They look pretty good for a first attempt, Truckinguy. What you've learned this time will make the next batch go much more easily.

Yep, I think they look just fine for a first try! You'll get better and better.

Oh! I am SO jealous! Being the slug that I am, I've not done ANY tanning yet I just hope that mine look half that good!

Thanks, I"ve worked them a little more and a couple of them have turned out pretty soft. I"ve really learned that I need to do a better job of scraping the hides and that really affects the final quality of the hide. I was surprised how much I enjoyed doing this... now I need to get Rex rabbits.... oh no....

DUDE! you need BEVERENS! Fantasic long, luxurious fur. Different type than the Rex. oh gee..you need BOTH Rex and Beverens!

These your first pelts Truckinguy? Wow, GOOD job! My first ones looked like roadkill, lol.


I agree. I find young rabbits much easier to do than the older ones. When I did one of the Sr. rabbits last year it took hours to flesh. Holy, my arms were aching after that, lol. The hide was much thicker, but it was like the furthest thing from pliable - and I had a really hard time to get it even halfway soft. (I'm thinking about making some insoles from that pelt though)

The other thing I noticed is that my rabbits tend to be on the fat side. I'm thinking about ordering some degreaser this year because I've read that any residual fat remaining in the hide will prevent the tanning solution from penetrating properly. I think I read somewhere too that it can cause a finished pelt to break down.

So what will you make with all your furs? Slippers? scarf?

-Kyah

OMG! Rabbit fur SLIPPERS! Now I know what I'm going to make with the pelts in the freezer. How LUXURIOUS! omgomgomg

Those will keep you feet toasty warm in those cold Wisconsin winters, Ann! If you have enough furs, you could use fur inside and outside. And make little ears for the upper and a fluffy tail at the heel.

Oh lordy...I wonder if you can tan the ears so that they look good? .... well, of course a taxidermist can, I suppose. hmmmmm... and if I sew up the heel so it's not a clog type, but an actual shoe-look, I could put the tail on the back.....

oh golly....the mind BOGGLES....

I can just see you in your bunny slippers, going to tend your rabbits. Their little eyes would bug out...

OMG, I just did a Google Image search for bunny slippers:

http://www.google.ca/images?hl=en&sourc ... =&gs_rfai=

Yes, this last batch of three hides I started a couple of weeks ago went bad in the pickle, I had them in it for two days then pulled them out to flesh them and they smelled real bad. I think I left too much fat on them. I have four buns ready for camp now so I'll try again and be a little more careful this time. As to what to do with them, I haven't decided yet, depends how well they turn out.

That google search for bunny slippers brought up a few funny things, the Monty Python bunny slippers were pretty funny and the huge motorized bunny slippers were hilarious!



That's just too funny!!

I have thought of rabbit fur slippers before but was always a little afraid to freak out people who stopped by...I guess I know some seriously over-sensitive types. I find it totally weird how there are those cheap toy novelty cats covered in rabbit fur from China and noone seems offended, but if I were to do something useful with rabbit fur, like make mittens or a hood liner, I would get hate-mail and evil looks on the sidewalk...maybe I am being paranoid?

Or... maybe you need to move down here!

Just tell them you are helping to maintain the local indigenous peoples and skills Or that you got them from an Inuit. They will nod and admire your willingness to do so!

Oh man, that would sooo work here!! I love it.