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Post by joanne2 on Dec 4, 2010 17:39:57 GMT -5
Holy!! Have some slight idea on what George recently had to deal with out in ID dragging his last giant out from the pond. I couldn't imagine going a long way through brush with waders and lots of other gear hauling one of these dead critters out with ya! Have to give him lots of credit! Anyway I got a call from a guy that I tanned a lot of fur skins for last year wanting to know if I'd tan him a beaver. SURE... how much? Oh.. how's $65. sound? What was I thinking?? No wonder I have so much work, lol.. oh well.. I might get invited to the barbequed beaver party.. George said it was good so.. maybe someone here in MI can make it like he does his??? took me a good deal of time last night and a longer time today skinning this creature.. She had her leg nearly chewed totally off.. So sad that the last thing she chewed in her what had to have been a long life dam building was her own leg?? He had caught her in the same trap a week ago and there was a toe missing. Guy wants her tanned 'case' skinned, like I did all the other creatures I tanned for him. Wants tail and legs attached.. There was nothing but tendon's holding the one front paw to the rest of it's body. so.. bit of stitching will have to happen there. oh well.. it will surely be a study on how beavers tails are attached! I will get out the powerwasher in the morning and hopefully the wind will hold off until later in the morning. The washer makes for real quick work for fleshing them thank GOD!! It sure has a beautiful thick coat. Must have been an incredible animal. Try and take some more pics tomorrow.
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Post by paskinner on Dec 4, 2010 22:49:52 GMT -5
Good luck clean skinning that tail! I thought the taxidermy guys said powerwashers didn't do so good on beaver? I have to admit, I wouldn't do one like that for less than twice the money. Now a cub, without the legs and tail, yeah, I'd even hoop it for that.
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Post by joanne2 on Dec 5, 2010 0:12:06 GMT -5
I hear ya on that beaver tail skinning PA. Skinned a few of them out last year but not without a flaw on each one! I just do what works best for me and using the powerwasher and turbo nozzle on beaver pelts to flesh is IMHO.. the only way to go, LOL. I can do it very well and very quickly should turn it's lips and use the knife for awhile.. I'm certainly NOT making any money to speak of with these pelts for this guy but you know what they say? Practice makes perfect.. must be some reason the good Lord sends some of these creatures my way.. maybe just to really understand what ya'll go through hauling these trapped quarry up the dang banks when it's freezin out! Sure is beautiful fur, isn't it? Guy I did the last one for loved it. and he is a taxidermist, lol.. This was the last one I did before this here monster beaver. Cub, I guess. Young pup! Came out real soft. I could flesh the beaver with the Dakota pro fleshing wheel but it would still be real slimy- like, and the powerwashed skin will need next-to-no degreasing.. If pickling is your bag (or just tanning furs in general, I think having a clean pickle and having clean skins going in is a very practical and clear advantage. tanneries are using powerwashers more than what they might be letting on to the public. IMO Why announce their practices for all to know? Especially if it is a clear advantage.. this is very competitive business and the washers cut a lot of time and money. Some do write about it. ;-) Heck I write about it all the time.. lol.
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Post by ThunderMoon on Dec 6, 2010 18:40:18 GMT -5
What ya gonna do with that one?
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Post by joanne2 on Dec 9, 2010 20:42:35 GMT -5
Spoken for. I have one that should make a great fur hat someday.:-)
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Post by Cody ( The Patriot ) on Dec 10, 2010 0:29:12 GMT -5
Joanne I was on youtube tonight and saw this video of a feller fleshin with a little tool called a Black Magic mini flesher and I went looking but my PC was not going along so didnt find one but did find where you could get the blade for 40.00 or so and it fits on a little side grinder .Its not what I would use to flesh a whole critter but it looked like it would be great up around the head of tough stuff like coons and such .Just a thought
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Post by ThunderMoon on Dec 10, 2010 17:24:30 GMT -5
Spoken for. I have one that should make a great fur hat someday.:-) oh yea~~I got to get me a fox from the other folks first.
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Post by joanne2 on Dec 11, 2010 5:44:50 GMT -5
TM..Have a brain tanned coyote just sitting around here somewhere.. WHere is that twicky coyote anyway??? Cody..I've heard of those mini fleshers.. supposedly with the Dakota pro's you don't need ANYthing else when you have one of these..cept maybe someone to actually USE it! I do occasionally!. I was using it on the beavers tail the other day..see?? Getting some essential oils in this beaver's tail might be a whittle twicky! Might wanna pickle it.. I ain't into pickles all that much ...pweffur the injun bwain tannin!!
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Post by Cody ( The Patriot ) on Dec 11, 2010 12:12:12 GMT -5
I havent done it yet but I have been told that bark tan is the way to go for tails ,I have alum tanned them but they come out stiff and brittle .I did one with neats foot by oiling it and pressing between two boards came out good and pliable
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Post by paskinner on Dec 11, 2010 20:59:40 GMT -5
I can't get those beaver tails to barktan right. I usually just trade a few dried ones with a bow maker, because whenever I tried to tan and soften them, the scales pop off, or they rip...he uses them like rawhide to wrap bow handles.
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Post by Cody ( The Patriot ) on Dec 11, 2010 22:48:40 GMT -5
Billy told me Billy Metclf said bark tanning was what he did I havent tried it yet but I had good luck with just oiling them ,the scales did come off though but stayed soft that way used to have a beutiful strikealite bag made from one with beadind and such but my hound liked it better
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Post by joanne2 on Dec 12, 2010 8:43:02 GMT -5
Aren't these beavertail neat? Half fish? Naturally, I don't see any reason to bark tan them. ;D they will need to be thinNed and oiled sufficiently. Have not seen too many scales coming off just yet but the tail is a far cry from being 'done'. this is a fun project,I put the beaver skin on a wire stretcher and left it for a couple days and now it has no hind claws! Shoot. lam trying to trap the critter responsible for this damage without s uccess. has plenty to eat around my house! Cody. That sounds like a really neat pouch. Sorry to hear your pooch destroyed. it.
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Post by ThunderMoon on Dec 12, 2010 23:36:01 GMT -5
We'll all be drinkin that free bubble up and eatin that beaver plew~~ Merle Haggard
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Post by joanne2 on Dec 18, 2010 10:14:29 GMT -5
Still softening beaver skin! yes.. this guy had better come and get that giant beaver plew carcass out of my freezer at least! taking up valuable space! not really tempted to cook it myself, LOL
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Post by paulette on Dec 7, 2011 12:54:55 GMT -5
Me again.. Guess it's that time of year once again.. Managed to get my daughter to take over my lacing.. she couldn't resist. By braintanner101 at 2011-12-07
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