Hi My problem is I have krowtanned a deer cape and it wont stretch enough to go all the way on the form it lacks 3" for the brisket to be down far enough.I have neturalized it agian like instructions say but it doesn't seem any better.The next thing to try is krowoil but I don't have any is there any thing I can substitute.Also I dont have a fleshing machine I flesh by hand so i have not thinned the hide which I am sure adds to the problem But the instructions say the hide should be soft like a dish rag with lots of stretch but mine feels more like a wet piece of cardboard. Any help will be greatly apprecated Thanks Jerry
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you may have to flesh it better but it still should not be as stiff
as you say
you might want to call ozark woods 1800467 0369 and tell them how much and how long you soaked in baking soda to neutralize
i find krowtann a little hard to get neutralized also
now if they cant give any advice
you may be on your own
they probably wont tell you to use more baking soda
but sometimes i use a LITTLE more and soak a little longer
you may have a case of acid shock also
if you have acid shock you may have to rehydrate in salt water
for a while
try fleshing down to where you get a blue tint in the skin also
now dont cut the roots
now did you stretch that critter good ,it can take a bit of strong pulling to get that cape bake to size even if nothing is wrong
Jerry there is a awful lot in the archives from people who know a whole lot more than me
maybe they will chime in
i know some rub baking soda in a paste(very risky for slippage)
you have to be carefull if you do this
some add fabric softner to the brine or neutralizer mix or after the mix
i have done this and can testify that this works
sometimes a saltwater bath for a while and a night sweating can yield
a great amount of stretching
i hope i didnt confuse you im not trying to
but your problem could be any of the things i mentioned or a combo of them
start by calling ozark and go from there
hope i helped
paul e
p.s. get some stop rot next time it helps with buffering before you
neutralize (used as a second application)
I tryed for an hour to stretch it over the form seem the closer I got it the tigther it got I will call Ozark woods tomorrow thanks for the number. I really dont know how to shave a hide I have always used d.p. on deer this is my first time tanning a deer I dont have a fleshing machine so shaving will be a long slow process for me I am slow as smoke at fleshing. Thankes for your help Jerry
any revelation from Ozark Woods
also
if you have to flesh by hand go out and get a 8" pc of pvc
you will also need a good scalpel
the skin is a good deal tougher than before you tanned it
slide the cape on the pvc
and start making a run running the same way as lenghth
try to find the bluish tint i refered to earlier
be careful
youll get the hang of it
now if it takes to long you may have to rehydrate
it a little after your finished
mostly from the neck down now to be able to get it on the form
let me know how you made out when said and done
im interested what Ozark is going to tell you
I called Ozark Woods Come to find out if you use baking soda instead of soadum bicarbant[may be spelled wrong]you have to use 6oz.per gallon I was only using 3oz. in 2 gallons so I was under neutrailizing so I have renutrailzed and am leting it drip now. I will let you know how every thing tures out Thanks for responding Jerry
Is it posible that the form may be a little too large !
No it shouldnt be I always order my forms 1" smaller neck size that has always work before.I am doing a wall pedstal this time so it makes a sharp bend in the neck this may be part of the problem Thanks Jerry
Turned out to be quite a job for me anyway,did it with a pocket knife,shave a while sharpen a while.I dont know which I got best at shaver or sharpening it looks good other than a few little holes and seems to have a lot more stretch.I am going to sew it up and mount it in the morning I will let you know what happens Jerry
and did you have to rehydrate any
paul e
I really dont know what fixed it but this morning went great mounted him up and he fit like a glove. I don't know if it was renutrailzing which I did wrong or the shaving or rubbing him down with stop rot which I did twice before I went to bed.He turned out beautiful he it a 13 point I kill this season mounted him on a upright wall pedestal in an agressive poze ears laid back he looks tuff.Well thank you for all the help talk to you later Jerry