why do i have to neutralize after pickling cant i just wash with soap and water and then tan..
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Pickling employs ACID to break down substances in the raw skin. Neutralizing the acid in the skin with a base(Do you know your chemistry?) will ensure that the acid does not continue to work and damage the structure of the skin itself.
you have to stop the acid from doing what that acid was made to do. You can't put a handfull of baking soda in three gallons of water and let the cape set in it for thirty minutes?
If you need to you can email them with exact questions like that... but I will try to help. You don't actualy fully neutralize the hide/cape you only neutralize the surface of the flesh side. Most tans are desined to tan at a lower ph. (4 to 4.5) Tans are "atracted" to the low ph that is inside the skin. (the inside of the skin is tanned first) as the skin sits in the tan over time (12-24 hrs) the surface is then tanned. this is needed so you don't "over tan" any part of the skin. when a skin is over tanned you will loose most of its stretch. all in all if you follow the directions you will be happy with the results! it's the people that skip steps because they don't see why its needed that have crappy tanned hides! Have you ever heard this? "I need help... I did'nt salt the hide it went right into the pickle... after 4 days in the pickle with a ph of 3.5 it went into the tan for 3 days. oiled with neats foot oil but the hide is stiff and the hair is falling out. what did I do wrong?" Have fun! Joe
I WAS TAUGHT BY A FEW TAXIDERMISTS AND THEY NEVER NEUTRALIZED THERE HIDES.. I WAS JUST WONDERING WHY I HAVE TO DO THIS.. BUT BY YOUR RESPONSE I SEE WHY NOW.. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANCERS I WILL NEUTRALIZE MY HIDES..