Yes I did search the archives, but couldn't pin-point the answer I was looking for. I mounted my first deer a few years ago using dry preservative. Looking back, I see many things that could/should have been done different and would like to re-mount it. Can a dry preservative mount be rehydrated and then remounted? If so, how should I rehydrate it.
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I tried to relax an dp hide that was two years old,just to see what would happen. it never completly relaxed, like the original green stage. soaked in cold water for several days,I may have not soaked it long enough, but thats about all you can do .
I just did a Spanish goat. It was originally mounted in "76" shoo
It needed alot of attention due to cracked incision and seperation.
We rehydrated and pickled it in Krotann. It was shaved w/ a round knife and remounted. It had a memory we fought the whole way. We placed it on a different form and it is currently drying. Excellent save. It was flexible enough to try but not nearly as nice as a new hide. We used kemol 4 and the pickle
Good Luck
PS It was going to be tossed if it didnt work... Make that personal decision first. I will send a pic if I can find a before shot.
When I say tossed I really meen the hide only. We would have saved the other components for a rainy day. (horns,eyes, form)
To answer you question Matt: NO! A DP hide can and will form a "memory" to the shape of the form it was mounted on. You can escape with some of the eye and clay work, but the rest of the hide will simply insist on retaining it's original shape. A DP hide has a high pH content and on MOST GOOD TANS will taint your tanning process by jockeying your pH levels very radically. My suggestion is to get a new hide and remount from the beginning.
The parts of the mount that I'm not satisfied with is the nose, lips and eyes so maybe that will work. I was wanting to use the same form again.
Mark, did you use anything other that Kemol 4? What was in the pickle?
Thanks.
We got the goat off the form w/ a garbage can of water. Mother Nature was going to pick up where she left off. It started to smell.
We yanked it off relaxed it best we could w/ Kemol 4 and put it into Krowtann. Pulled it and shaved it down. It was really thick. I suppose doing DP back then shaving wasnt important. That also probably caused the big seperation eventually. We pickled it again for three days after thinning/shaving. It is still carded and lots of staples to hopefully kill the memory. It is drying nicely. I feel some wrinkles and it isnt perfect. It doesnt show though. Gotta pet it to get a feel. No groping the goat. Full R&R on a DP mounted goat from the 70's. shrugging shoulders
Good Luck
True story. Yes, It did have a memory and I stated that. I know you dont like that pickle w/ Alum. No secret. Maybe the thing will fall apart on me. It was a great save. Im really gonna push for finding the before pic now. Take care
mark
Is the jockeying of the pH in order to keep that pickle stable. Borax is bound to bounce it around like a rubber ball.
I see you didnt leave your Email this time. That may meen that you dont want to further explain this to me. I dont know what the PH was doing. Probably WAS radical. There wasnt anything to lose on this guy. The borax should have cured the hide right? It started a stench not long after we put into water. Was it washed out? Do you suppose it will fall apart due to fluctuating ph? I will let you know what happens when we pull the cards and staples. maybe it will seperate from the paste and form. Poof back to a straight form memory! I warned originally to measure the option for the possibility of losing control and having to pitch the project. We used Buckeye Supreme hide glue w/ the exception of some areas that we used an epoxie. I could be wrong but I think that was by Hilton Epply. mmm cant remember for sure. Thanks as always for your time. Take Care for now.
mark