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Ok guys I’m not trying to start a war here but wants an assortment of “opinions”. I have read on this site as well as others how good the tans such as Krowtann and the new tan from HQ works. I have tried about every brush on tan on the market and am currently using the HQ tan that requires a pickle. Hands down I like it better than any thing I have ever used. I am currently giving classes to a beginning taxidermist and we have discussed tanning types in depth. I have the opinion, right or wrong, that I cannot get a skin of the quality that I want unless it is salted near drying, pickled(I use formic), shaved and then applying the HQ tan. I have talked to taxidermist that use Krowtann and love it but have no experience with salting, pickling and tanning. Just like to hear some honest opinions from you guys that have tried both. If the quicker methods really are as good, that is what I need to pass on to my students. I personally like what I am doing and don’t intend on changing.
July 22, 2011
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Herman, I use formic with the HQ 5000 on my deer as well.
As for the “Quick” tans, I can speak for the Taxitan 581 and the PT 500 we sell at Head Quarters. They both work, I’ve mounted deer with both of these products used on them.
I prefer a pickled skin because I can thin it down better useing my machine, that’s why I prefer the HQ 5000. I also like the feel of the skin, it has a more grainy, oiled leather feel after rehydrating the skin after the tan has dried on a few days. And you know with a thinner skin, the less shrinkage you will have. But to get this it takes more time, materials and water.
With Taxitan 581, you get a pickled and oiled skin, while removing several of the steps, that mounts up nicely when the instructions are followed closely. The deer in the catalog on page 75 under Taxitan 581 was mounted in my shop by Scott Gunn from Wisconsin when he was down here last summer. It was easily thinned down on the machine because it was pickled, but it seemed to have some shrinkage issues that I would blame on not oiling in a separate step and getting a complete penatration by not letting it dry a few days and then rehydrating like the HQ. But you are saving time and water. So you trade one for the other.
With the PT 500, you do not get a pickled skin, but you do get a lot of stretch. I would consider it to be more of a submersable dry preserve. As a matter of fact a lot of the DP guys have tried the PT 500 and changed over to it. The deer in our catalog on page 75 under the PT 500, beside your deer under the HQ Tan 5000, I mounted useing the PT, again it mounted up nicely following the instructions. It took longer to dry and I needed to baby sit it a little more watching for shrinkage because I couldn’t get it as thin as I like.
So to answer your question all three of our tans work. They all have their advantages and disadvantages, so pick your poison.
Now, with all that said. In my opinion I will say that the HQ 5000 is the closest in house tan you can get to a commercial wet tan.
I hope this cleared it up for you.
Thanks D. I will save your post and let my students read it. This is basically the very same thing I have told the student I have now.
So help me out here a little guys…..
You guys are both using Formic acid as a pickle, but that is a product that is nearly impossible to purchase! Where/how are you getting the formic acid?
I would also be interested to know why you are using formic acid over the safety acids or say a citric acid?
July 22, 2011
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Oak Ridge wrote: So help me out here a little guys…..
You guys are both using Formic acid as a pickle, but that is a product that is nearly impossible to purchase! Where/how are you getting the formic acid?
I would also be interested to know why you are using formic acid over the safety acids or say a citric acid?
I have access to it due to my employer. It is much more stable than the other 2 acids you named and is the preferred acid amongst fur dressers. It gives you a much better final product, but is hazardous to store and use. If I couldn’t get Formic, my second choice would be citric.
The supply companies sell Citric and the Safe acids because there are less to no restrictions on shipping.
Oak Ridge D is correct I have found nothing that will hold the ph like formic although it is more hazardous. I usually purchase 55 gallons from a local chemical company and divide it with several taxidermist. I haven’t bought any in about 4 yrs so I have no idea what it cost right now but I’m sure you can check around and find it. Good thing about buying it this way and local is I pick it up and don’t have to pay that huge haz mat shipping charge. I know Spartan Chemical Company sells it in bulk but they are HIGH. Hope this helps.
So, another “silly” question is in order I guess…..
Aside from stability, or better put, the ability to maintain the proper pH, what really is the difference? Isn’t acid just acid? If you put in the effort to maintain the proper pH do you not end up with the same end result?
I’ve shopped, looked, begged, and pleaded to buy Formic acid in my area, and it just isn’t available. I want to make sure that I’m using the “next best thing” due to the first choice being unavailable….
No silly questions here…D. and I both get this question often as being
part of the tech support team of HQ Taxidermy Supply, my answer is that I prefer formic acid but it it is difficult for some to obtain, if you can’t find a way to purchase formic I would go with citric, it seems to hold the Ph better than Safe pickle acid, but on the other hand HQ sells a lot more safe acid then citric
To me formic creates a more relaxed skin that plumps up well and is easy to shave, but does not mean that citric or safe pickle acid will not do a great job…
The HQTan 5000 is the best there is, second to none…if you don’t want to do the few extra steps and want something quick and easy the TT581 can’t be beat
I like formic but seldom order it because i can use safety acid in my little shop without making me and my customers eye’s bleed . Ive used it for 11 year’s now and get my original measurement’s easy with HQ5000 . But when I’m able to pickle in a separate room I’ll use formic .
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