Iam fairly new at taxidermy but I have a question about salting. When I apply the first layer of salt I fold the cape and let it drain for a couple days, then resalt. A buddy of mine came over and salted the same day, but he tubed the cape, then salted but didnt fold it, he just left it laid flat. It was well covered and looked like it drained ok but after day 2 it was pretty stiff. But I guess my question is How do you salt a tubed cape and is his cape still ok to tan?
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Stiff is good. I'm taking for granted that you fleshed it well. Your friend will rehydrate the hide and then toss it into a pickle, basic stuff. Have your friend come over and watch him do it again sounds about right to me. You fold it...he doesn't, doesn't matter. As long as the salt covers everything and you change it once or twice your good to go. I prefer not to fold it and let the air get to it. the skin gets frisbee throwing dry. in my opinion less chance of hair slippage. There's always more than one way to the same destination.
I use coyote stretchers . I turn , flesh and put the cape on a stretcher , then I salt the cape and hang it . If the temp is above 40 it will be drip dry by the next day. what I really like is you wont be tugging and pulling trying to get the cape back over a form after it has been tanned.
Lay the tubed cape on a slant board. salt one side rubbing in good, flip over and do the other side. Let drain overnight or 24 hours, shake off wet salt, resalt the side that was up, flip over and resalt the other side. next after another 24 hours, shake off salt and hang to dry. If you know the cape was fresh, meaning dead within a 24 hour period, you can go right to the pickle instead of drying hard. I prefer to dry all capes out, never had any slipping problems that I here posted all the time.