commercial hide tanning service

jennigrey · #1 12/06/13, 11:18 AM

I sent a goat hide out to be tanned, hair-on. Got it back today and I'm mystified... there seems to be substantially less than what I sent away. Is it somehow necessary for them to trim a bunch off? Or is it just common practice? All of the belly and underside is gone.

fishhead · #2 12/06/13, 06:12 PM

I would contact them and ask why? Unless the hide is starting to rot I don't see why they would have to trim any significant amount off the hide.

It's possible that you didn't get the hide you sent to them.

I sent in a beaver and when it came back they had cut on of the leg holes to the edge. They won't get any more business from me.

Oldcountryboy · #3 12/06/13, 07:17 PM

I hometan some deer hides ever so often and I usually have to trim the edges cause of stiffness. But I don't trim a whole lot off. So yep, you might want to call them and ask about it.

jennigrey · #4 12/06/13, 10:44 PM

Well, a taxidermist friend of mine just told me that it is standard procedure.

You have to specify and pay for a taxidermy tan if you want them to do the whole thing. Otherwise they trim it like this. I am sad and disappointed. I was fond of the goat and it was a shock to get back 1/3 less what I sent in. I had no idea. Wish they had told me, but I guess it is such a standard practice that it never occurred to them.

1shotwade · #5 12/07/13, 03:59 AM

I do a little tanning and there are a few reasons to get less than expected. The number one reason is the type of tanning. There are a hundred different solutions each of which will give you a different result.Some hides are stiff,some soft some will stretch and some will not some shrink the hide and come color it.This does not seem to be what you are dealing with.
Tanners have what is their "standard" process and it's up to the consumer to know what they want. If you don't tell them specifics they will use this method. It appears they are producing "Garment Quality" hides. If this is the case what has happened is the hide has been "fleshed on a fleshing machine that takes the hide to a constant thickness. The belly is always the thinnest and could not be used for garment quality so was trimmed and discarded.I really don't think there was ill intent here.Talk to them,they are probably honest people,but next time you take a hide in make sure you find out what ALL the options are before you leave so this doesn't happen again.After all,if they have to vary their process in any way they will probably have to have more money for that "custom" service.

Wade

fishhead · #6 12/07/13, 08:37 AM

I would say in a case like this the tanner should have explained the options to the customer.

jennigrey · #7 12/07/13, 11:52 AM

Sadly, I didn't know what I didn't know. I carefully skinned an entire goat (minus the head, hooves and excretion openings), salted the hide well, rolled it up in newspaper, boxed it and brought it to the tannery. I told the guy there "I would like this tanned with the hair on. It is a domestic goat." He had one of his employees take the hide into the back and unroll it to inspect it. He came back and proclaimed that I had done a very professional job skinning and that it looked like it was in perfect condition. Told me it would probably take a couple of months, since they send them out in batches. Took a small deposit from me and my phone number. Couple of months later I get a call saying that the hide is ready and would I like to come pick it up or shall they ship it? I had them ship it.

My friend said that if I'd done a less-skillful job of skinning, they might have thought to explain things to me. Just my luck.

Alice In TX/MO · #8 12/07/13, 12:07 PM

Belly hide has been removed from all the hides I have ever had done.

1shotwade · #9 12/07/13, 01:27 PM

Jen- don't beat yourself up over this! No big deal. We all screw up from time to time. Just mark it up as the cost of one of life's learning experiences and enjoy a really nice garment quality hide.Use it under a lamp or something.Now you have one more story to pass down.

Wade

RebelDigger · #10 12/07/13, 10:01 PM

Just got our grey fox back that our dog killed last January. They kept it all for us, even the toes, claws and foot pads. All the belly is there as well. Face intact, pretty much cannot tell where anything was cut off. Don't know who did the work, the guy who we took the frozen fox to sends this stuff out to be done. I think all he did was skin it and dry it before he sent it out??? Don't know much about the process but, it sure turned out pretty, so soft!