WELL KROWTANN IS NOT REALLY A NEW THING.  BEEN AROUND QUITE A FEW YEARS NOW.  SEEMS LIKE THE LAST FEW YEARS THEY HAVE REFORMULATED, AND STARTED TO PUSH THE STUFF AGAIN.  I HAD THE CHANCE TO DO A FIELD TEST BACK WHEN THEY WHERE FIRST STARTING ON THE MARKET, AND REALLY CANT SAY NOTHING BAD ABOUT THE STUFF.  IF YOU CAN FOLLOW A FEW DIRECTIONS THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN *REALLY* GO WRONG.  I KEEP A QUART AROUND FOR THOSE FAST JOBS THAT PEOPLE WANT FOR ODD AND END ITEMS, BUT YOU CANT GET A REAL SOFT LEATHER FROM IT.  DONT GET ME WRONG IT IS SOFT, BUT IF YOU HAVE EVER FELT A GOOD SOFT TAN YOU CAN SEE WHAT I AM SAYING.  I WOULD SUGGEST THE STUFF TO ANYONE THAT IS BEGINNING, OR JUST DO 1 OR 2 HIDES A YEAR.  NOT WORTH THE TROUBLE TO HAVE ALL THIS CRAP LAYING AROUND WHEN YOU CAN GET VIRTUALLY THE SAME WITH ONE QUART, AND SOME TANNING OIL. 

MORE OR LESS WITH THIS IT HAS THE POSSIBILITY TO TURN OUT BETTER THAN MOST WOULD HAVE IF THEY WENT THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS.  LIKE EVERYTHING YOU WILL HAVE TO WORK WITH IT, AND PRACTICE ON A SCRAP PEICE FIRST. 

what type of tools or accessories are needed for tanning skin can u provide a list for me ??

3 DIFFERENT OPTIONS

FLESHING BEAM AND DRAW KNIFE

SCAPEL AND SCISSORS

MINI AIR FLESHER

I WOULD SUGGEST THE SCAPEL AND SCISSORS DUE TO THE COST.  I STILL TO THIS DAY USE THESE 2 TOOLS MORE THAN ANY OTHER.  TAKES A LITTLE LONGER, BUT YOU CAN GET THE HIDE THINNER FOR THE BEGINNER.  YOU ALSO HAVE GREAT FEEL SO NOT TO MAKE HOLES. 

I USE THE SCAPEL TO CUT ALL LARGE MEAT FROM THE HIDE.  THEN I TAKE THE SCISSORS AND START TO CUT THE FAT AND GRISSEL.  YOU WANT THE HIDE TO BE AS THIS AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT CUTTING ANY HAIR FOLICALS.  YOU USE YOUR FREE HAND UNDER WHERE YOU ARE CUTTING TO HELP FEEL WHAT YOU ARE DOING.  IT WILL TAKE A LITTLE WHILE TO GET THE FEEL FOR IT, BUT IT DOES WORK.

AS FAR AS THE FLESHING BEAM AND DRAW KNIFE.  YOU STRETCH THE HIDE OVER THE BEAM, AND TAKE A DRAW KNIFE AND START TO SHAVE THE MEAT FROM THE HIDE.  YOU WOULD USE THE SAME MOTION AS IN SHAVING YOUR FACE.  BE SURE THE HIDE IS STRETCHED BECAUSE THE HIDE WILL JUST MOVE OTHER WISE.  THIS IS THE HARDEST TO MASTER, AND I SUGGEST STAYING AWAY FROM THIS FOR A WHILE.

NOW TO THE MINI FLESHER.  SOME ARE ELECTRIC AND SOME YOU HOOK TO AN AIR COMPRESSOR.  LOOKES CLOSE TO A DIE GRINDER THAT YOU WOULD SEE AT YOUR AUTO PARTS STORE.  HAS A SHARP SERATED BLADE THAT YOU RUN DOWN THE HIDE.  THIS IS BY FAR THE FASTEST, BUT THE MOST COSTLY.  THEY RUN AROUND 150-200 BUCKS.  THE OLDER MODELS ARE EASY TO CUT HOLES, BUT THEY HAVE IT NOW WHERE IT IS ALMOST DAMN NEAR IMPOSSIBLE.

ANYMORE QUESTIONS FEEL FREE TO ASK. 

WELL DEPENDS ON THE # I GET IN.  I REALLY DONT LIKE TO SEND ANYTHING OUT.  IT IS ALWAYS LIKE CHRISTMAS MORNING FILLED WITH WONDER WHEN YOU OPEN THE BOX.  ONCE YOU SEND THEM OUT YOU REALLY HAVE NO CONTROL OVER ANYTHING AND PERSONALLY I DONT LIKE THAT FEELING.  IT HAS BEEN A FEW YEARS SINCE I HAVE BEEN THAT COVERED UP.  AHH ONCE YOU GET THE HANG OF IT.  KINDA GOES BY PRETTY FAST.  ESPECIALLY ON A FLAT HIDE.  CAN ZIP RIGHT THROUGH THEM.  NOW A FULL HIDE SUCH AS BOBCAT, COYOTE, ECT.  CAN GET A LITTLE TRICKY AROUND THE HEAD.  HAVE TO TAKE YOUR TIME.  IT DOES TAKE A LITTLE TIME TO LEARN, BUT REALLY CAN SAVE YOURSELF A TON OF MONEY IN THE LONG RUN IF YOU WANT ONE DONE EVERY YEAR.   I HAVE SHOWED A FEW PEOPLE HERE KINDA THE INS AND OUTS OF THINGS, AND 3/4 STILL BRING THINGS TO ME. 

REMEMBER TO JUST TAKE YOUR TIME UNTIL YOU GET THE HANG OF IT.  I HAVE NOT FOUND MUCH THAT COULD NOT BE FIXED IN THE END.  LITTLE THINKING AND YOU CAN DO WONDERS!!

WELL REALLY THE ONLY THING I CAN SAY FOR THE BEGINNING ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE END IS "DONT GET FRUSTRATED"  I CAN REMEMBER BACK TO A THREE LEGGED SQUIRREL, BUG EYED DEER, AND FISH THAT LOOKED AS IF HIT BY A MACK TRUCK.  I LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERY YEAR.  EVERYONE DOES THINGS DIFFERENT.  GO TO A FEW SHOPS AND FIND OUT SOME OF THEIR WAYS, AND EXPAND ON THAT.  FIND WHAT WORKS FOR YOU, AND WHAT YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING.  DONT EVER TAKE ON ANYTHING FOR SOMEONE IF YOU ARE NOT 100% SURE THE OUTCOME WILL BE GREAT.  THIS IS SOMEONES TROPHY.  DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK, AND IF YOU STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND ASK AGAIN.  MOST OF YOUR TAXIDERMY SUPPLY COMPANYS HAVE TAXIDERMIST ON SITE TO ASK THINGS.  THERE ARE A FEW POINTERS I CAN GIVE AS YOU GO ALONG.

1. DON'T PUSH THE ENVELOPE (IF IT DONT FIT BUY A DIFFERENT FORM) AT LEAST UNTIL YOU GET A FEW UNDER YOUR BELT AND YOU CAN ALTER A FORM CORRECTLY. NEVER DO ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT USED TO OR GOOD AT.

2. NEVER WORK WHEN YOU ARE TIRED.  THIS IS WHEN A BAD BOO BOO CAN HAPPEN.  I ALWAYS START ON A DEERS HEAD FIRST WHILE I AM FRESH.  HARD TO REPLACE A NOSE IF IT IS GONE!!  HAHA

3. WET TAN OR DRY PRESERVE.....TOUCHY SUBJECT IN THE TAXIDERMY WORLD....  I USE 75% DRY PRESERVE, AND 25% WET TAN.  I GIVE OPTION TO CUSTOMER. 

4. EXPLAIN *EVERYTHING* TO YOUR CUSTOMERS UPFRONT!!  NO HIDDEN DOORS, AND MAKE OUT A REGULATION TO SIGN TO PROTECT YOU (ONLY).  NEVER MAKE PROMISES YOU CAN'T KEEP.

5. FEEL FREE TO TRY NEW THINGS (ONLY ON STUFF THAT IS FOR YOU OR SCRAP PEICES)

6. THE MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL IS

HAVE FUN, AND GIVE IT YOUR ALL.  WHEN TAXIDERMY DOES NOT APPEAL TO YOU ANYMORE, LOCK THE DOOR.  I HAVE SEEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN CRAP JOBS FROM SOMEONE BURNT OUT.  TAKE A BREAK IF HIS HAPPENS.  GO AWAY A DAY OR TWO. 

FEEL FREE TO ASK ME ANYTIME IF YOU NEED SOMETHING.  IF I CAN'T ANSWER I AM SURE THERE IS SOMEONE ON HERE THAT CAN HELP.