Hi All. Can't seem to find enough detail in the archives so I thought I would solicit some opinions. I just got my bear back from WildLife Gallery. It turned out great! It is flat skinned and dry tanned. I plan on lifesizing this bear and have all the appropriate measurements taken at the time of skinning. I know that I need to soak the head and paws, sponge the rest and sweat it overnight but I could use some advise on stretching to get back to the original measurements. I know to stretch width wise, length wise, then width wise again but what is the best way to actually do the stretching? Should I stretch as you would for a rug using a grid table and nails or can I stand on half and pull up, perhaps rolling a 18 inch dowel into the edge of the hide for an even and solid grip? Any ideas on actual methods are appreciated. Also read about using downy and even baking soda in the rehyradtion water. I cringe at the baking soda idea but the downy sounds interesting. Any downside or risk to that procedure? Thanks!
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Bears usually have good stretch. In fact I usually order a form that is as much as 3 inches bigger in girth than the actual carcass measurements. I use 10% as a base. Re-hydrate the hide. I then place it on a large table I have just for such things. With leather clamps attached every 3 to 6 inches I attach one side of the hide to the table. Then I pull from the other using ratcheting tie downs. I then do the same front to back. And as I always split the legs, I stretch them in the same manor. It looks as if I have the thing all trussed up. but will give the bear its maximum. I then insert a deflated basket ball in the head. Stick the needle into the basketball. and fill it with my compressor until the skin is taught. Allow to stay stretched for 2 to 3 hours. Then I mount. If I get to an area that is still a bit short, I sew it leaving a bit of a gap. The next day I tighten the stitches, this has always closed the gap.
stick my head out of the shop's door and the first guy passing by, I grab him and say pull on this end as pull the other end that ususally works.