Black powder and skins?

[Britsmoothy]

Men, I got a fox tail and tipped some black powder in it to see if it will cure it!

Was this done way back when I wonder??

Thanks.

Brits :hatsoff:

 

[DOUBLEDEUCE 1]

It will be interesting to know how it turns out for you. When I was a kid, I used salt and or borax on skins and tails. :idunno:

 

[coloradoclyde]

Seems like a heck of a waste of good powder.

 

[S.Kenton]

Ive never heard of that before..I have however heard of Jerky being made with BP...let us know how it turns out. BTW I just use ordinary table salt and plenty of it for squirrel tails and the like.. I pull the bone out of the tail and dump as much salt down that tail as I can.

 

[crockett]

I've never heard of it. Where did you get the idea to use black powder?

 

[BrownBear]

To the extent that it will draw moisture out and dry it. As for actual curing, be sure to report back! :hmm:

 

[Britsmoothy]

I just thought I would try it! After all there is some potassium nitrate in there!
The charcoal ain't going to support bugs! Neither the sulphur!
Did not tip much in.

B :thumbsup:

 

[omarick1948]

Wouldn't that make it flamable?... :idunno:

 

[Britsmoothy]

Only if you light it :hmm:

I don't worry about carrying gas for my grass mower in the car too!

 

[omarick1948]

We can see that your mind is set, but it might get interesting if you stand to close to a heat source, open campfire or spark. Hopefully, that gas in your car is in some type of container (can or mower), kind of like a powder horn is used for powder.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Yes my mind is set.
About three pan fills are inside the tail.
If it does go pop we should at worst get fox hair every where.
I could consider a wooden plug in the open end!
That aside, am I wrong or correct in thinking potassiumn nitrate has been used for eons of time to cure skins? The oxidizing agent potassium nitrate!

B.

 

[necchi]

am I wrong or correct in thinking potassiumn nitrate has been used for eons of time to cure skins?

I'm thinkin wrong.
Things like that (used for eons) tend to become common knowledge and handed down generations for at least half of those eons.
Considering most directions and advice for tanning generally doesn't include KNO3 as part of the recipe, it probably wasn't used.
Tannins from plants where and are readily available, and every animal has enough brains to tan itself.
(you can pulp an Oak branch with a rock and soak it in water to get a tannin solution)
(and lye from wood ash is easy)
Think of early native tanning hide for clothes and dwellings, directions for gathering KNO3 just aren't part of the instructions. KNO3 does occur naturally but usually when something is decomposing. Gathering crystal form can be done but is very slow,, leaching and dehydration is faster and more effective but a rather elaborate process that would be described as part of common practice.

 

[crockett]

Well, let me begin by saying that every fellow ought to scratch his fleas as he so chooses. That said, it has always been my understanding that the only way to handle fox is to split the tail so it can dry out okay, then sew it up.
If you are a fur trapper you usually put a raw hide on a wood or wire stretcher to dry as hard as rawhide and sell the fur that way. No salt, that reduces the price you get or the industry may simply not buy your fur. Since we are a pre-1840 community we can consider Canada and the old North West Company (HBC) and the mountain men. Both just dried as stated, no salt.
Big game trophy hunters with caribou, bear, etc. normally can't wait around for a hide to dry so that's when this salt business got started. Salt down the hide and if the salt is too wet- scrape it off and keep using salt until you have got mo0st of the moisture out and then roll the thing up and get to a taxidermist.
The home tanning of hides, there are solutions you can use. I'm not sure how much trapping is done in the UK, maybe the best bet is a taxidermist to either do the job or give advice.

 

[Britsmoothy]

No I am not an expert in this field at all.

I found this and other links referring to saltpeter though.

http://www.google.co.uk/patents/US14399

 

[nhmoose]

Brain tan used most likely.

Borax is cheap. Also there are tanning solutions available from trapper supply's for hair on tanning that will do a good job.

 

[crockett]

On those tanning methods- I don't know what type of preparation is needed, whether the hide ought to be dried to set the fur or salted, etc. If you do nothing the fur can slip or come out in handfuls.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Well gents you were correct. The fur has slipped/falling out.
So next time I get a tail do Iplace it in a bucket of oak mulch tannin?
If so how long?
Then what?

Thanks.

B.

 

[nhmoose]

http://www.pcsoutdoors.com/trappershidetanformula.aspx

 

[Rick Son]

Non iodised salt and dry in garage or cooler space,not outside in the sun,wait a few day scrap and if ya have to oak ashes.The salt tightens the pours and takes out moisture...

 

[Britsmoothy]

Thanks, looks interesting.

B.