Borax or not?

Submitted by Bill on 02/15/2004. ( ) 64.28.50.50

What consequences might one experience if a skin has been fleshed and washed thoroughly and borax excluded from the mounting process? What is the purpose of using Borax? When using latex caulking in areas of birds to get better control of the feathers it seems that borax reduces some of the effect. I only have a few years of experience and would like to hear opinions from veterans.

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Borax

This response submitted by George on 02/15/2004. ( georoof@aol.com ) 205.188.209.10

If you're using borax alone, it's main purpose is as an insect inhibitor. It does have some drying qualities, but not substantial. If you're using Dry Preservative (DP) the talc and the alum work as a drying astringent that holds the feathers in better as well as speeding the drying. Dry preservatives always contains borax, but borax doesn't contain anything else other than just borax.


Hummmmmmmmm

This response submitted by Wally on 02/15/2004. ( wpttaxidermy@hotmail.com ) 216.70.5.23

I use Borax and a good quality latex and never seen anything of the sort.........


Borax and latex?

This response submitted by George on 02/15/2004. ( ) 152.163.252.136

Is there something I'm missing here, Wally?


Too much Borax

This response submitted by Bill on 02/16/2004. ( ) 64.28.55.10

I may be using way to much Borax. Should I be shaking out the excess?


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