Have a question on my first mtn lion rug. after its tanned (liqua-Tan),do I mount the head and then stretch and staple the hide on the board to dry, This leaves out the breaking process. I doesnt seem this would leave the hide very soft after it has dried .Or do I break it after its mounted and dried. or should it be stretched, dried and broken first. then rehydrate the head and mount. I was wonder which way would give me a softer hide. Hope this makes sense. I ordered a video on doing rugs but its not really clear if the guy ever breaks the hide.I do have a tumbler to tumble the hide in. What should the correct order of doing this be. Thanks.
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If its for hangin on the wall, I would leave it stiff.
Otherwise, break and soften the leather until suple, the mount the head and stretch the hide.
On your board mark it off in 2 inch grids, sqaured against the factory edges.
This will help you to stretch and sqyaure the hide. Allowing it to be equal on both sides.
Now with big cats I don't over stretch, I have observed shedding of hair on large cats when over stretched.