I was wondering how long it takes to thaw a cape out that i have already tanned using McKenzie tan. I want to mount it this weekend and need to know as soon as possible. I was also wondering why after the cape is tanned using McKenzie tan, it doesnt even look like nothing happened to it. It looks nothing like a commercially tanned cape.
And you also cant leave the cape out like a commercially tanned cape either cause i tried this using a raccoon that i tanned using McKenzie tan and it got all dry looking and stiff as a rock. I have followed all the steps that it says to and kept a correct ph level. Does anyone else experience this problem?
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I set my capes(deer) out the night before and they are usually still slightly frozen in the center... As for them not looking like a comercial tan, to me it don't matter what it looks like. I have had no trouble whatsoever with the McKenzie tan. I have no idea what happened with the coon..have yet to have that problem. hope this helps and good luck!
The coon that i did dried up and became real stiff and turned a kind of redish color. I have seen capes that taxidermists have commercially tanned and they just leave them out of the freezer until there ready to mount. They stay soft and flexible and have a tanned leather look and texture to them. McKenzie tan from my experience is nothing like that.
Matt, any tanned skin will become hard unless you break it.The tanneries use tumblers.You on the other hand would need to do it manually.Breaking involves dragging the skin across the edge of a table or some other like surface.This is what breaks down the fibers to soften the skin.A hide that is "wet" tanned at a tannery will also become hard if left to dry.If the hide is going on a mannikin you want it to dry hard.I have tanned deer skins with McKenzie tan and broken them and they were buttery soft.Just keep your skins frozen after tanning until say the night before you're ready to mount.