If it is OK to re-use an acid pickle for pickling deer capes, where/how do you neutralize the cape? Can you transfer the pickled cape to clean water and neutralize here by monitoring pH while adding the baking soda? Or...............
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There are 2 ways to neutralize if you are going to use EZ-100 or Rittel's KWIK-N-EZE paint-on tan for your tan. You can neutralize the pickle by slowly bringing up the PH to a 4.5-4.8. Or - you can make up a seperate bath of Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda) and neutralize your skins there. To mix a seperate bath - mix 1 oz. of Sodium Bicarb to each 1 gallon of water used.After neutralizing - always rinse your skins well - drain, and then do your tanning.
I always add the sodium bicarb. slowly to neautralize an acid pickle itself, usually requires 20 min. or so. Is this "gradual" increase in alkalinity important if neutralizing in a separate bath as well, or just mix as you indicated, then put cape in and soak it for 15-20 min.? If I could trouble you w/one more Q. - I'd like to incorporate the PS-650 Bacteriacide into my process. Should I use it during a "rinse" between steps, if so when for optimum results? Also, can this be applied topically(sp?) if say I suspected bacteria present in a skin or cape and if so how best to apply?-------Oops, might be 2 Q's
Bacteriacides are way too over-used in our business. Don't add any to your neutralizing bath. Besides being a waste of your money - it wont accomplish any protection. Dont add any Salt either. If your skin or cape has been pickled - it should be sterilized and no bacteria should be present.
As for using a seperate bath and also feeding the Sodium Bicarb in in several feeds - I never do - and I've never experienced a problem - only when you go over 30 minutes seperately does it become a problem.
Thanks for neutralization info. Now on the bacteriacide, is there any legitimate use for it? I have a quart of it, I'd return it if there isn't much call for it. Doing deer heads right now. Will be doing birds, small mammals and maybe a fish or two eventually.
and I do a heck of alot of tanning. suit yourself.
Thanx for the info! That stuff is on its way back to Woonsocket.