When I learned taxidermy I was told, for a deer cape to flesh it, salt it, then put on liqui tan and mount 30 mins later. This is certianly a short cut by most peoples standards. I noticed I had to worry about pull around the eyes, tear ducts, and I had to make sure I had lots of pins so the lips didnt pull out. Now if I start going through all the process of tanning, and start mounthing my shoulder mounts with a wet tan, will I notice many differences to the other meathod. And will I see as much pulling around the eyes tear ducts and mouth? Thanks.
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follow the RIGHT directions, and you wont have that problem. And dont for get to SHAVE! good luck.
Where did you learn taxidermy? Yes you will notice differences.
1. flesh it. Yes this is right! (remove fat red meat and membrane)
2. salt it. Yes this too is right!
3. brush on liqitan. (ok now you have went too far!
static tans do work! but you need to folow the directions! (same with brush on tans) the reason static tans will work better for you is because they require you to shave the hide before you tan it! I use mostly EZ-Tan and only use two T-Pins in each tear duct and about 4 or 5 bank pins in the eye lids! Man George is guna have a blast with you! Have a good one Joe
Jamin,one of the benefits of using a pickle solution is that it plumps up the skin so you can shave it thinner.The method you described,you might as well be using D.P.You have to shave that hide down and by that I don't mean just taking the red meat off the hide you get it down to where you see the hair bulbs in the face and eyes and then you should not have as much pulling to where you have to use pins to hold every thing down.
That the skin around those areas is very thin. After my capes are tanned I go around the eyes nose and lips thinning it all down. It tucks easier and shrinks much less.
The process your following sure sounds abbreviated by the way I would do it. I can't comment on LiquaTan since I've never used it.
RCC
Jamin, The way you describe doing the Liquatan is not the proper way to use the product. Mounts done with liquatan can be excellent but better preparation is required. The pulling you describe is caracteristic of green skin mounting and that's about what you have going from salt to Liquatan to mounting. You will notice extreme differences using a properly tanned skin or a well shaved and properly done Liquatan cape. When capes are well thinned, tanned, fit well and a good adhesive is used there should be almost no pulling anywhere. The best advise I could give you is to hook up with your state association and learn from those who are glad to share their knowlege. Mounting a deer should not be such a struggle-keep at it and enjoy, Aaron H.