Tan fish skins

[Zuma]

OK I searched the site and the web and am confused.
I want to know how to process these Rockfish skins.
Some say pee, some say eggs and oil. Some say borax.
some say brains. Some say scales off some scales on??
Why not detergent then ammonia??
Any help appreciated.
Zuma

[chamookman]

Anyone I've know that used Fish Skins, used Acetone to get the oils out. Bob

[Eric Krewson]

just a guess but my friend uses antifreeze on snake skins to tan them, it would probably work on fish skins.

[freke]

try tanning by using yolk and oil (sound easy:)), or willow bark(darker result ? )
- I have not tried it yet, but have it on my to do list

[YosemiteBen]

I know a guy that tans salmon skins. He will be teaching a class this coming week at the Buckeye Gathering. His name is Benjamin Pixie and he lives in Oregon. I can ask him when I see him but I won't be around a computer for the next week.

[mullet]

I'd just scrape them down real good and dry them out like snake skins. That's what I did with shark skin. When you are ready to use the degrease real good, hydrate and glue down with Tightbond.

[Zuma]

Wow thanks for the replies guys
What do you-all think about the scales?
Ben I can't wait that long
Eddie, Shark skin clad bow. Yowza!

[bjrogg]

If you want to back bow, I don't think you actually want to "tan" Oils make glues not work from what I understand. I think you want rawhide. I agree with Eddie and I think you can remove scales. I've never done fish but have done Deer and even a muskrat for my mini.

[Zuma]

Thanks bj, I fleshed them, rolled them up and froze them. ??
I left the scales on. I guess they can be removed later.
I guess they can be degreased later too.
Zuma

[bjrogg]

I believe so with fur when you freeze you turn fur side out roll up and put in freezer bags remove as much air as you can. This helps to stop freezer burn. If you have scraped good I think you should just be able to wash good pin strech and dry. I have never done fish but have seen on you tube. I think they still smell fishy till you seal. I believe they remove most scales by stroking skin in direction of scale but cant say for sure.

[mullet]

Don, you will need to degrease  and remove the scales before you use them for Bow backing. Shark skin is to stiff to use for a bow backing. I was looking more towards a non-slip handle material. It makes a good sand paper, too.

[Zuma]

Thanks guys
You should see the mess I just made out of this bugger.
Zuma

[nclonghunter]

I agree, for bow backing then no tan oils and use a degreaser. Those sewn together or used as a flap on a bag would be cool but then you would need to tan them. Van Dykes Taxidermy has an online site and offers degreasers and fish tanning kits. Take a look at the website. I believe they offer free information on tanning to help you pick the right products.
Good Luck

[aaron]

scrape and freeze is always a good option with any skin. You say you want to "process" them, but what are you going to do with them? Bow backing or leather goods or what? One way to produce useable leather from fish is bark tanning- the guy Yosemitie Ben mentioned is great at this technique. Basically, you scrape and descale, then soak in cool tannin solution. when dry, it's a stiff, but useable leather. For Bow backing, you don't tan it, just use it like "rawhide".

[Zuma]

Thanks aaron.
No immeadiate plans. I will get them
thawed  out soon and de-scale them.
Tha tannin sounds good.
Zuma