I just finished mounting a deer, of which I tanned myself. I had the cape dryed before I ever got to the mounting stage, so I soaked it up in the 1cup to 5 gal water bath. The thing looked like it had been dragged backwards for 40 miles! I have never seen so many cowlicks and swirls. I have groomed them down with lava soap lather. My question is; are they going to come back when all is dry and brushed out? I see all of the great looking deer heads in the magazines and videos, and they are so slick and smooth. What gives? Thanks for any advise, and many accolades to Ken and the crew for a great site!
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I have had that happen every stinking time I have flint dried a deer cape! I had a very good taxidermist look at them and that is what I was told. Since I have quit flint drying the capes it has not happened any more!
1cup of what to 5 gallons of water?
I have found to wrap the mount with cheese cloth to hold the cowlicks in place.
One of two things, either your cape did not fit the form (form too big) or the cape could have been thinned down too much hitting the folicles. Was it a commercial tan? 99% of the time, if your hair is standing up the cape was not aligned properly on the form and usually the form is too big making the hair stand on end.
Thanks to all for your thoughts. Sarah, I left out the part about 1 cup of SALT! Drew, I EZ-100 tanned that cape. Form may have been a bit tight, but I have found that I do not get a great deal of stretch from any of my home tans. I no longer dry any cape, after tanning, I now keep them hair dryed and flesh wet, frozen. As far as flint drying, I have always heard that your capes should be rock hard before you start the procedure. Just for a change, I may try to do one by starting it through the solutions, right after the second salting. Thanks again for your comments.
I have never heard of hair not laying down because a cape was dried completely before tanning. I dry all my capes until they are stiff as a board, and most tanneries require this. Most will charge you for additional drying if they are sent still damp.
I do not tan my own, but I have received some commercial tans that were supposed to be "the best" and did not get any stretch from them.
Your cape could have just been screwey for some reason, but usually hair standing up is an ill fitting form. I used a Brand X mulie form that was sculpted in a way that I did not feel was natural. And of course it gave me fits, I could not get the hair to lay down on the throat of on the sides of the form. Never used that form since.
Good Luck!
for the information. It could have been a combination of many odd factors. When I said the cape was dried all the way, I meant that I dried it after oiling it. I dry all my capes rock hard before tanning too. I just thought that maybe the hair would be prone to take certain set patterns and would have a memory that you could not get out by soaking. Thanks to all again.