Tanning hide question: Salt or Borax

Oldcountryboy · #1 10/14/08, 04:38 PM

After you've scraped your hide the first time do you use salt or borax to cover the flesh side of the hide?

I've always used non iodized salt and after the second scraping I would rinse the hide in a borax/water solution to clean the hide. But I was reading that you can use borax to cover the flesh side also before your second scraping instead of salt. Anyone here ever do it that way and if so, how well does it work?

ksfarmer · #2 10/14/08, 08:03 PM

Years ago I took a correspondance course in taxidermy. They recommended Borax powder.

Oldcountryboy · #3 10/14/08, 10:05 PM

Do you have any ideal of why they recommended Borax?

Columbia,SC. · #4 10/14/08, 10:22 PM

back in about 1986 I caught a 2 1/2 or more pound crappie, I want to think it was 21" long. I read in Field and stream (back in the day) to save it by coating it in 20 mule team borax. I coated it well and wrapped it in tin foil then froze it. After a year and being washed off with lake water it looked like fresh caught!
I say Borax

ksfarmer · #5 10/15/08, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldcountryboy

Do you have any ideal of why they recommended Borax?

Sorry, its been 50 years and I don't remember the reasoning behind using borax instead of salt.