Tanning Courses

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Taxidermy Courses
Tanning Courses
Student Photos
Tuition & Dates
Resources

Specimen Costs
Many students have specimens available to them, either from trapping season, a hunting trip, or items given to them by family or friends. Normally, however, students have to buy some, or all of the specimens they intend to bring to class. We always help to find the cheapest price available on the item that a student wants to purchase, whether it is a weasel, raccoon, mountain lion, or moose. Whatever you are looking for we will help you find it.

Housing Options
There are several housing options available to students who attend our tanning or taxidermy school. Many students prefer to bring their own camper or RV and rent a spot at the hookups here in town. There are also houses to rent, as well as a motel, cabins, and apartments which are popular housing choices for our students. We will help you find the housing you prefer, usually the cost ranges from $175 to $600 per month depending on which option you choose.

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Tanning Courses

At this time there are currently no new tanning or taxidermy classes scheduled.

We currently own and operate a full-time tannery, North Idaho Fur Dressers. Therefore tanning courses can be scheduled at your convenience, and can be as long or short as you like. This training environment is extremely beneficial because of the fact that we are a working tannery and you are able to gain first-hand knowledge about what it takes to operate a successful business. This, along with our in depth training, will give you the tools you need to be successful.


Drying Rack	Pickle Vats

Since Van was a "train the trainers" instructor for a Fortune 500 company he has the skills it takes to teach you what you need to know to be successful in the tanning industry. Here at North Idaho School of Tanning you will learn about the real world of tanning, and the truth about those "too-good-to-be-true" shortcuts. Our methods are as fast as any tannery existing today, and our consistent quality is better than most, using a minimal amount of time and equipment.

Shaving on the fleshing machines is fun and challenging.

All students are required to bring their own hides for the class, or they can be purchased from us at cost. All shaving and tanning will be performed on your own personal hides, yours to take home when the class is over.

Look below to see which course fits you, the Ten Day, The Thirty Day, or The Sixty Day.

Ten Day Tanning Course
This course works well for those who want to learn the fundamental steps of tanning. It is a favorite of taxidermy school graduates and those who want to tan their own capes for mounting. The course is in depth enough to gain a good grasp on the tanning process. It's main focus is to train shaving and the proper steps that must be taken to achieve a quality tan. You will also learn how to build equipment that is necessary for tanning and you will receive our in depth tanning guide to take home with you. The student will do only wet tan capes during the class due to time constraint but will leave with the knowledge of how to do a finished skin. Class Curriculum: All shaving and tanning will be performed on your own personal hides, yours to take home when the class is completed. You can bring your own hides or they can be purchased from us at cost. The student will be required to bring two deer capes, and one larger cape such as elk, moose, African cape, etc. The student is encouraged to bring more capes as we will tan as many skins as possible during the limited time frame.
You will learn: Prepping, salting, and drying skins Reading & understanding MSDS Tanning safety Coding and invoicing skins Pre-soaking Wet wire-wheel fleshing Pickling pH Control Proper shaver setup Ergonomics of shaving Fundamentals of shaving Hide saving techniques Bates Degreasing Bleaching Tanning with: (a) Lutan F (b) Synthetics (Paratan, EZ100, etc.) (c) Paint-on tans (d) One-step tans (e) Pressure (benefits & downfalls) Wet wheel Neutralization Oiling Tumbling Grooming Packaging And More!!	You will receive as part of the class to take home with you: A tanning kit which includes: (a) ten pounds of Lutan F (b) a quart of paint-on tan (c) a quart of formic acid (d) a quart of swabbing oil (e) one bag of sawdust (d) pH papers And: A hide punch An in depth tanning guide List of suppliers Plans on building necessary tanning equipment Certificate of completion Unlimited technical support after completion Invaluable knowledge about tanning! Punching Hides

Thirty Day Tanning Course
This course is set up for anyone who wants to learn how to do all his or her own tanning, including soft-finished tans, and our own unique, superior wet tans. This course is perfect for someone who wants to learn the in depth process of tanning from start to finish. From the person who wants to learn the complete art of tanning, to the taxidermist who wants to do all of his or her own tanning, this course will allow you to achieve a better tan than you will receive from most professional tanneries. This course will give you the knowledge you need to start your own tannery, and will include several different methods of tanning and many different types of tanning agents and products, from old to new. Hard to deal with African skins will be dealt with in this course. Also, you will be taught how to grind shaver blades and how to manipulate the grind of the blade so you can achieve the type of blade you need for the type of hide you are shaving. Business aspects will also be addressed. You will receive our in depth tanning guide to take home with you. You will learn where to buy your products, and how to build the equipment you will need. Call for more details about this course, and remember, our tanning courses can be scheduled at your convenience Class Curriculum: All shaving and tanning will be performed on your own personal hides, yours to take home when the class is completed. You can bring your own hides or they can be purchased from us at cost. The student will be required to bring a deer cape, one larger cape such as elk, moose, African, etc., four pieces of fur such as fox, coyote, raccoon, beaver, etc., three pieces of small fur such as martin, mink, weasel, etc., and two flat hides of your choice. The student is encouraged to bring more hides as we will tan as many skins as possible during the limited time frame, we recommend around fifteen extra skins . A taxidermist who takes this course will be able to tan enough skins to literally pay for this course, in saved tanning costs. Some students may be able to tan as many as forty or fifty skins. School hours are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, with a half hour lunch, Monday through Friday. Arrangements can be made for extra hours, or weekends, we are very flexible.
You will learn: Prepping, salting, and drying skins Reading & understanding MSDS Tanning safety Coding and invoicing skins Pre-soaking Wet wire-wheel fleshing Pickling pH Control Proper shaver setup Ergonomics of shaving Fundamentals of shaving Hide saving techniques Bates Degreasing Bleaching Tanning with: (a) Lutan F (b) Synthetics (Paratan, EZ100, etc.) (c) Paint-on tans (d) One-step tans (e) Pressure (benefits & downfalls) Wet wheel Neutralization Oiling Tumbling Grooming Packaging eBay sales Business aspects And More!!	You will receive as part of the class to take home with you: A tanning kit which includes: (a) twenty-five pounds of Lutan F (b) a gallon of paint-on tan (c) a gallon of formic acid (d) a gallon of swabbing oil (e) one bag of sawdust And: pH pocket tester A hide punch An in depth tanning guide List of suppliers Plans on building necessary tanning equipment Certificate of completion Unlimited technical support after completion Invaluable knowledge about tanning! This Can Be You!

Sixty Day Tanning Course
This intense course is set up for the person who wants to learn the complete process, from start to finish, of how to operate a full time, commercial tannery. This course is extremely thorough, and will give you the knowledge you need. You will learn several different methods of tanning and many different types of tanning agents, old and new. Hard to deal with African skins will be dealt with in this course. You will learn where to buy your products in bulk, and the complete instructions on how to build the equipment you need. Also, you will be taught how to grind shaver blades and how to manipulate the grind of the blade so you can achieve the type of blade you need for the type of hide you are shaving. There is an concentrated business section which will address all aspects of commercial tanning including pricing, advertising, customer relations, shop layout, adding employees, and more. Class Curriculum: All shaving and tanning will be performed on your own personal hides, yours to take home when the class is completed. You can bring your own hides or they can be purchased from us at cost. The student will be required to bring three deer capes, two larger capes such as elk, moose, African, etc., eight pieces of fur such as fox, coyote, raccoon, beaver, etc., six pieces of small fur such as martin, mink, weasel, etc., and three flat hides such as elk, deer, moose, etc., a buffalo flat hide, and a buffalo cape. The student is encouraged to bring more hides as we will tan as many skins as possible during the limited time frame, we recommend twenty-five or thirty extra skins. Some students may be able to tan as many as sixty or seventy skins. School hours are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, with a half hour lunch, Monday through Friday. Arrangements can be made for extra hours, or weekends, we are very flexible.
You will learn: Prepping, salting, and drying skins Reading & understanding MSDS Tanning safety Coding and invoicing skins Pre-soaking Wet wire-wheel fleshing Pickling pH Control Proper shaver setup Ergonomics of shaving Selecting the proper shaver for you Blade grinding (not offered anywhere else!) Fundamentals of shaving Hide saving techniques Bates Degreasing Bleaching Tanning with: (a) Lutan F (b) Synthetics (TX-72, TX77, TX2001, EZ100, etc.) (c) Paint-on tans (d) One-step tans (e) Pressure (benefits & downfalls) Wet wheel Neutralization Oiling Manipulating oil to account for humidity Tumbling Grooming Packaging eBay sales Pricing Advertising Customer Relations Shop Layout Adding Employees Licenses & Permits And More!!	You will receive as part of the class to take home with you: A tanning kit which includes: (a) fifty pounds of Lutan F (b) a quart of paint-on tan (c) five gallons of formic acid (d) five gallons of swabbing oil (e) one bag of sawdust (d) pH papers And: A commercial pH meter A hide punch An in depth tanning guide List of suppliers Plans on building necessary tanning equipment Certificate of completion Unlimited technical support after completion Invaluable knowledge about tanning! Tanned Hides

Phone: 208 435-4822
Email: northidaho@orofino-id.com

North Idaho School of Tanning & Taxidermy
409 North Main - P.O. Box 382
Weippe, Idaho 83553

Tanning Courses

Ten Day Tanning Course

Thirty Day Tanning Course

Sixty Day Tanning Course