I have a problem with hair slipage on a deer cape. It was OK until I rehydrated it with ultra-soft by the directions of 2 Gal. of cool water to 1 1/4 ounces of ultra-soft. It didn't call for salt.
The question is should of I added salt?
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On a dried cape, all you need is plain water and Ultra Soft. Did you leave it in the bath extra long or maybe your cape had problems that showed up after being rehydrated.
Garry,
No salt is required with ultra Soft. I have used it many times with superior results.
The problem obviously happened before the salting process. May not be someting you did at all. Field care before it came to you Etc.
How Much hair is coming out? A little bit is natural. If its coming out in clumps,you definately have a problem.
There is much information on this matter if you click onto the "Search" Button. More than I or anyone here would have the time to write.
Check it out and you'll be amazed!
Have a good evening,
Dave
Bottom line - the cape was already bad. I never add any more salt to the relaxing bath other than what is on the capes themselves and 99% come out great and the rest were simply bad before they went in. I had a hard time swallowing this fact to start with but that's the way it is. You might want to try some bascal S with your relaxer bath and pickle as well but if the cape is going to slip it's going to slip. If you go to www.taxidermyweb.com and look into Bruce Rittel's exellent articles on using this ands acid bate, I think you will enjoy them. Just my 2 cents. B.Bishop
....with Brad,
BUT......if I know a cape is iffy, the first thing I will do is let my customer Know. I know.....if you recieve the cape frozen,neither of you know till you thaw. But once you determin that the cape is Iffy,I would let your customer know.If you want to try to save it, I personally wont salt dry it. I'll salt for 24 hours and throw it imediately into my pickle solution. I have had good success with tannit VGS. Its added into my pickle solution before I've throwen the cape/Hide into it.tannit VGS tightens the pours to reduce slippage and it DOES work!It will not alter yourPH.Call it an insurance policy if you will.
Another product you might want to try is Glen Conley's "Stop Rot"!. To be applied before salting. Glen,ifyou're reading this,enlighten everyone on the subject.
if you want to learn more about Glen's products, go to www.TaxidermyReference.com
have agood night,
dave
to add to Daves exellent advice is that if the cape is questionable when your skinning it, salt it immediatly after you get it off of the head. Turn the lips and eyes and ears then while it is in the salt. Be sure to keep it in a shallow tote as it will start to drain. Too many people take way too much time doing the facial work and they tranfer heat from their hands to the cape and cause rapid problems. Get the job done quickly and get on with the proccess. Thanks Dave for your insights as well. B. Bishop