Diesel Tanning?

[Monkey Spanker]

Anybody tried Diesel tanning? I've heard it's quite good and surprisingly doesn't smell of diesel!
Apparently it is done by: making a paste of 50% baking soda and 50% diesel, rub into the flesh side only and leave out side in a shaded area for two weeks , do this one more time and then wash with dish soap real good , then dry and that should do it.
All sounds a bit too easy and with the cost of fuel these days maybe cheaper to get it proffesionally done!
Before I try it I wouldn't mind hearing from anyone else that might have had a bash.
Just found this link which covers 'Brain Tanning'
http://www.cahe.nmsu.edu/pubs/_l/l-103.pdf[/url]

 

[The Mole]

Diesel tanning (or more accurately curing) works a treat - the trick is to mix the diesel & baking soda to the consistency of salad cream before applying. It's true the skins don't smell of diesel - after 6 months or so if left to air properly!

I have skins I did this way years ago that don't smell of diesel any more and more importantly haven't slipped at all. It certainly works, but I wouldn't use it for dog training dummies though.

 

[Paul 600]

As the Mole says, salad cream consistancy and make sure the hair does not slip!

Mick I can show a couple of mine I made earlier!

 

[devilishdave]

Deer

As the guys say Mayonaise type of consistancy, also leave it for a month. Make sure you scrape as much fless off as you can first though. I use a piece that I tanned this way to sit on when in a high seat and it is ideal

Dave

 

[basil]

Is the skin stretched and pinned to a board during the process?
The above link isn`t working.
basil.

 

[Paul 600]

Is the skin stretched and pinned to a board during the process?
The above link isn`t working.
basil.

Basil the skin is best stretched on a frame allowing as much are circulation as possible.

I have a very good book on this some where! i will try dig it out and scan a few pages( of course I will give credit to the author and source!).

 

[stone]

this is a method of how a friend does his
i am currently trying this method out

Right here we go, stretch and nail your skin to a board skin up, I personally do not scrape all the fat off, and if I'm using the skin as a training skin then I do not even trim it.

The mixture I use is baking soda ( bicarbonate of soda) and paraffin I use a smell free one. Put about a 1-2 kilo of baking powder in a bowl and add paraffin until you have a dryish paste (but must still stick together). cover the skin with the paste about 1cm thick. Make sure you go right out to the edges.

When the skin is covered put it somewhere that is warm, not hot just warm, maybe a boiler room or heated work shop.

I generally leave mine for 3-4 weeks and then check if the skin is dry in the middle by lifting a small part of the paste, which by now will be dry.

If you think the skin is dry and hard, then brush the powder off with a wire brush, then find something solid with a couple of corners to soften the skin up again. This is done by placing the skin behind your solid object and pulling it from side to side, until it is supple, i find that when using a skin as a training aid it becomes supple quickly anyway.

I hope there is enough info here for you to have a go.

The skin should not smell of paraffin when you have finished. I always lick it and taste before letting the dogs loose on it, and I'm still here.

looks and sounds simple enough to me and i hav seen the end result
not as good a leather as the tanner i plan to use for some of my better skins can present, but definately a lot cheaper

 

[Suffolk Shooter]

Just found this link which covers 'Brain Tanning'
http://www.cahe.nmsu.edu/pubs/_l/l-103.pdf[/url]

Evening MS

Re Brain Tanning, My friend and I tried this with that young knocked down Roe I told you about last year. From memory we took the brains and mixed with ash (Might have been Potash ) before applying to the skin (Flesh side). The Hide was actually spread on a frame quite tightly. It must have worked as I seem to recall my friend made gloves or something from it (He fancies himself as Ray Mears).

SS

 

[Paul 600]

As promised, here are a couple of pages from the book.

 

[basil]

Thanks Deer man. I`ll be trying this in the summer months.
basil.

 

[TanningSi]

Thank you Paul 600!
Just had a successful diesel tanning of a fallow buck.
These are the details:

-Salted and froze hide
-Thawed
-Pressure washed meat and membranes off with concrete blasting nozzle
-Washed with dish soap and rinsed thoroughly
-nailed to board and salted for two weeks with non iodized salt
-Washed thoroughly
-nailed to board and coated with 10mm layer of 50/50 diesel and baking soda paste and left for two weeks
-Scraped off and disc sanded
-nailed to board and coated with 10mm layer of 50/50 diesel and baking soda paste and left for two more weeks
-Washed with dish soap thoroughly
-Strung up in frame and broken till soft while drying.

Still figuring out how to post photos.

 

[Andyquadra]

Still figuring out how to post photos.

You need couple more posts before you can put up a picture

 

[TanningSi]

Ok.. thank you.
There are other ways...