I was told by someone that when ordering my form for a cape. If I go one size down from what I measure I am safe. I am sure that this will be a very opinionated topic. So please give me your feedback. I have a 7x20 cape, and I chose a size (A: 7 1/4" x B: 19" x C: 18"). I was told that its easier to fit the A measurment than the B. So just wanted additional opinions on it. Anything that I will need to know extra for the fit on it. Thanks
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When I am done skinning the cape, I measure the neck circumfrences and order according to those. The eye to nose I take with calipers at time of death for best accuracy, and measure from front of eye to the tip of each horn for correct horn angle when putting the skull plate back on the form. The reason for my pre tanned measurements is because I like to recreate my deer as close to real life sizes as possible. I do have a hydraulic spreader that I use to stretch my tan-shrunken capes to their biggest size before putting them on the form. Alot of the time it takes longer to do this versus just allowing for shrinkage, and it is probably not practical for a commercial operation. But I only do mine and my families so I can take extra time with them. I hope this is of some help.
It will be easier to mount with a smaller form, however it will not be a true representation of the trophy when finished. I measure mine carefully and order a form to fit it as correct to size as possible. I only order a smaller form when there is damage on the cape that forces me. I give my customers their money's worth.
Capes shrink as they dry just like all leather. And there isn't a person out there that can tell the difference between a 19" and 20" form on a mounted deer. You want the cape to have a relaxed fit when you sew it. If you force it on the form, you are just asking for problems like hair patterns not laying down, and a seam that pulls open as it dries.
Most capes will actually let out some, if theyre tanned correctly, and I give it as much as I can, as far as neck size to the customer. Even if you give him back what he shot, he will swear it was bigger, hahaha. I personally never got the gist of downsizing, I just learned to get the stretch back out, or swear at it till it fit better.
I'm a little surprised at the responses you are getting. I can't think of a "good" reason to order a form that is too small for your cape. Don't get me wrong, I've ordered lots of forms and had to alter them to fit a cape of mine, but never if the correct size was available. Say I have a deer that measures 22" just behind the ears, after shaving and tanning I get enough stretch I could mount it on a 23" form, and sometimes maybe even a 24" form, but then yes, it is tight and I would worry about shrinkage at the seam and other areas. My point is, there is enough stretch in the hide that a smaller form is never necessary. Measure the carcass and order a form that size. The hide was loose when it came off, it will still be loose when it goes back on. My 2 cents, Cole
Must have resorted to this as a safe bet to make up for their inability to properly measure a cape. IF you know how to measure, order the size that your measurements tell you. The measurements I use are the ones I take from a finished tanned cape. After all, no matter what other measurements you make, the only measurements that will be true and that will fit your mannikin is that of your finished cape.
Do your self and your business a big favor and invest in some extra forms of various sizes and prefit those capes after tanning,tag it bag it, freeze it, when the form comes mount it .This takes out all the guise work .also those extra forms are tax deductible.