tumbling coyotes

[jim]

In corn cob grit, what should I add to it to bring out the shine on the pelts?

Jim

[Stef]

a little varsol

[bfflobo]

BORAX

[doyleflory]

Stef has it right it is a solvent and will clean and shine the pelts right up.

[RdFx]

or mineral spirits

[jim]

Okay thanks I will see if I can find some varsol. Now how much do I put in, enough so the grit is damp to the touch?


Jim

[trappnman]

wouldn't you want something dry to add? that making it wet, would defeat the purpose of the grit?

I'd think borax would be the answer as its dry as well and would keeping the abosrbing action of the grit intact.

if you just want to shine them up after the grit, rub them with a slight amount of baby oil.

I do that as well to coon sitting in silt for a few days on drowners- even washing them leaves them dull, so I just rub them with a LITTLE bit of baby oil and brush. only matters when selling green of course, and it really makes a difference in appearance lbut I suppose would make the window brighter as well and it might get you a benefit here and there

[Stef]

Well it depends of the drum size, amount of pelt and grit or sawdust etc...

Start with a cup and see if its working good.
Don't worry, you won't damaged your furs.

[RdFx]

Ditto Stef

[jim]

Pictures of my drum


1/2 sheet of plywood with corners cut off making an octagon 2 pieces



It is 24" wide 8 pieces of 1/4 plywood enclosing the container


cross members have angles to match angles on the 1/2 " plywood


gear reduction motor and more reduction with other two gears to get 16 RPM

[jim]

If I put twenty pounds of corn cob grit in it about how much varsol or paint thinner do you think I would need? Jim

[Stef]

I don't know exactly Jim.
1st I have never use corn grit, just hard wood saw dust.

Maybe someone else can answer?

or

Do some experimentation and you will find the right ratio Jim.
It doesn't need a lot of solvent.
You know, the ratio --- it is not an exact math.

Question: do you have a "separation mesh" inside your drum?

Good luck

[jim]

Don't know what a separation mesh is! May be to let the grit fall out if I take the 1/4 " plywood off, was thinking of making another drum just for that purpose. Right now I just shake them clean quite easy with the corn cob grit, when I used saw dust I had a hard time getting it all out of the fur. Jim

[Stef]

usually, there's a piece of HD mesh at let say a third of the drum, inside.

When you stop the drum... the bottom of the drum where the dust or grit are, should be "at the bottom" before opening the drum door and the pelts should sit on the mesh and not on the dust etc..

That way, they will come out less dusty but they will be dusty anyway. You'll have less dust on the floor for sure...LoL

When I visited FHA drums room... They put all drummed pelts into another drum.
That drum is a drum entirely made in HD; I think stainless mesh (like 5/16th of an inch wide wire mesh)
The drummed dusty pelts are going in there and the drum does just like a spinning cycle.
Simple words about how it works... That mesh drum is removing all the dust from the pelts.

If any of you want to make a drum like I just explained... Be aware that you need a special room just for it because you will get dust ALL OVER THE PLACE...LoL

[TexA]

Throw an old pair of tennis shoes in with the "mix".

Try it......

[kspanky]

Throw an old pair of tennis shoes in with the "mix".

Just don't use you teenage sons tennis shoes or it will make the coyotes smell really bad..kspanky

[cmr2]

This may be a simple question ,but when do you tumble them ,before fleshing or after drying

[northof50]

Because of the solvents being used being a little hard on livers and cancer...........not much is used now. A cup of water for that 1/2 bag is about right.
The hides do have to fee fall in the tumbler to be effective.
If the hides are wet it will dry.. but a little extra is on the flesh.to work with.

The solvent does break into some of the fat and does move it through-out the fur area,,,leaving that shine on the fur.

[BadDog]

So where can I get some corn grit? I'm almost all out. I was using sawdust but it just didn't seem to shake out very good. The stuff I got came with the drum a number of years ago.

[jim]

Got mine at the grain elevator, sold for pet bedding and litter. About $15 for a 40 pound bag. Jim