Moyle tannery in Heyburn, Idaho. They could answer or refer you to another outfit.
Posts: 1517 | Location: Idaho Falls, Idaho | Registered: 03 June 2004
Call the boot makers Russel Moccasin and such, maybe they would know. I asked them for a number on where to get some hippo hide. I don't have it here, but I would ask Russell.
Posts: 4729 | Location: Australia | Registered: 06 February 2005
I dont understand why New Method said they only do tanning for mounting. Basically what thier going to do is shave the hide thin so it is workable, Tan of course, when complete it will be soft and pliable "leather" , Is that all your looking for?
I ended up having some of it done at Specialty Leather Processors. There are a couple holes here and there but that probably comes with the territory. Overall it seems like they did a good job. The color is good and the thickness is uniform. I haven't had anything made out of it yet, but they stuck to the timeline and price they promised.
I would have called Bruce Rittel who supplies the entire tanning industry with chemical and supplies for tanning. If anybody is going to know its going to be him.