Tanned Hide Questions?

[emerson]

Please forgive my ignorance. If I get a bear hide tanned will it end up soft and flexible or stiff and cardboardish like the one my dad did in the yard when I was a kid. Has anyone done this? What would it cost and how did it turn out? Can't afford taxidermy and have no place for a mount, thanks.

[wos]

soft if you ask for a dry tan

[sir_brady]

mine cost me $400, and i dropped it with nothing done to it. the taxidermist (wildimiages) had to do the paws, lips, ears, probally had to flesh it a bit too. it also came back nice and soft. couldnt afford to have a rug made yet, but it can stay tanned till i have some cash down the road.

[Gunner Staal]

I had one tanned and it cost me 400 bux and I did all the work myself previously. I was not impressed with the result. Was not what I had imagined. I would save your 400 for the one you want rugged out and done proper. Just my opinion.

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Depends on the tanning process.

I've got one bear done with a Lutan(sp?) and it's fairly stiff....and have another done with Easy 100 and it's a lot softer.

Find out from your taxi or tannery what process they use.

SSS

[boxhitch]

One major step in the home tanning process is the kneading or breaking of the hide. Easy as rubbing it over a small post top or the end of a ball bat.
hmm easy ? well, it takes some elbow and some sweat