Looking fro a good Tannery!|Tanning|Forum|Taxidermy Talk

I am not really sure, there is a guy named D. Price that might be able to offer a suggestion

cubguy wrote: I’m new on here but Carolina Fur Dressing has a great reputation.

Not with everyone. They damn near ruined a Black Leopard of mine once … and that’s the only chance I gave them … ONCE! They stretched the s,hit out of her to gain more length because – and this is a quote: “How the hell are we supposed to make any money on these things if we don’t!?” Oh, and: “It’s an industry standard!” Crock O’ Crap! My first employment was in a Tannery, under the tutelage of Sinclair Clark – who taught many of today’s top Tanners – and this was NEVER done to a skin … customer’s or otherwise. Long and short Carolina Fur stretched her skin so much it loosened the hair roots and weakened her fur in her skin to the point where it had to be handled with kid gloves!

The best Tannery for wet-tanned capes as well as dry tanned skins is Arlington Cape in Arlington, Ohio. It is owned and operated by Keith Daniels, and he and his crew do an exemplary job on all the capes and skins I send them. If you want an excellent wet tanned cape, send a sample cape to Keith and let him tan it for you. The capes have great stretch, pliability, and little shrinkage as they dry, and they smell so nice!:love:

Best of luck to you,
John.

D.Price wrote: John, they stretched the cat until the hair become loose? I’ve never heard that before. I know they can be shaved to thin or drummed to long and the hair can loosen. But stretching is a new one to me. Oh, well you learn something new everyday.

Did you get it mounted ok or do you lose the skin all together? Just wondering, I would like to see a pic, I have never seen a black leopard mounted. They are beautiful animals.

Hey D.,

Yes sir … stretched her to the point that it loosened her fur! Sure, I got her mounted, but believe me when I tell you her skin and fur were so tender … that’s the only word I can come up with for the condition of the skin … tender. She has an entire chapter devoted to her in my book … from concept for the mount, sculpting her clay model, mounting, building her tree, and even mounting her cub that died during birth. I explain about what happened to the skin in the book as well, but because of the publication business and whatnot, never mentioned the Tannery by name. Her picture was on the homepage of the other forums site at one time and many there hated that!

What made matters worse was the fact that Cheryl and I knew this Leopard while she was alive, so to have this happen to her skin just really pissed me off! Another thing … I had her wet-tanned, and when I got her hide back it was filthy. There was crud all over her fur and on the flesh side of the skin as well. I get so tired of hearing others sing there praises … and I’m not referring to “cubguy” here, so don’t get me wrong there … but from so many others saying “Oh they’re so nice, and good ol’ boys, blah blah blah”. Well, I had a terrible experience with them. And that is something that I will never repeat again!

And that, as they say, is that.

D.Price wrote: Wow, thats to bad. I’ve had good results from them. I really like their new rub on tan they sell through Head Quarters.

I was always under the impression they were good ole boys like McKenzie Supply.

Hey D,.

Don’t take offense, but being a “good ol’ boy” doesn’t mean squat to me, or any New Yorker that I’ve ever known! I’m talking downstate, East Coast now! That term denotes more offensiveness to many who I know than anything else.

Look, when a 41-inch animal – measured on the whole animal from nose to tail base – comes back charged for a 52-inch skin, and there are obvious signs of abusive treatment on the skin, then those “good ol’ boys” lived up to that term in my mind. You could make out where the butt end of the skin was held against the floor – most likely under someone’s foot – while the skin was stretched to “make something” on her. Sorry, but this incident has cemented in my mind the slobs that are employed there, and nothing is going to change my mindset on this one.

This is “Tessa” the Black Leopard in question …

This is her stillborn Cub …

The cub was fine … I tanned it myself, using a citric acid pickle, and Lutan-F tanning agent, oiled it, semi dried it, rinsed it with Kemal-4 wash, towel dried the skin, and mounted it.

That being said, there are many good Tanneries that I have dealt with over the years.

As stated, Arlington Cape in Arlington, Ohio, owned and operated by Keith Daniels; Wilderness East End Tannery Inc. in Manorville, NY (Long Island, where I hail from) is owned and operated by Bob Peragine – Bob and I were both taught tanning by Sinclair Clark … Bobby stayed in Tanning, and I wandered back into Taxidermy; and Wilderness Gallery and their Alum Tan. There have been others who have gone the way of the Dinosaur, unfortunately. They are out there … it takes some digging and detective work. Of course experience is the best teacher of where to send your capes and skins. Unfortunately, sometimes, that “experience” is not always a good one! To those who have good experiences with this particular Tannery … more power to you! I wish you nothing but the best in your future dealings.

John.

Thanks, Bud! 😉 Appreciated!

Mr. Moderator wrote: Mr. Bellucci, the very first rule is no personal attacks/insults. Please refrain from making such statements as the one quoted above.

It’s fine to disagree and show displeasure in a companies services. But there will be no attacks on individuals, period. Understood?

Mr. Moderator

That was not an attack on an individual, but an attack on a slipshod run tannery, that created a problem with a Black Leopard hide of mine, because they needed to make as much as they could on the job. That is outright thievery, and others should be warned of such sloppy business practices. I am not going to kiss their ***. You want me gone? Then goodbye.

John Bellucci wrote: That was not an attack on an individual, but an attack on a slipshod run tannery, that created a problem with a Black Leopard hide of mine, because they needed to make as much as they could on the job. That is outright thievery, and others should be warned of such sloppy business practices. I am not going to kiss their ***. You want me gone? Then goodbye.

Well, if you want to leave, that is certainly your perogative. But I will not split hairs with you as to what the rules mean. No one has asked you to kiss their rear end, but in my eyes you attacked everyone of their employees by calling them “slobs” and there for I am doing my job in bringing it to your attention that you stepped over the line.

Now what would you say if one of their employees came on here and said Belucci it “Take A Slob To Know A Slob”? You would naturally retaliate. Then we would have pissing match and the thread would have to be deleted. So do you see my side.

Now if you want to bring something positive to this forum you are welcome to. If you want to be a trouble maker, you can hit the road. Right now it is your choice to stay or leave, but, if you continue to bend/break the rules it will be my choice.

Mr. Moderator