Hi,
I am wondering do people usually rehydrate a deer cape and then measure for a form or measure and order forms based on thinking you'll get about a 1/2 inch stretch and then rehydrate right before mounting? Any opinions will help.
Thanks!
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But then I also take green over hair, and over the meat. I order off of the rehydrated cape minus 1 inch and use the other two to make sure I am in the ballpark of what it was. No guesses
I meaure the rehydrated cape and when in doubt, drop one size smaller assuming the eye/nose measurement is ok. No reason to stretch and fight a cape just to get it sewed. Especially because it will just shrink back a lot and pull your seam open.
This is how I order forms. I write down two measurements, and this is done during the skinning process. I take the hair on measurement around the small of the neck and write that down as "hair on". Then I measure the eye to nose. Next after I skin head I take the same measurement around neck and write "meat". If Im going to flesh, salt & send to tannery, I use the "meat" measurement when ordering form. If I decide to powder the deer, Ill use the "hair on" measurement or go down 1/2 inch. If you purchased a tanned hide, order your form from what the skin measures. This system works pretty good. I used to struggle with capes not fitting, what a pain.
tan your capes first then measure what you have and order accordingly. If the form is still a little to big ( usually down the neck ) simple shave the form to fit perfectly. Its quite easy.