is it neutralized enough

Submitted by tom on 3/20/02. ( ) 64.210.248.135

I pickled with formic acid with a little oxalic added.Neutralized
20 to 30 min in a bath of 1 tble spoon of baking soda to 1 gal of
h2o periodically turning the capes around.Hung to drain for 1 hr,
and just for curiousity checked the skin with ph papers and
found that the skin was about 3.0.I applyed Liqua tan anyway
like i always do after towel drying.My question is :Are these capes
going to be O.k.? and should i neutralize longer than this? I've
talked to the guys at McKenzie and they recommend to neutralize for
about 15 min. thanks tom

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does not sound long enough to me.

This response submitted by Todd B on 3/20/02. ( tddbuch@aol.com ) 205.188.208.165

I know I usually leave it in the neutralizing bath for about 25 to 30 minutes. I tan with the P.h around 5.0 to 6.0. That is just the way I do it because that is what the directions on my Lutan F said to do. I do not know if this is the only way just the way I learned it.

Todd B


1 ounce

This response submitted by Dan K on 3/20/02. ( furandhide@papadocs.come ) 209.83.146.86

I use 1 ounce weighed per gal of water. I believe this to be correct. I haven't checked it against how many tablespoons that is, but 1 tbls sounds kinda light. Liquids are 'usually' measured by volumn and solids by weight.
Dan K


They should be but....

This response submitted by Frank on 3/21/02. ( ) 209.86.17.193

they may be stiffer then what they could be. I have always noted that when a cape is neutralized long enough it kind of puffs up in the water. Also after it has drip dried I will tugg on it just behind the ears from left to right. If the cape does not have some stretch here then I will neutralize it longer. I don't have a set in stone time with this...some do...but I have found that there are alot of variables that will cause a cape to be stiffer. (how thin it is, how long its been in the acid, how long it was salted, how strong the pickle is and so on)


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