I trapped some marten last year, intending to use them fortaxidermy, and as I typically do for furriers, dried and stretched them on a stretching board. This is my question, or problem. When hides are stretched they seem to hold the shape they were stretched to. When I order forms, I can never find a form that is long enough - and also the face gets misstretched. I end up with a lot of extra skin to try and tuck. I doubt there is anything that can be done about the marten I have left and I don't stretch marten or other hides intended for taxidermy use any more. Does anyone else have these problems or is it just me? Also, why do pople sell stretched and dried furs to taxidermists, and why do taxidermists buy them if they are going to have to deal with mishaped hides?
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You're exactly right about stretched and dried skins. I, for one, do not buy any furs that way. They have always caused me problems. I do prefer salt dried skins, but they will do the same thing if they are pulled out for length and then salted. All skins(or capes) seem to have better shape after tanning if they were stretched for width and then salted. I have also encountered a lot more slippage in air dried compared to salted skins.
I have done air dried skins and when relaxing for tanning they come back to thier original form,esp after I wire wheel them a few days into the pickling process.I guess you just need the right water type and the right tanning chemicals.I use Rittels and well water.The only trouble I ever had is with grease burned skins,but those were put up for fur,not taxidermy.Also, air dried skins sent a tanner turn out fine too.
Martin are thin skinned and you should not have a problem with them if relaxed properly.