What will relax a freezer burnt cape

[(Michael R)Nyona Lake Taxidermy Studio]

OK, i have not ran into this problem yet but i would like to find out what would work, i have a cape that is still on the skull, and i wanted to know what would relax the freezer burnt areas, this cape must be used, and i just wanted to know what some of you elder taxidermist would use for this.

[Uncle Harley]

try injecting har areas with stoprot,  it is a LOOOONG drawn out process, and sometimes you still can't get them to come off.

[Curt]

X2 Harley. However I have been lucky, I have always had them rehydrate just fine.

[Andy]

Alot depends on how long its been in the freezer that way and how bad it is. We have had some that we wraped a sloppy wet towel around the
face while its thawling out and it will absorb some of the water, again it depends how bad it is.

[Uncle Harley]

I had one brought in that was in a cardboard box with no plastic in a freezer for over 2 yrs,   That one I didn't get off  LOL

[John Bellucci]

You can inject a slightly warm, mild brine solution into the freezer dried skin ... about two teaspoons salt to 2 cups water.  Use a fine needle Tuberculin syringe, and go a little at a time.  It is slow but it is amazing how it works.  The skin will plump and relax, and the salt will keep it from slipping.  Because it takes time, be sure to wear latex gloves to keep heat transfer from your hands to the cape to a minimum.  

Good luck to you.
John.

[classic tails]

NICE TIP JB...

[Mudcat72]

I've used the Ultra Soft that Bruce Rittel used to sell to rehydrate freezer burned skins that I wanted to tan for myself. It worked great.

[mr.T aka mr. friendly]

I'd use a gutt'n stick, and pry the hide off.

[ledford01]

soak it up in 50 50 parsoms sudsy ammonia and water. did one last year that was freezer burned bad and had no problems. Works with fish too