home tan vs. factory tan?

magicman54494 · 02-18-2008, 09:33 PM

I am considering mounting a deer and am wondering what's your opinion on home tanning. Is it as good as a factory tan? will the hide stay preserved as long? if so what product do you suggest. also my head has been in the freezer for 14 months. is it still good? it's been in a plastic bag with holes in it from the antlers.

excalibur43 · 02-19-2008, 01:33 AM

Home tans IMO are not even close to commercial tans. Commercial tans leave the cape very thin and workable and are evenly shaven throughout. Home tanning does work fine if you choose to go that route. I use McKenzie tan when I am in need of tanning in my shop.

trophy time · 02-19-2008, 06:45 AM

I have to disagree with excalibur43. If done right I think a home tan is very close to a commercial tan, if you have a fleshing wheel to shave the skin. I tan pretty much everything in my shop, which gives me more control of product and finish times. My capes are thin, workable and evenly shaven, plus the eyes and face areas are shaved thin. When you get a commercial cape tanned you still need to thin the face.
A home tan will last just as long as a commercial tan!

magicman54494
I use Formic acid for my pickle and then either Mckenzie or Liqua tan. And your deer should still be ok.

M.Magis · 02-19-2008, 11:05 AM

While I agree partly with both of you, I think your overlooking an important point. He's a beginner. He surely doesn't have a shaving wheel to use, and probably doesn't realize what is involved with home tanning. For that reason alone I think it would be best if sent out to a tannery. Oh, and your going to have a lot of freezer burn on that cape magicman54494.

livbucks · 06-05-2008, 08:53 PM

First...get a bottle of STOP-ROT. You will have burn on the ears and other areas from being frozen loosely. You want to wet the face and ears with the STOP-ROT as it thaws. This will rehydrate the burned areas and also give you time to do your skinning, fleshing and tanningwithout the worry of decomposition. Next time, you want to skin the head out immediately and roll it up with the ears and face in the center and squeeze all the air out of the bag, and double bag it before freezing.
The home tans work just as well as anything commercial. The difference is in the shaving, where alot of your time will be invested. Mounting a properly shaved skin versus an improperly shaved one is like night and day and you will enjoy mounting the one and pull your hair out with the other. By far the most foolproof and simplest home tanning method is Krowtann. I use it and Liqua-tan and McKenzie tan. The Krowtann has fewer steps involved.
You can flesh with a wire wheel on a drill in a pinch, and shave with a skife. You probably don't realize the work involved and that is why I agree with Magis in that you probably would be better served in sending it to a tannery. The deciding factor would be in how well you stick with the projects you start. I wish you plenty of luck.