Gentlemen,
I need your professional advice.
Today I start to mount Ibex shoulder and found the skin very tender and tear very easily,not hair slipage,just tender.The skin was pickled with Formic acid[around 2-3level of PH],tanned with Basochrome,then oiled and drained.I asked my helper,who did the skin what's happend and understood that he forgot the neutralization bath.I would like to get some advice drom you what to do!Can I neutralizise the skin now,or it is late,or needn't? I am ready to dip the skin for a while in the water and formaldehyde solution to tighten it up,before the mounting next day...
Thank you very much in advance for any help and best wishes to all!
Valentin
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As a rule, even without the neutralization being done, this type of situation doesnt really show up as weakness in the skin until several years later. If this is a fairly new skin, then it surprises me that it appears weak. With age the acid in the skin begins to break down the bonding - but thats only in much older skins.
I would go ahead with neutralizing it now, then rinsing, drain and use your Formaldehyde dip. But I would do it at the same time. Dont do the neutralization now and the dip tommorrow.
I'm inclined to think that it isnt the lack of neutralization that is causing you to have weakness in that skin (unless it is an older tanned skin) - but perhaps it was shaved too thin? Without seeing it I cant give you a definitive answer - but only guess. Thats my best try!