I started tanning a deer hide about a month ago, I followed all the steps in the kit booklet to applying the tanning crystals, stupidly I mixed up 1 cup of crystals (all I had from the kit) then measured my hide which is 4' wide by 6' long, so I was short on crystals... I applyed the paste anyway and ordered more crystals. There were shipping issues and I just got my crystals in yesterday, so my hide has been sitting for a month with less paste than suggested. Ive been keeping track of the hide and it isnt dryed out but it does feel like leather under the paste, its not hard but slightly firm. Im not exactly sure how my hide is supposed to feel/look when the tanning crystal process is complete. Do I need to apply another coat of paste or can the process be completed over that long of a timeline without the suggested amount of crystals? What exactly do I look for in the hide to know its done tanning? And are the tanning crystals working via a chemical reaction or do they act as a catalyst?
