Here are a couple close ups of the leather. I don't wheel them but I do wire brush them by hand.

The leather looks great, might just need more breaking?

Yea, rats are toughies. There is a tough layer of adipose tissue that has to be removed either by shaving or a wire wheel. I shave them but its a delicate procedure because the layer is thin and a mistake will gouge the roots or cut through. The wire wheel is "the poor mans fleshing machine" but it might be actually be more effective in busting up this tissue. Sent some to Moyle once and they were not the same as the other skins that came back. I think even the pros have a bit of difficulty with them.

Trouble with Rats is I tend to rip them. Too much work for such a small hide. I've successfully barktanned a few. Id much rather work Fox or mink. Or buckskin.

Those look awesome!! I use a wire wheel on thin skinned fur during the pickle as well, how do you break them with a wire wheel? The nice thing about Rittles EZ100 and Trubond is that its washable, Lutan isn't. [/quote]

I actually use the dryer for the breaking but the wire wheel helps shave and break the harder stiff parts