pickle problem need fast help

[nelsonstaxidermy]

I mixed the pickle with 5 gallons or water 5 pounds of salt and the right amount of pickling crystals and the ph is around 1 do I need to get it around 2.5 and if so do I just keep adding the crystals?

[J Brown II]

If you keep adding crystals the pH will drop even further. Add your skins and check pH again.

[nelsonstaxidermy]

What makes the ph go up then?

[J Brown II]

Baking soda. Do not add too much at a time though. Maybe a teaspoon to the 5 gals.

[nelsonstaxidermy]

Ok thanks ill try adding a little

[duxdown]

Nothing wrong with a ph of 1 i start out that way all the time it will raise to 1.5 to 2 after the cape has been in there for a day or so, well on all my deer capes it does anyway.

[kirk33]

x2 a 1 ph is no problem even better than a 2.5

[nelsonstaxidermy]

ok thanks guys on a 5 gallon pickle how many deer, or coon can i put in one before i need to make a bigger one?

[brigham boy]

I would only do 1 cape @ five gallons. Adding the capes will bring your ph up from 1.   I recommend doing larger pickle baths say 20 gallons your ph levels are more stable and you can do more then one at a time.

[Mark in IL]

My pickle is 30 gallons.  I use Saftee Acid and ALWAYS keep the ph at 1.  Adding a couple of deer capes to the pickle will cause the ph to rise.  Just check it and stir it n the morning when you get up and before you go to bed - add acid if needed to get the ph back to 1.  It should stabilize in two - three days.  Once my pickle is stabilized I just agitate it once every day.  I would also recommend to keep a cover or lid on the pickle - that will help out a lot in keeping it stable also. 

[nelsonstaxidermy]

i was given a box of the Vandykes pickling crystals so that what i used since they were free for now, is the saftee acid better or does it not matter as long as its mixed right?

[Mark in IL]

I have no experience with the pickling crystals so I don't really know.  Different people on here use different types of acid pickles - some use the crystals, formic acid, sulfuric acid, safetee acid, etc.  I guy I know uses the formic acid and really likes it but it can be dangerous to work with and (he says) it will start to curl hair if the ph gets down to 1. 
I started with the Saftee acid and it provided a low ph, it is very safe,  it pickles fast, it gives a nice plumped up skin that's easy to shave, and it's incredibly stable once the hides are thoroughly pickled.   

I didn't see any reason to try anything else. 

[Gameovertaxidermy]

Can't remember the PH as I have not tanned my own hides in years, but the best a I used for the same reasons you stated was hydrochloric acid (very dangerous) but gives a great plump easy to shave, salt was also added with it then the hide had to be neutralized in water and baking soda before shaving. I never had good luck with the way we were taught in school with pickling crystals and those pressure tanners. Plus they said you didn't need to salt the cape 1st? After I learned more and got to work for a really good taxidermist I learned how important the salting process is. Guess the teacher must have relied too much on what the pressure tanner (SALESMAN) was telling him to make his product sound like the best thing since sliced bread.

[George Roof]

Pickling g crystals is just fine. Its been decades since I've used it so I forget the type acid it is. Whoever said formic acid would curl hair is FOS and correct at the same time. It is nearly impossible to get formic acid below 2.0 . I love to get my pickles down to 1.0.

[mr.T aka mr. friendly]

Six gallons of water to one deer cape will hold pH a lot better than a five gallon will. I always had to tinker with a five gallon bath, six gallons is about right that will hold a good pH that you will not need to chase. To small of a pickle bath is not big enough to do the job.