cape shaving... is it absolutely necessary?

[tresleggos]

for most animals and mainly whitetails , is it always necessary to shave the cape after tanning.....i use crow tan

[jasonb]

Yes.

[tresleggos]

why??

[Kevin M.]

Less shrinkage.More stretch. Less drumming. To name a few.

[stuffenstuff]

 Fleshing is necessary, shaving is Not mandatory but highly suggested.

[tresleggos]

im doing a quick neck mount on a whitetail the guy cut the cape short and wanted to not spend extra money on another cape...... if i skipped the shaving do you think the mount would be damaged by anything years from now....?? im sure there is a possibility but......reality??

[Rebel]

if you aren't  going to do it correctly why do it at all

[George Roof]

stuffenstuff gave you the correct answer.  NO-it's not necessary but highly recommended.  For winter pellage deer, the old "more detail" issue goes to pot anyway.  Has nothing to do with doing it "correctly".  No one in this business was ever accused of THAT.

[Joe Winsor]

im doing a quick neck mount on a whitetail the guy cut the cape short and wanted to not spend extra money on another cape...... if i skipped the shaving do you think the mount would be damaged by anything years from now....?? im sure there is a possibility but......reality??

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but fleshing is getting rid of the fat, sinew, etc,...which would probably rot, leave lumps, etc, But shaving is merely thinning the skin. No? Which technically wouldn't hurt much, but is preferred.  What am I missing?

[Rebel]

come on now George you know not properly shaving can cause shrinkage and drumming and possibly cracking

[George Roof]

Rebel, how many of them August South Carolina deer have you ever tried to shave?  I did a September Florida deer and an October Texas deer that after I fleshed them, I could see light through them.  All depends on the animal and the time of year.  For YEARS, taxidermist never shaved skins simply because the shaving machine wasn't acccessible to us.  I have some OLD mounts that weren't shaved and they were done with DP that haven't  migrated.  I wouln't THINK of mounting one today without shaving, but I understand it when some don't.  Whitetails simply don't USUALLY "require" it, but I wouldn't try it without today.

Joe, you are correct.

[Rebel]

that is true i didnt looking at it that way

[stuffenstuff]

I'm saying it is NOT mandatory, he did not ask if it was better to or not to, If you have a wheel use it,especially  if it's a neck mount.

and shaving is thinning the epidermis to the corium,fleshing is the removal of unwanted fats and soluble proteins. 

[hounddoggy]

i do happen to know it is not mandatory! if its for detail,you can make a vein on the face(or two) with apoxiesculpt. dont buy into the drumming thing either.its easier to sew a northern deer if shaved. if you are in the south i wouldnt waste your time unless competing!your customer isnt going to know..........or care!

[michael p.]

Why half ass it, shave it & you will cut down immensly on shrinkage.