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March 28, 2017
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Hello everyone!
I’m hitting a couple of bumps as I am working on my bear that maybe someone might have suggestions or ideas to try. The skull came out great and I’m really happy with that part.
The hide and claws are giving my trouble. I had cleaned up and dried my claws with the intent to slip the claw off the bone to make cleaning/whitening the bone easier. For the life of me I can not get the claw to pop loose.
As far as the hide goes, I fleshed and salted it twice. Put it through the pickle for 3 days, kept the ph low (1-2). Rinsed and washed/degreased.
I finished with a mix of neats foot oil and dawn/water. Most of the hide has dried except the head. It’s been pretty cold here so I thought maybe it was the temperature delaying the drying process. I put a fan on it for 2 days and finally have a day where it’s over 45 so I moved it out into the sun.
Its still very oily. I think the head might be a loss at this point. It doesn’t smell but it’s oily and soft.
Its all practice at this point. I can salvage the body of the hide and make a fur covered jug for my hubby that he will be thrilled with.
Thinking next time I’ll go with a tanning kit instead. I have 2 more small bear to work with.
Anyway if anyone has suggestions I’m happy to hear them. I’m off to try to clean up my work station.
July 22, 2011
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As far as the tanning question I don’t know what chemicals you are using. But here would be a great place to start rather than a tanning kit.
https://fleshingmachines.com/t…..portsmen-2
DP
March 28, 2017
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I used a salt vinegar water solution to pickle. Rinsed in baking soda and water followed by degreasing and more rinsing.
The last
mic I used was a combo of neatsfoot oil, dawn soap and water.
It dried out more in the sun and I blotted some of it before I hung it out. I guess time will tell when I start breaking it.
It is pretty hard at this point. But no hair loss and it’s not stinky so maybe it’s not a lost cause.
I will watch that video in the morning. Thank you for sharing that!
April 7, 2013
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Part of your problem is that you missed the tanning step. All you did was pickle and neutralized the hide, degreased it and then oiled it with an oil that may or may not be suitable for tanned hides and mixed the oil with a soap that was not needed. Bears need special care. I’d take D. Price up on his offer.
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