salting vs. tanning

[steerwrestler]

if i wanted to keep a few hog and deer hides what would be the best and what is the diffrence in the two? both peserve the hide and will the hair fall out with just salting thanks

[Bill Yox]

Salt isnt a preservative. Its just a temporary process that will stabilize the hide for other processes. A salt dried skin can stay intact for a long time, indefinitely depending on where and how its stored. If someone wishes to have a hide for display indoors to last, tanning or dressing is the proper way to go. Salted skins can still be subject to mold, bacteria, bugs and other things that will decrease the "life" of the hide. Hog hides also need to be degreased.

[Alex The Hawk]

Salting is the first step to tanning, there is no tanning without salting first ,it is called curing the skin.

As Bill says all kinds of insects can eat salted skins ,specially dermestic beetles and african beetles.

So if Iam going to leave a skin around salted I first spread "Savin dust" at 10% all over it, until I send it to the tannery.

[Michelles_Taxidermy]

Savin Dust? What is that and where would you get it a hardware store?

[RustyOlRanger4x4]

ORIGINAL: Michelles_Taxidermy

Savin Dust? What is that and where would you get it a hardware store?

I believe he means sevin dust(somes in 5 & 10%)its a dust used to keep bugs off your garden and all and it works well for that, first time ive herd of this use but you can pick it up in any hardware store or feed type store its been around forever

[RustyOlRanger4x4]

[Alex The Hawk]

Yes Sevin dust not Savin ,it was a typo LOL.

I use it around the shop as a bug proof around the edges of my walls, nothing lives , you can also spread it on dog's bedding for ticks and flees.
For pets use the 5% and for treating raw skins at 10%