this will be my first shoulder mount to try. i have a cape that i skinned out last night(11-20-03). i have not yet split the lip or eyes. i salted down last night thinking that i ws going to be able to start the tanning process today. something has come up and i will have to put it off for a few days. can i just freeze with the salt on it or do i need to wash and let dri then frezze.
thanks guys
Return to Beginners Category Menu
You should have split the lips, eye lids and turned the ears prior to salting! One good salting last night then shake off the old salt and resalted this morning and you would have been ok. Salting would be all it needs until you are able to tan.
Salted capes do not freeze well...could take a really long time and can allow bacteria to grow.
Better off to do as most everyone I know of does... split and turn salt and forget about it until you tan or ship them off to be tanned!
And NO I wouldn't wash out the salt, but then again I wouldn't freeze a salted cape either! Best of luck.
Now! I can tell you that your cape is going to be trashed if you try to freeze. Take out, split and turn everything then scrape old salt off and salt with clean salt. Put a fan on it and let it dry hard, try to dry it ASAP. Keep the cape proped open to get air circulating on the hair and flesh sides. I use a frame to open it and hang from the celing with a fan on it.
If you salt it dry before you completly split everything, you can do it alot of time during the pickle process. But I would suggest at least turning the ears and try to split as much as you can.