Macnab Posted October 20, 2009 Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 Hi all Done a quick search and can't find a foolproof guide. Can anyone tell me how to get this done reliably please? I don't normally keep the brushes but this came off a magnificent specimen and should really be 'saved for the nation'. I took it off the bone the morning after it was shot. I would like to cure the inside of the tail and soak it in something to get rid of the fox smell (which isn't strong). I will probably give it to the guy who runs our local shoot. I was out with him on Saturday night and we were surrounded by foxes. For lots of reasons we couldn't get a shot at them, until we found a safe shot at a reasonable distance. I was all set and pulled the trigger to hear a horrifying click.....by the time I actually got a round in the chamber the fox had heard me swearing and was trotting on. I stayed out after my friend called it a night as I was determined to get the fox I now owed him. Hence I want to give him the brush. Thanks for any help. M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted October 20, 2009 Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 Simplest way is to wash it and let it dry, to get rid of the smell and then hang up in a shed or airy place to dry naturally. If the smell is all away you may get away with drying indoors on a sunny (?) window. The brush will dry and the skin will get tough and not too pliable, if you want/need pliable then try one of the other methods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted October 20, 2009 Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 Soak the tail in Meths (in a plastic container) for a few days. This works. Better still. Buy some tanning powder (makes 2 gallons) from a firm called Snowdonia Taxidermy supplies. ( CP5 White Tan 2 gallon kit) I bought some, left the tail in for 24 hours, and it's brilliant. Steve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulpicide Posted October 20, 2009 Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 Take a plastic tube {old biro with end cut off} push it down inside of tail to tip start pouring fine tablesalt down the tube withdrawing tube as you pour fill it right to the top leave in shed or somewhere dry for a month or so. Once totally dry empty out salt give the tail a good shake there will be no smell. I ve used one prepared like that for the terrier racing display for 4 years and its still going strong. :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macnab Posted October 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2009 Thank you chaps. All very helpful. M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leadbreakfast Posted October 25, 2009 Report Share Posted October 25, 2009 iv got a full fox skin. be fast when you de bone it and dont play with it or the fur will fall out. we pinned it on some wood and used saltpeter worked well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macnab Posted October 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2009 Just in case anyone else is searching the site planning to do this the following worked well for me.... I soaked the brush in meths for 4 days (but this could be longer or shorter within reason) then rinsed it well in fresh water, let it dry in the sun as much as possible then gradually fill the empty case with borax using a funnel and a garden cane working the powder all the way into the tip. After a few days work as much of the powder out of the brush as you can and soften up the skin by gently rolling it around. Bingo. M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stealth Stalker Posted October 26, 2009 Report Share Posted October 26, 2009 Just in case anyone else is searching the site planning to do this the following worked well for me.... I soaked the brush in meths for 4 days (but this could be longer or shorter within reason) then rinsed it well in fresh water, let it dry in the sun as much as possible then gradually fill the empty case with borax using a funnel and a garden cane working the powder all the way into the tip. After a few days work as much of the powder out of the brush as you can and soften up the skin by gently rolling it around. Bingo. M Where do you get the borax from? I tried like a man possesed a few years back & couldn't find it anywhere? SS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheekychappy Posted October 29, 2009 Report Share Posted October 29, 2009 stripping the brush off the fox leaving the bone etc on the fox with a cord, I do the same just let the tail sit in the meths for two weeks, then remove fully wash with shampoo and the wifes hair conditioner (she don't know) air dry on the line all soft and never a problem with the skin, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocker boy Posted October 30, 2009 Report Share Posted October 30, 2009 Put the brush in a jam jar.Fill the said jar with meths.Leave for 2 weeks.Take the brush out.Rinse in water.Dry on the washing line.Done.NOTHING ELSE is needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclestuffy Posted October 30, 2009 Report Share Posted October 30, 2009 I have sent you a PM but tanning is much better than just fixing the skin with meths. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclestuffy Posted October 30, 2009 Report Share Posted October 30, 2009 I have sent you a PM but tanning is much better than just fixing the skin with meths. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mosa Posted October 30, 2009 Report Share Posted October 30, 2009 The 1st one i did someone wrongly told me to steep in turps (this made it drop to bits after 2 days) My others i have just stripped them off and left them hanging in my garage and they dont smell at all and thats after 1 year or so Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taggy Posted November 4, 2009 Report Share Posted November 4, 2009 yep, meths for a couple of days, then shampoo it to get rid of the meths smell. did a fox skin like this, works fine!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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