Canadian Trappers Talk Forum

I am going to try tanning a small beaver this week. I will be using the orange bottle stuff. I watched a video on youtube and the guy said not to use iodized salt, with no explanation. Does anyone have any comments on this? It does not say anything on the bottle about it. Where would I get salt that is not iodized. What is everyone out there using?
Cheers
Jason

You can find it at the gracery store called "Pickeling Salt" - I guess even road salt would work, although a bit too course to rub into all the nooks and crannies. I'm not sure why the no iodine, but I have heard that many times.

MC

The Co-op or tsc should have plain salt. Its cheaper than the grocery store stuff.

http://www.tscstores.com/20KG-FINE-GRAN ... P3564.aspx

I have used it in tanning before works fine. So does the iodized salt to though...

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I'll thank you to remember that your personal opinion is not reason
enough to limit the hard won freedoms of a democratic people!

It's just one of those "rules" that some taxidermists live by while others don't. Reasons for using non-iodized salt instead of iodized salt that I've heard were "iodized salt will stain the skin green/blue", "it will mess with the pH balance of the tanning solution", etc etc etc.
Iodized or non-iodized, whatever the reasons are for, who knows lol.. but non-iodized, pickling, or "feed salt" can be bought in bulk for quite cheap at your average farming supply store like Tractor Supply.

Eb...work the small hide well...mine got really hard...makes a great furry hockey puck.

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DEO VINDICE

I have used regular iodized salt for tanning. It works just fine. However, I must warn you about tanning beavers with the orange bottle tanning solution. I have literally tried a dozen times with different methods and beavers cannot be tanned soft. This WILL NOT give you a soft leather. The leather will be tanned, no fur will fall out, but it will be harder than cardboard. I'm not sure what you're planning to do with the beaver, but rule out all garments. The orange bottle stuff works really well on all hides except beaver and coon. I've even tanned bears with it with good results, but beavers just do not break. I have tried using acid pickles too, with no success. The only way to get beavers to soften is to use the commercial hide planers. Then you might have a soft leather. I have also had other guys use other tanning solutions with the same results. Hope that helps. Ryan

It can get pretty flexible if you work really hard, good enough for mitts. I am trying to make something that will break hide at the moment..Maybe I should try my electric hand wood planer to thin it down??..lol

That might work. I tried a wire wheel on my drill. I had hide dust all over and still never had any luck. I got it down that the hide was dark again, so I retanned it hoping I had thinned it down enough. Still no luck. I have 2 black beavers skinned, fleshed and salted. They'll be heading to Halfords to get professionally done this time. I have wrecked the previous 3 other black beavers I caught in my life. Tanning coyotes and fox is easy compared to a beaver. Ryan

Awesome stuff. I've used it for plain ol' salting and never had hide discolouration, but never used it for tanning. I think some taxidermists are just set in their ways.. lol