We have large elk antlers in velvet that we have injected with Velvet Tan, and then soaked in Velvet Tan solution. There did not appear to be enough blood left in the velvet to drain before injecting. They've been hanging to dry for a couple of days, and now it is slipping, and has little maggots and flies on it, around the bases. We are soaking in Velvet Tan solution again, but wonder what else we can do to save it? Is it safe to put Protex on it, or mix Protex in the solution, or does anyone have better advice? Thanks!
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I don't waste time with the injection method, I will soak a fresh set of antlers in a formic acid pickle. This works great and I have yet to have any problems. I will mix one pound of salt to a gallon of water (desolve the salt all the way) I add some bacteriacide of some kind (I use PD-64) about a half cup to twenty gallons. I then add twelve to thirteen ounces of formic acid, now this is important, you want a PH level of 2.0 - 2.5, if the PH is high add borax to bring it down, low, add acid. I will completely submerge the antlers in the soulution for at least a week, they could stay in there for months with no worry but a week is ok. After that I will pull them out and rinse them in cold water real good, hang them and blow dry with a fan. If you find that as it's drying and salt crystals start to form on the vevet, don't worry just rinse again. I know this isn't a solution for your current problem but you might want to try it. If it doesn't work you could always ship them to Research Mannikins and let them put artifical velvet on the antlers. I have seen their work and it looks good. Hope this helps you in the future and good luck!
I think Mike meant --add acid to LOWER ph, borax (or baking soda) to RAISE ph.--Aaron H.
Bicarbonate of soda dissolves instantly. Borax can if it's ground fine enough I suppose, but it usually comes in various size grains that make dissolving unpredictable. I'd never think of using it to neutralize.
Aaron, thanks for correcting me, I need to stop playing on this site while at work, I get into to big of a hurry!