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Coon skin questions

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Fox:
I have tanned a few nice rabbit pelts and a squirrel. I have many coons in the freezer and on that has been fleshed and then was salted and then membraned… now there’s so much coon far saturated in the skin it won’t dry and is super gross and greasy. I’ve tried salting it 2 times letting it dry for a week, also tried soaking it in salt water, have washed it with dawn soap and it’s still grossly greasy…. How do I fix this ???

Gimlis Ghost:
Might not work on animal hides but trisodium phosphate will draw oil, grease and animal fats out of oil soaked woods, even if the oil has been there for decades to centuries.

A strong solution of TSP allowed to dry recrystallizes and oils and animal fats are drawn into the crystals. Once completely dry you can dry brush the crystals away or I've found washing the surface with household hydrogen peroxide (about 2-4%) does even better.
With wood it takes several applications.

Like I said I haven't tried it on animal hides so if you try it first try on a small sample.

BowEd:

--- Quote from: Fox on September 14, 2021, 11:53:26 pm ---I have tanned a few nice rabbit pelts and a squirrel. I have many coons in the freezer and on that has been fleshed and then was salted and then membraned… now there’s so much coon far saturated in the skin it won’t dry and is super gross and greasy. I’ve tried salting it 2 times letting it dry for a week, also tried soaking it in salt water, have washed it with dawn soap and it’s still grossly greasy…. How do I fix this ???

--- End quote ---
Apparently you did'nt flesh them properly.They are a lot greasier than rabbits or squirrels as I'm sure you found out.So are bear.I'm afraid they are spoiled but you can try suggested remedy.
For a coon hide I intend to tan I freeze them in the fat or flesh right away and salt to flint dry.Out of the freezer I flesh them and salt them to flint  dry and then tan.
For coon hides I intend to sale that are framed I flesh them/frame them inside out.After drying I tumble them in my tumbler which has cob grit in it and they will be dry as a cork and don't need to be stored in the freezer if sold that season.If held over they go into the freezer till next season.

Hawkdancer:
Interesting techniques!  Ed, what kind of tumbler do you have?
Hawkdancer

Don W:
I've heard of using a dryer. If I did that they'd never find my body!

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