Looking for the Easiest/Fastest Way to Process Rabbit Pelts/ Fur On

Discussion in 'Bushcraft' started by Gopherman, Dec 10, 2013.


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  1. Gopherman

    Gopherman Sometimes I Wish I Could Go Back to Sleep

    I have about 30 rabbit pelts in my freezer and every time I try to cure them out, the hair falls out of them.
    I want them to retain their Fur Color, I have a Lot of Chinchilla Rabbit furs the colors are amazing.
    I tried the 8 ounces of battery acid with 2 lbs of salt and 2 gallons of water, worked great for de-fleshing the stuff peeled off mostly in one big sheet, would work well Deer or Goat ....but The Hair Fell Out!!!!
    My wife and I wanted to Make my daughter a Rabbit Fur coat and having a H*** of a time. I'm at the point of pulling MY LAST THREE HAIRS OUT!!!!!!
    can anybody out there Give A Monkey a BREAK?
     
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2013
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  2. Silversnake

    Silversnake Silverback

    There's a ton of videos on youtube. I haven't done any yet; still letting them stack up in the freezer.
     
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  3. Gopherman

    Gopherman Sometimes I Wish I Could Go Back to Sleep

    I tried a couple The next one is going to be the salt water method, Was hoping to get a fast and easy way. I don't even want to think about brain tanning!!
     
  4. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned

    RABBIT BRAINS! USE THE RABBIT BRAINS.....not the gopher man brains!
     
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  5. Gopherman

    Gopherman Sometimes I Wish I Could Go Back to Sleep

    OHHHHHH!! THE RABBITS BRAINS, I get it, I was gonna say I don't have many to spare! I burn so easily!
     
  6. Gopherman

    Gopherman Sometimes I Wish I Could Go Back to Sleep

    I wasted some beautiful pelts so far and don't think I'm gonna do as many till I find something that works well. A neighbor suggested Boraxo 10. I'll let ya know how that works.
     
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  7. techsar

    techsar Monkey+++

    Not fast but the saltwater method works. Just let the pelts steep for about 17 years...but they are soooo soft....
     
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  8. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    @Gopherman Check this out. Let me know how you do!

    Earthskills

     
    Last edited: Jan 2, 2014
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  9. Gopherman

    Gopherman Sometimes I Wish I Could Go Back to Sleep

    The video says to put the pelts in bring for 2 days then flesh and immerse in salt then work the pelt.[banghead]
     
  10. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned

  11. Gopherman

    Gopherman Sometimes I Wish I Could Go Back to Sleep

    Ok I've got the alum the salt gonna get the wife to get the washing soda on the way home, I'm skinning about 10-12 rabbits tomorrow.
    I'll get back to you in a week! :sneaky:
     
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  12. Gopherman

    Gopherman Sometimes I Wish I Could Go Back to Sleep

    Just thought I'd give you an update. Put the salt and aluminum phospahte solution in a bucket 2 days ago, flesh came right off, did it with no scraping. I just started at the bottom of the pelt, separated the flesh from the hide and worked my way around, pulling the flesh down about 2" then pulled it of mostly in one sheet.I went to the neck and repeated the process and removed the rest.
    Don't go after little fibers on the pelt you'll end up pulling holes in it, trust me on that one. I put it back in for another 5 days until its time for phase 2 of operation FURRY RABBIT.
    PS : THE FUR DIDN'T FALL OUT!!!!![touchdown][touchdown][touchdown][touchdown]
     
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  13. Gopherman

    Gopherman Sometimes I Wish I Could Go Back to Sleep

    Ok! Today was the day!! My wife and I washed them out with shampoo really good, rinsed them 3 x's threw them in an old pillow case and threw them in the dryer for about 45 minutes, we started stretching them, I found out that you can't stretch them too hard or they end up looking like Swiss Cheese[OO]
    also there is a thin layer of skin you may be tempted to start pulling on, DON'T!! it will tear holes in the pelt as well. However, THE HAIRS NOT FALLING OUT!!!![grlft][lolol][touchdown][touchdown][winkthumb]
     
  14. Gopherman

    Gopherman Sometimes I Wish I Could Go Back to Sleep

     
  15. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    I'm glad I could be of help and it worked for you. :)
     
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  16. Gopherman

    Gopherman Sometimes I Wish I Could Go Back to Sleep

    Ok, its the next day, Pelts sre completely dry and some of them are stiff. I rolled them up fur to the inside and wrung them out very hard, then switched directs and continued. I unrolled it and again with the fur to the inside wrung it in the opposing direction.
    Then started pulling areas that did not work by hand. This appears to be the ticket.
    On my next batch I will process them and allow them to dry completely then tie them up in a tree and place a rope tied at the bottom attaching a heavy log or weight to it and spin it. This seems, like it might be an easier way to accomplish the same thing, without wearing my fingers and hands out.
    I'll get back to you and let you know how it works out!
     
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  17. Gopherman

    Gopherman Sometimes I Wish I Could Go Back to Sleep

    The pelts turned out great!! Have a little more research to do on pulling them as they dry, but my 2nd attempt was much better than my first attempt!! i am Hoping that third times a charm.
    Pull them out of the mixture, wring them till they dry, and hang them until the fur is dry. The skin side will still be wet. roll them fur side in pull them, and re- hang. Do this continually until the pelts are completely dry. The skin will turn yellow as they dry but when you roll them and pull on them they will turn white. Overworking them will tear the hide eventually or pull holes in them. Again do not pull on little fibers you see, especially near the nipples, they will tear.
    This method has worked well so far, next is drying the fur and nailing the stretch fur out and oiling them!! I'll keep in touch.
     
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  18. zeker

    zeker Monkey+

    oiling them??

    are they squeaky?

    if they are squeaky you are doing sumtin wong.. go back to step 1.
     
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  19. Gopherman

    Gopherman Sometimes I Wish I Could Go Back to Sleep

    NOOO! :eek:
    They get stiff, mink oil not only softens them but also waterproofs them. If you dont treat them with oil and they get wet, well you get the Idea!
     
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  20. ditch witch

    ditch witch I do stupid crap, so you don't have to

    You know, there's a taxidermist in a town near me who charges $60 to tan a rabbit hide. I saw that and nearly fell over. I'm guessing he priced it that high because he doesn't want to mess with it, lol.
     
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