Liqua Tan Frequently Asked Questions

Problems and Solutions Relevant to the Proper Use of Liqua Tan

Q. How safe is Liqua Tan to use?

A. Liqua Tan is safe to use. This does not mean that cerain precautions shouldn't be taken. Liqua Tan does contain small amounts of solvents and is a mild acid. (pH range of 4.0 - 4.5). It is therefore recommended to wear rubber gloves when applying or apply with a paint brush. After Liqua Tan is soaked into the skin, there are no special precautions needed. (Wash hands after working with Liqua Tan). A safety data sheet is available upon request.

Q. Can Liqua Tan be washed out of the skin when rehydrated?

A. No. Liqua Tan cannot be washed out of the skin. A hydrogen bond is formed with the collagen in the skin, making the tan irreversible.

Q. Is Liqua Tan a real tan or just a preservative?

A. Liqua Tan is a complete tan, tanning both the cationic sites and the anionic sites. Where an Alum tanned skin will have a shrink temperature (a test to determine quality of tannage) of approximately 160° F, a skin tanned with Liqua Tan will have a shrink temperature of approximately 176° F. Other benefits of using Liqua Tan are, permanent fixation of the tan and no hydrolization of mineral acids, which causes deterioration.

Q. How long will a skin tanned with Liqua Tan last?

A. A skin tanned with Liqua Tan will last indefinitely. Liqua Tan is a completely organic tan. It will not hydrolyze in the skin like Alum, creating sulfuric acid which causes deterioration of the skin.

Q. How much stretch should I get compared to a dry preservative?

A. The benefit of using Liqua Tan is that the skin will have the same stretch as a skin that has been handled with dry preservatives, yet be completely tanned.

Q. Can a skin tanned with Liqua Tan be frozen versus drying it out if I cannot mount it right away?

A. A skin tanned with Liqua Tan can be put in the freezer to mount at a later date. Make sure to allow Liqua Tan to soak in for a least six hours before freezing. This method actually has some advantages.

Q. Will Liqua Tan moth proof the hair or fur?

A.No. Liqua Tan does not moth proof the hair or fur. Once the skin is tanned there is no worry of insect damage to the skin.

Q. What is the best way to use the bonded ear method?

A. After the skin has had Liqua Tan on it for at least six hours, dip the ears (cartilage side out) in acetone to remove any surface oil from Liqua Tan. Towel dry and proceed with bonded method. (A good quality ear liner is recommended for best results).

Q. Can Liqua Tan be used without salting the skin or soaking the skin in a salt solution?

A. Although this procedure is not recommended, Liqua Tan will tan the skin. The problem with this method is that the skin has not been cured. Also, the blood and other non-tannable proteins are left in the skin, which deters proper tannage.

Q. Can Liqua Tan be used for tanning reptiles?

A. Liqua Tan is not recommended for tanning reptiles. Their skin structure is quite different than that of mammals. The corlum is very thin and must be tanned differently. Reptile Tan is recommended for this type of tanning.

Q. Will Liqua Tan stop slippage on a bad skin?

A. Liqua Tan is not a total cure all. Bacteria is the major cause of hair slippage. The longer a skin is exposed to bacteria, the more chance of hair slippage. A raw skin left at room temperature for 24 hours loses 40 percent of its tanning ability. It would be safe to say that over 50 percent of the skins received and handled by taxidermists fall into this category. Once the skin is tanned, it is not longer susceptible to bacteria damage. It may however be too late. The bacteria may have damaged the epidermis and hair follicle. Upon drying the sin the hair may appear to be tight, but when rehydrated the hair may start coming loose. There is also another problem; some bacteria are not killed when the skin is dried, but just become dormant are reactivated when moisture is present. This is one reason that some mounts have an odor during humid weather. For skins that appear to be in bad condition, use a Bascal S, Alum pickle and mount as soon as the Liqua Tan has been applied for six hours.

Q. Should the hair be loose on a mount until it is dry?

A. No. If the skin is in good condition and handled properly, the hair should never be loose. Refer to prior answer.

Q. Why does a mount take so long to dry and start to smell, particularly on long-haired animals?

A. Again this is a bacteria problem. It is very important to have proper drying conditions. Never dry a head in a damp basement. Moisture that is retained around the hair roots can start bacteria growth. These bacteria secrete enzymes which actually build moisture in the skin. Another problem is the use of dextrin base hide paste. If there is no bactericide or fungicide added, mold will start building under the skin, preventing drying. These are also reasons for foul odors in mounts. This is not to say that dextrin base hide pastes are not good; just make sure to add a fungicide or bactericide.

Q. Will a head mount that is tanned with Liqua Tan start to crack or pull after a period of time?

A. No. Liqua Tan is an extremely stable tan. Liqua Tan contains very unique oils that will not wash out or evaporate. A mount that is tanned with Liqua Tan and mounted properly should last several lifetimes.

Q. At what temperature should I salt the skins?

A. Make sure the skins are salted above freezing and store at this temperature for at least 24 hours. It takes on the average 12 hours to completely penetrate at room temperature. Salting skins in freezing temperatures results in low saturation, which in turn results in degradation of the skin. At 0 degree F salt penetration is only 20 percent.

Q. How long does Liqua Tan have to dry into the skin before I can rehydrate?

A. It takes approximately four days to completely fix.

Q. How long can I store a skin tanned with Liqua Tan and not have to worry about deterioration or lack of stretch?

A. A skin properly tanned with Liqua Tan will last indefinitely. It is recommended that skins be stored in a dry, cool place to achieve best results. Test skins have been rehydrated after eight years with excellent results.

Q. What is the best way to tan a tube skinned cape?

A. Lay the skin out flat and apply Liqua Tan to one side of the skin and leave for one hour. After two more hours the skin can be hung up flesh side out. When it appears that the Liqua Tan has penetrated and the skin starts to show signs of drying, turn the hair side out. Periodically open up the skin to make sure air is circulating. To go one step further, a drying rack or stand may be constructed to allow constant air ventilation. Plywood is suggested for the frame of the rack. Use only wood products to construct the rack. Never use any metals.

Q. Why are these white crystals forming on the hair and small bumps on the inside of the ears?

A. This is caused by excessive salt left in the skin. Rinse in lukewarm water, and then re-rinse in cool water. Add Basacryl NB-KU to the last rinse.

Q. Why do some of the mounts that I used Liqua Tan on perspire during summer months?

A. Again this is due to excessive amounts of salt left in the skin. Another reason for skins sweating is the over use of detergents. Detergents, especially glycol based, when improperly rinsed out can absorb moisture during humid months.

Q. Why am I getting a foul odor from mounted bears during the summer?

A. This is due partly because of excessive salt left in the skin, but is mainly due to inadequate degreasing. Refer to the section on degreasing.

Q. Why am I getting excessive shrinkage when using Liqua Tan?

A. There are several reasons for excessive shrinkage.

• Improper shaving of the skin.

• Excessive water is left in the skin when Liqua Tan is applied.

• The skin is hung up too soon after the Liqua Tan has been applied.

• Too small an amount of Liqua Tan has been applied.

Q. I am not getting the stretch that I should be. What am I doing wrong?

A. The skin may not be shaved thin enough. If this is the case, attempt to re-shave the skin. Another reason may be that the skin does not contain enough moisture after rehydration. If that is the case, the skin must be left in the rehydrating bath longer. (Keep the water at room temperature). The problem may also be that the skin has not sweated long enough after rehydrating.

Q. Why do fox and antelope slip so easily?

A. Both fox and antelope slip easily for three reasons:

1. They both have very insulating hair or fur which prevents the animal from cooling down after it dies. Antelope are especially a problem, since they are usually killed in very warm temperatures.

2. They both have a very thin and fragile epidermis.

3. Fox, being carnivorous, have a tendency to spoil very quickly. There are large amounts of bacteria on the animal before it is killed. Refer to articles on proper handling of skins and pickles.

The Knobloch's Complete Tanning Video is a great reference source. Tanning experts, Mark Daniels and Mark McLain, demonstrate how to tan a deer cape from the dry salted skin to the finished piece.

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