What kind of extra strecth can one expect if you take a frozen wet tanned whitetail cape and thaw it out then soak it for about 30 minutes in a downy fabric softner solution then drain then spray a solution of baking soda and water just before you mount? Also will this effect the cape in any way like slippage or discoloration?
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It will not stretch by it's self, even if you do the trick that you mentioned. You will still have to use the armstrong machine to stretch it. It may stretch a bit easier with you're idea, but you still need to manually help it get bigger. Any time you re-wet a cape, even if it is tanned, slip can come from out of nowhere and bite you.
People should not use baking soda solutions without realizing they're playing with fire. A baking soda solution will give you short term, fast stretch, BUT it is a base product and bases can cause slippage. It it's truly a wet tan, once it has thawed, you should be able to stretch it with your arms. If the hide is a little tight, I use a lawnmower tire inner tube. I insert the tube all the way down inside the tubed hide and expand it as much as I dare. I let it set inside a large garbage bag for a half hour or so and then deflate it. The hide usually fits at this stage of the game.
I never thought of useing an inner tube. I fight with two hocky sticks to stretch mine, and I stay away from the bakeing soda. I just wet and sweat overnight then stretch and mount.
I have been doing deer for two years and am trying to learn all i can.I have a 22 inch B measurement wt cape. after turning ,salting,fleshing and pickle 3 days in saftee acid then shaved with fleshing machine back in pickle for 1 day ,neutrlized then oiled with pro plus oil i can only get 18 inch B measurement. I know it was measured correct. it measured 18 / 22 tight over the hair then again laid out flat measured across 9in twice is 18 and 11 twice is 22. I know i may lose a little but should'nt i be able to get back to use a 21 inch B form to get me back to 22?
If you thin the neck area and manuly stretch it, you should get it back. But you must thin it anyway or you will struggle to sew it shut in the back. My 2 cents.