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(Mounts by Tim Gorenchan)

This is a soak solution process that provides actual “tanning of the skin”.
For birds, it provides for toughening of fragile skins and controlled drying…
and, skins do not dry out as fast in the mounting process, as with borax preserved skins.
Fish skins will dry with lighter more paintable tones.

1 gallon of bird and fish tan concentrate by Pro-1 Performance Chemicals also shown is a 1 quart bottle

 

Birds: (3-gallon solutions for turkeys / geese…1-gallon for duck-size)

  • skin & wire-wheel / flesh clean
  • wash (1 fl. oz. DEGREASER / gallon warm water…rinse & proceed to pickle)
  • pickle
  • degrease
  • tan

 

Citric Acid Pickle Formula:

  • per gallon water
  • 1 lb. salt (1 1/2 cups by volume)
  • 3 oz. CITRIC ACID (maintain pH 1.8-2.0 w/ Citric Acid pickle)
  • 1 fl. oz. DEGREASER
  • agitate periodically
  • pickle overnight duck-size and smaller… 1 day minimum for larger birds
  • (Note: Ostrich – pickle 3 days minimum)

 

Degreasing Bath: (after pickling & before tanning solution)
(ducks: 1-gallon…turkeys / geese: 3-gallons)

  • per gallon WARM water (80-85 deg F)
  • 1 cup salt
  • 1 fl. oz. DEGREASER
  • soak 30 minutes (remove, drain briefly only & proceed to tanning solution)


Bird Tanning Solution: (leave SKIN-INSIDE-OUT @ room temperature)
(ducks: 1-gallon…turkeys / geese: 3-gallons)

  • per gallon of water
  • 1 cup salt (mix well)
  • 2 fl. oz. BIRD & FISH TAN CONCENTRATE (mix well)
  • agitate periodically – tan overnight minimum (can leave in tan)
  • remove skin…rinse & drain (skin may be frozen at this time)
  • to mount, wash & rinse per preference – blow dry or tumble
  • DO NOT SOAK IN SOLVENT FUEL (you can briefly dunk to displace water after washing / rinsing)

 


Ostrich Tan Solution: per every 5 lbs drained, pickled skin

  • 3 gallon water
  • 3 cups salt
  • 1 cup BIRD & FISH TAN CONCENTRATE

 

cover of breakthrough magazine with 3 sockeye salmon

Mount by WORLD CHAMPION Tim Gorenchan

Fish: (pickling is not used with fish formula)

  • skin / flesh clean

 

Degrease:

  • 1 fl. oz. DEGREASER / gallon warm water (not to exceed 80 deg F)
  • bass: soak 15
  • 20 minutes
  • for greasier skins such as salmon: add 1 cup salt per gallon water & degrease overnight
  • rinse in warm water & proceed to tan

 

Fish Tanning Solution: (mix all ingredients well)

  • per gallon water
  • 1 cup salt
  • 1 fl. oz. BIRD & FISH TAN CONCENTRATE
  • 1 fl. oz. DEGREASER
  • Note: 1 gallon solution mix is good for 2 average 5-6 lb. bass-size fish skins
  • soak 1 hour minimum @ room temperature – ready to mount
  • or leave in solution (store in refrigerator)
  • remove, rinse well – ready to mount (or bag & freeze)
  • if skins are dehydrated after thawing from freezer, simply relax in lukewarm water