I presently have two hides salted and dried completely. I will be pickling and fleshing during the week, tanning and work on mounting them over the Holidays as I've got the time. The question I have is I am also going to be picking up two other heads to mount that have been placed in a freezer since they were shot. After I pick them up from customers (relatives) need I salt them after caping them, or can I go right to the pickle and fleshing, tanning, order the mannikins and refreeze the tanned hides until order comes through. Would there be a potential problem for hair slippage or?
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Cape them out and salt them 24 hours shake off and resalt. Just like any other deer
or mammal skin. Some might disagree but I always salt the 48 hours and let dry.
Unless you have an auto tanner and things would be different. But you will have to talk to
someone else about that.
Todd B
Hello Marty,
Todd is correct with his advice to you.
Salting is a very important part of any tanning step as it will do a few real important things for you.
It will draw out the body fluids in the skin, making the skin thirsty for your pickling solution.
Its like this....Dump a cup of water on the floor. Take a dry sponge and set it into the water. It will draw up all the water.
Dump a cup of water on the floor again. Now take a saturated sponge and set it into the water. It wont obsorb anything because it's already reached its obsorbing capacity.
The same is to be applied with the salting. By drawing the moistures out of the hide, you'll make that hide thirsty for your pickle and will obtain a more thorough pickle in the hide.
Salt also helps to set the hair as well as drawing bacteria to the salt and not your hide.
Dont skip the salting just to try to save time,it might cost you more in the long run by doing so.
If you need any help with this, feel free to contact me anytime at (1-800)843-3320 ext105 or e-mail me at this address, and I'de be happy to help you out.
Have a great day....Dave>Product Specialist-VanDyke's
Thanks for the sound advice. It makes alot of sense in the reasoning you give to salt rather than save time. I truly appreciate the insight, as I would hate to ruin a cape in haste. I kind of thought that this would be the answer but didn't understand why. I will proceed with the two I'v started and salt the new ones as suggested. I guess one will get the return on his work as he invests. take shortcuts and recieve an inferior product. Again Thasnks and I'ss get in touch if I need other advise or have other questions.