Shaving Question on Cape

I sent out my capes to a professional tannery. One elk cape came back and the neck seems very long and narrow. He shaves and wet tans them.

I know if you shave them wrong then the length could be longer. Which direction of shaving is wrong?

I am at a loss also on how to restretch the neck so it will fit around my form.

Thanks Mike

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leave your email, can send pictures and text

Yes this is a negative post, yes I am putting you down in this post, yes we can't answer you when we can't email for more description. (There I got that out of the way and now maybe it will eliminate a bunch of people getting in my case.) Mike email me and I will tell you how to solve your simple problem, I don't know about you,(probably more negative sounding input), but when I flesh my hides, they get streched alot longer. So when you get them back you just do the opposite. rw

What the tannery did was shave from brisket to base of neck.

Have had this happen a lot, Put two 2X4's together at on end with a bolt. Wet the cape back, insert 2x's and carefully pull the unbolted ends apart, do this fronm the rear of hide, then do this trough the from of hide, if it was tube. Or you can make a stretcher by using a piece of 1/4 inch thick by 2 inch wide and 20 inch long piece of steel round the esnd slightly and buff off any corners that would cut the hide and work it wide again, after wet back.

good job John

Very good John C that is what we need an answer not someones e-mail address.That is what this foroum is all about posting answers so everyone can find the answer.Thanks again John.

Stretch

Thanks for the responses. I didn't use my email (optional) because I was in a hurry. (8 month olds will do that to you) I don't shave my own hides, I let the tanner do that. This cape now has a 30" neck and 50" shoulder. I have usually been able to hand stretch any problems, but not this one.

I am headed to the store to try the 2x4 suggestion. All help is appreciated.

Thanks
Mike

More Info

When I said the cape measured 50" at the shoulder, the form measures 72". So I am short 22" of cape. THe neck also seems about 12" too long.

Thanks
Mike

AAhhh sorry Tim

AAhhhh sorrrry tiimmm. But I was going to email him some pictures that might help in stretching it wider. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. But, what the hay do I know, But, Mike, go to WASCO's catalog and on page 148, is item # FR, Farrier's Rasp., buy it. Then dig through your old Breakthrough or Taxidermy Today Magazines, at this moment I am not sure if it was one of them, or a promotional video they sent out with the eyes right manikin, but you will find an article or a video by John Rinehart. He shows you how to get your width back in the cape. I have done it this way and it works for me. But I also have incorporated some other things, but I did not want to waste all this space in telling about it, only to have it sit in the archives taking up server space where some people, maybe Tim is one of them, ( no offence Tim, I do not know of your capabilities, so PLEASE FORGIVE MY OPINION IF I AM WRONG.) have a hard time finding things. In fact, I wonder if stretching capes back to width is in the archives, if it ain't it will be now, right , , rw

RW

RW, I would like to see the pics. I have my email posted. Thanks

cape stretching htm

Here you go Mike, just copy and paste, http://www.allmounts.com/cape_stretching.htm

Thanks

Thanks RW. I will soak it some more. I am awaiting my RelaxR also.

Mike