I had a fellow tell me that he uses dry preserve on all his deer mounts with no problems. I have always pickled and wet tanned mine.
What are the pros and cons of dry preserve on deer? Do you still need to pickle the cape? I appreciate all opinions.
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Don't even try to consider it. If you're tanning, keep tanning. Don't take a step back.
Click the "Beginners" category. Scroll down to the bottom and click on 2001. Find the September listings and go to 9/6/01 and read "Wet Tan, Dry Tan, Dry Preservative". Explains everything.
I agree fully with George. Dry preservatives do have some uses in taxidermy, but not on deer hides.
this is a subject that has bed debated nearly to death. proponents on both sides have had bitter battles about it. Even George has waffled on the subject from time to time. Not that long ago he was using DP himself. but before that if memory serves he had tanned. The fact of the matter is a skilled craftsmen that is familiar with the procedure, and performs the process correctly. can achieve a quality long lasting mount using either process. I have mounts that were done in the 60s using DP that look as good as those that were tanned. in both cases the hide needs to be thinned properly. not only for stretch. but in the case of DP to ensure proper penetration of the preservative. STRETCH, DP has it all over tan. as the DP hide is basically preserved raw hide.
SHRINKAGE, Here The tan has DP beat. since the hide went through the shrinkage in the tan. it shrinks little in the drying process. BUG PROOF. A close race here, the main ingredient in most DP is borax. which is by far the best bug proffer. However today's tans seem to offer more than adequate protection. TIME. again the DP does not require a pickle rub it in, tumble, and mount. although some of the new tans on the market claim the same thing. I question whether they are true tans. or a modified version of DP. COST, again a hide can be DPed for pennies. whichever method you choose. remember, both can produce quality work if done properly. it is the taxidermist, his ability, and knowledge that makes the mount. not the materials he chooses. some things make it easier, some make it more profitable. the individual has to choose his or her own parameters.
Some of us have done so much for so many, for so long with so little. we are now qualified to do anything with nothing. LOL
I did tan once before going to DP for a period. The original "pickle tans" that I used back in those years meant using a bathtub and a boat paddle to agitate the hide. Tanning was crude and back breaking. I went to DP until the arrival of the wet tans and the paint-on tans. I still use DP on all small and most medium sized animals, but I'll never go back with the big guys, even if I don't tan it myself.