what is the difference between wet tanned and dry tanned - do wet tanned skins need mounted right away (or frozen) - do you have to relax regularly tanned capes - how do you do it?
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Terryr, Wet tanned and dry tanned are both tans. Wet is sent from the tanner frozen and normally will be received thawed but still cold or hopefully icy. Mount right away or refreeze it as it suits you. Dry tans need rehydrating and stretching back to original size. Tanners will make recomendations as to how to rehydrate. I make up about 3 gallons of water add a cap full of fabric softener (the cheep stuff- makes the water "wetter"), and a cap full of liquid lysol (discourages bacteria). Some people add a handful of salt instead of the lysol and lots of people soak up in plain water. In this taxidermy stuff theres always more than one way to do things. Don't soak the cape- I soak the face 30 minutes since the nose and ears are pretty hard. Then I quickly wet down the rest of the cape, squeeze out the excess place in a plastic bag and drop it in my refrigerator over night. Next day I take it out and do the fine fleshing of the face make any needed repairs and mount it. Enjoy! Aaron H.