Tanning - UK Bird Small Mammal Taxidermist Mike Gadd

Taxidermy Tanning

There are a lot of different tanning systems available. You will also hear all sorts of strange systems - some will work ok, but none will work as well as a good modern system.

Beginners - In my book, I used methylated spirit straight out of the bottle. You can get the purple stuff in any hardware shop. Industrial meths is the same, but has no dye in it. The reason I didn't use a more complex tan solution is that I wanted your attention focused on producing the squirrel. Meths is fine for small mammals especially when you're a beginner.

Intermediate - Paint on tan solutions are a halfway house to a full tan and are easy ie. just paint onto the skin.

True tanning of a skin can get complex.

Below are some useful links and information on tanning:

Tanning Chemicals Reference Chart

This info is from Van Dyke's Taxidermy Supply

Tanning Chemical	Type of Tan	Other Materials	Amount Needed to Tan 2 Deer capes or 4 Fox skins	Color of Hide After Tanning	Leaching of Chemicals by Water	Usages	Special Characteristics
McKenzie Tan	Brush On Tan	Salt, McKenzie Ultimate Acid, Baking Soda, McKenzie Relaxer/Degreaser	8 Ounces	White	No	Hair On Tan	Soft, Stretchy Leather
Krowtann 2000	Soak	Sodium Bicarbonate	8 Ounces	White	Yes	In House Tanning	Sets Hair, Pliable Leather
Ammonium Alum	Alum Tan	Tanning Oil, Salt, Pickling Crystals	1 1/2 Pounds	White	Yes	Hair On or Hair Off Tanning, (can add brighteners and silver toners to alum).	Sets hair, but skin will shrink. Firm but pliable leather.
Potassium Alum	Alum Tan	Tanning Oil, Salt	Paste Tan Can be re-used	White	Yes	Hair On or Hair Off Tan	Sets hair, but skin will shrink. Firm but pliable leather
Aluminum Sulfate	Alum Tan	Tanning Oil, Salt, Pickling Crystals	2 Pounds	White	Yes	Hair On or Hair Off Tan	Sets hair, but will shrink. Firm but pliable leather
Bark Tan Quebracho	Vegetable Tan	Tanning Oil, Salt, Pickling Crystals	2 Pounds	Pale Brown	Very Slow	Hair Off Tanning, Cow hides, Dyeing Tanned Hides	Dense, Firm or Solid Leather
Curatan®	Oil and Mineral Tan	Salt, Pickling Crystals	8 to 10 Ounces	Light Buckskin	Slow	Hair On or Hair Off Tan	Soft, Stretchy Leather
Tannium®	Chrome Tan	Tanning Oil, Salt	1 Pound	Pale Blue or Green	No	Hair On or Hair Off Tan, Garment Tan	Soft Leather
LUTAN FN	Alum Tan	Tanning Oil, Salt, Pickling Crystals	1 Pound	White	Very Slowly	Hair On or Hair Off Tan, Garment Tan	Soft, Stretchy Leather
Liqua Tan	Syn Tan, Synthetic Tan	Salt, Pickling Crystals	2 Cups	Cream	No	Hair On or Hair Off Tan	Sets Hair, Firm Leather