Follow these critical next steps in the squirrel tanning process using the Tan-a-Fur Skin Kit, including exact pickle mix ratios, shaving methods, and prep for tanning
If you’ve completed fleshing, salting, and rehydrating from Part 1, you’re ready to move on to steps 4 and 5, pickling and shaving. These steps are essential to preserve the skin, ensure the tan penetrates fully, and prep the skin for a soft, flexible finish. The process works the same for other small fur-bearing animals, too.
This part of the process uses the Pickle Tan A-21, Degreaser, and shaving tools included in the Tan-a-Fur Skin Kit. You’ll also need hot water, table salt, baking soda, a bucket, and PPC safety gear like the included gloves and dust mask. Dale’s Pickle Tan A-21 is a dual-action solution that combines a pickle and a tan in one bath—but at this point in the process, it’s used strictly for pickling.
Step 4: Pickling
Mix the following per gallon of hot water:
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½ cup Pickle Tan
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¾ cup table salt
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1 teaspoon Degreaser
Make enough to fully submerge your skin and allow to cool to room temperature. Wear your dust mask to prevent any inhalation of salt or Pickle Tan A-21 powder. Place the damp rehydrated skin in the pickle bath and soak for 12 hours (or up to 24 hours for thicker skins).
When done soaking , remove the skin with gloves, squeeze out excess liquid, and hang it over a bucket to drain until just damp. Do not discard the pickle bath—you’ll need it later.
Step 5: Shaving
For the smaller squirrel skin use the softening stone to carefully shave the skin. When fleshing larger skins, you can use the hide fleshing tool included in the kit.
Rub the stone in one consistent direction, from head to tail, with the grain of the fur. Avoid scrubbing back and forth—this can tear the hide. Focus on removing any leftover flesh and thinning the skin evenly to improve tan absorption, stretch, and softness.
Delicate areas like the face can be worked over a finger to avoid damage. Continue until the entire hide is uniform in thickness. Once shaved and clean, you're ready for the tanning step.
If working with fatty fur skins like raccoon, bear, or beaver, refer to the Tan-a-Fur Skin instructions for an extra degreasing step.
If you’re working on greasier fur skins, like beaver, racoon, or bear, refer to the extra Degreasing step that comes in our Tan-a-Fur Skin directions.
Summary Bullet Points:
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Use ½ cup Pickle Tan + ¾ cup salt + 1 TBL Degreaser per gallon of hot water
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Wear the dust mask and gloves provided in your kit
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Soak skin for 12–24 hours in pickle bath
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Do not discard your pickle solution—it’s reused later
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Drain until damp
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Shave using stone or fleshing tool—always one direction, head to tail
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Be extra careful around the face and head to avoid thinning too far
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Uniform thickness improves tan penetration, softness, and stretch
To continue, see the next guide in our series How to Tan a Squirrel Part 3: Tanning and Oiling.
