Stretching comercially tanned capes

[Michelle Nelson's Taxidermy]

I keep hearing other taxidermist say that they can get their tanned capes to streach atleast 1" bigger than the meat measurment on the deer.  So if the deer measured 20" inches off the meat they get it to streach to a 21".  I am bearly getting it to the original measurments.  It is very frustrating.  Right now i am using a tire inner tube.  I slide it into the cape and blow it up and let it set in the neck for about 15 minutes adding a little air to it 2 or 3 times.  I used a tannery this year that seamed to have good streach but i just don't think the tan is good.  I am going to go with Carolina or Key Stone this year.

[Jims Wildlife Studio]

If you get a good quality tan you can get an extra inch, I have to admit I have never in my life hear of any one using this method to stretch a cape. I have all of my capes wet tanned and simply thaw the cape stretch by hand and mount. Over stretching a cape may cause the hair to stand up on the mount.

[Rickey logan]

Wet tan don't dry tan it, usually not good stretch............

[Jims Wildlife Studio]

  I agree with rickey 100 %

[Michelle Nelson's Taxidermy]

Yes I did get my capes wet tanned.

[Tim]

Michelle,i do the same(inner tube)it just seems to make easier to fit,i krowtann whitetail formula,i think i got the innertube idea from reading Georges achieves.i also use krowtaning oil also,but i don't try to get the extra,just what it is...Tim

[oldshaver]

The shave job, is probablly the culprit, or the oil used. You can tan a cape with almost any product, but without a quality shave job, and a good oil, and a little wet end know-how, stretch will be hard to come by. A properlly tanned dry tan cape, will do ALMOST, just as good.

[Todd K]

    Michelle, just wandering, did you happen to read "I need some good advice", theres a couple of pages. I would'nt suggest trying to go bigger! Go with the meat measurement!
Good Luck!

[Mark V.]

I agree with oldshaver. I quit using commercial tanned capes years ago but when I did I had all my capes dry tanned and never really had a problem with stretch. I used Carolina fur dressing and they always put out a good product with excellent stretch. I used other tanneries also and I think alot of the problem was capes were not oiled enough and thinning was minimal. I think types of oil have alot to do with it in my own tanning.. I have tried just about every oil and some produce better stretch than others. I never had a problem with getting at least 1 inch or bigger than the meat which I believe is not accurate at all as the deer might have been dragged or hung , Mark V.

[NickyG]

I tan all of my whitetail deer and elk capes....I don't like to wait on others (tanneries) and their mysterious hloes that turn up in a perfect cape...I guess i like to tan my capes because i know that they are always in good hands, and i don't have to wait.....I have been tanning my capes using bascal-s, as a pickling agent, along with tannery degreaser (capfull), and i have been extremely pleased with using McKenzie tan, in which i can easily get a 1" stretch in my capes....You gotta wonder about some of those guys out there....We always exaggerate about stretching something bigger than it should be, including the truth on some hunting stories and such!!!   lol lol lol!