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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Bucksnort101 on July 31, 2023, 06:30:03 PM

Title: Beavertail Tanning for Bow grip.
Post by: Bucksnort101 on July 31, 2023, 06:30:03 PM

Having a new recurve built and am looking to buy a beavertail for the grip.  Found a seller with what I am looking for but as I am not familiar with the different tanning methods is there something I should look for or avoid in the method of tanning.  As I understand it he tans with citric acid, and from his on-line videos it looks like he neutralizes with a salt/water solution and uses glycerin to oil the tail up when finished.
I guess my concern is the rinse with a salt/water solution, will this cause issues in the long term? 

Title: Re: Beavertail Tanning for Bow grip.
Post by: Pat B on July 31, 2023, 10:34:21 PM

I would be concerned with the salt water solution also in that the remaining salt would attract moisture that could rot the beaver tail. I have 2 untanned beaver tails so I'm interested in a good tanning method. Another concern is I think it takes an alkali to neutralize an acid and I don't know if salt water will do that.
 I have thought about using glycerin and alcohol like we used to use antifreeze(glycerin/alcohol) to tan snake skins but if anyone has a better method I'd like to hear it.

Title: Re: Beavertail Tanning for Bow grip.
Post by: Longcruise on July 31, 2023, 11:02:55 PM

Pat, I'm curious about your antifreeze system.  It might be workable for some fish skins.

Title: Re: Beavertail Tanning for Bow grip.
Post by: Pat B on August 01, 2023, 09:35:45 AM

Antifreeze worked fine for snake skins but the dye they put in it affected the color of the skins. Making your own, alcohol and glycerin wouldn't have that affect. I think the alcohol is merely a carrier to get the glycerin into the skin then evaporate.