I seem to be having some real problems with hair sliping on my last two capes. The problem starts early in the tanning stages. Usally right after salting and fleshing. These capes are fresh,we shot them on a cold Wyoming morning, caped them out,put them in cold (freezer) storage.I thaw them, turn everything, salt them twice,flesh,then send them to the sink for a bath in Kemal-4,(cold water)and some bacteriacide.This is where I first start seeing alot of hair. I know this slippage is not from decay or a cape that has been moist for an extended period of time. I have tried Lutan-F,Spray-Tan,ect. and have the same problems arise. I dont seem to have any problems on any of my other capes, just Antelope. Is it my process? The best Antelope that I ever mounted was done in my early days using D.P.Any suggestion? Thanks to anyone who responds.
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I am just a begginer myself, but i always flesh before i salt
Are you sure that it is slipping? Do you end up with bald spots in your capes?
You cannot handle, soak, tan, or anything else with antelope without getting
a lot lot of hair in the sink or wherevver!
They are hollow haired and the hair is extremely brittle; as long as it is
not coming out in patches, you probably don't really have anything unusual.
If you are getting spots where you actually have hair slippage,
rather than breakage, I would skip the freezer!
Antelope are also notorius for slippage if taken in the usual hot weather
that occurs in many states hunting seasons.
Our season is in August and triple digit heat is not uncommon.
The best way to avoid problems is to flesh,split, and turn and
then salt right away. Re-salt next day and then hang so that air can
circulate around them to dry them out.
good luck
Keep those capes as dry as possible while you flesh them clean, then salt and DRY THEM TIGHT! Do not expose them to moisture or you will loosen the hair! Its best to even towel dry them if they are wet when they come in, or sawdust them to absorb the moisture. AFTER they dry tight, then rehydrate them in a brine, using 2 lb of salt to every 1 gallon of water needed. Usually it takes 6-9 hours. Then rinse and place it in the pickle. This is a safe way to relax your capes! Antelope skins are very vulnerable - even laying in plain water will loosen the hair - and if you wash them in an alkaline soap, that will loosen them even faster. DON'T WASH THEM PRIOR TO PICKLING! An alkaline will tend to pulp or weaken the epidermis and cause the roots to loosen. If you feel they need washing - wait until they have pickled thoroughly (I wait 3 days), then take them out, drain for 30 minutes, shave, THEN WASH THEM, and rinse them well, and return them to the pickle overnight or longer, before you pull them and neutralize before tanning.