What is the purpose of oiling a cape for mounting? I know that you need to oil it if you want to make it soft and pliable. But when you mount a deer it dries rock hard. Just curious, would you get a better hyde paste bond without the oil?
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The Oil also, besides making the skin soft, also helps the skin to keep its size as it dries. Without it - you would see dramatic shrinage. The modern tanning oils are charged - and they tend to bond with the skin. This creates a bond that impedes the skin from shrinking as it dries. It locks in the oil as well as water which is desirable in a dried cape or skin.