Elk hide

[HTC]

All-

I need some advice, two years ago I took a nice 5PT bull in Colorado. I had his hide tanned, (hair on) by a taxidermist. To make a long story short, the hide is well tanned however it is as stiff as 3/8 plywood and the guy I took it too didn't want to deal with it. (I am certain he sent it off to be tanned)

I understand now that the hide needed to be shaved down in thickness during curing and then "broke" afterwards to make it supple.

I have the hide hanging over the railing of the loft in my great room. It just doesn't look right....Is there anything I can do at this point?

Thanks,
Mike

[Ebowhunter]

I'll need to do some research as I send out all garment tans.

My guess is some tanning oil and more breaking.

[Taxidermist]

If it was sent out to be tanned it should have come back shaved thin and soft and supple. With out seeing the hide you can do a few things, get some tanning oil and keep rubbing it in and finish breaking it in. If it is still thick you can use a sander and thin it out a little before you re oil it. You would want to use a oil such as ProPlus oil by Rittel or a #2 oil you do not want a Tanning oil as it is already tanned. I hope this helps.

Rob

ps this will take some work but it is not junk and can be fixed.

[Ebowhunter]

Yep, a quote from Knobloch's:

"What you can do is take a spray bottle and just moisten the hide, with just plain water. (flesh side) Once the skin is damp and workable you can heat up the Liqua Soft then work it in. You can then
be able to continue to work the hide as you need to. Any more questions contact us.
Mark "

[HTC]

Thanks guys! I will give it a shot and let you know how I make out.....

[mark#1]

it most likely was not tanned by a tannery.every one i get back from the tannery is soft and flexable. i have a great tannery that can most likly make it soft again. but because someone has allready tryed to tan it not shure.