advice on salt dried cape please

Submitted by kevin on 9/24/05 at 12:32 AM. ( kallenscott6@aol.com ) 64.12.116.204

have a salt-dried cape that was rock hard, i put it in my basement to store , when i checked it today it had started sweating and softening up. what can i do with it? should i put a fan on it and try to dry it again or should i rehydrate it wash it and put it in the freezer. if i were to rehydrate would it freeze properly? i can't mount it yet so i need to store it. i have checked the archives and have not found the answer that i need. i would appreciate any help that anyone could give me . i want to thank all of you in advance and look forward to your responses.

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Freeze It

This response submitted by Old Fart on 9/24/05 at 12:50 AM. ( ) 64.122.57.101

Just put it in the freezer as is. While it might not freeze solid, a freezer is a DRY environment and that's what you want for now. The other alternative is to dry it out again and then keep it stored in a dryer place. Salt dried capes and hides will often soften up in humid weather, usually the only problem will be mold. When I have a single hide that isn't enough to send off to the tanner I have run into this situation, usually there are no long term problems. But then I rely on the expertise of my tanner to handle it, I don't do any tanning is house.


Always

This response submitted by paul k on 9/24/05 at 8:28 AM. ( ) 68.83.60.41

Store your salt dried capes in a cool dry area, just as the salt absorbs the moisture out of your capes and skins, it will absorb the moisture out of the air as in a wet damp basement.


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