Does anyone have any experience with rehydrating an entire deer head with the intentions of remounting it on either the same form or a different one? It is a two year old mount. Tanned with Liqua-tan. Used AFG hyde paste (water soluble) and dakota modeling clay. In essence all "ingredients" are somewhat water-soluble. Would the addition of a "relaxer" or whatever to enhance the rehydration/softening process, while maintaining hair retention be possible? Any suggestions.........................
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Why would you want to do it. The time involed in doing this your better off on getting a new cape. But to answer your question is yes. You can rehydrate the hide again. Water, a dash of downey and a handfull of salt. Use a tub big enough to submerge the whole head in. After about an hour start checking the seam and see if it's getting rehydrated, if so cut the threads and start working the cape off the form. It takes some time but it will come off. The glue that is left on the cape is taken off with a wire wheel.
Now remember there is no gaurentee on any thing, if the hide was properlly done you should have no problem. The only problem is memory retension in the cape. So if you use the same form it should be fine.
Thanx Frank, I'm glad to find someone willing to admit they'd tried it. I've tapped several sources to find someone with experience here. I know of a "DP" taxidermist that said he had to do it once because he put two mounts on the wrong forms. They were both relatively "fresh", he pretty much "dunked" 'em and had no problem switching forms. I have a couple of my first mounts(2 yrs old) that I'd like to re-work and make some detail corrections. I'd like to use a few mounts for advertising, but not looking the way they do right now. Thanx again.