I am almost ready to pull an elk cape out of the krowtann. I tanned it in 8 oz of krowtann and 7.5 gallons water and the correct amount of salt. I just need to clarify how to neutralize it. I am planning to use 6 gallons of water, and add 3 oz of baking soda, wait 5 minutes, add 3 more oz, wait 5 minutes, add 3 more oz and wait 20 minutes. Am I interpreting the directions correctly? I have been searching this site, but have been unable to find an answer. Thanks in advance for your help.
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Deer recipe is 2.5 gal water, 8 oz Krowtann, 64 oz salt. Elk cape is three times the ingredients.
That was a typo. I meant to say that I used 24 oz of krowtann. I apologize for the error.
Your entire neutralizing time is 20 minutes, starting when you put it into the water with the first amount of baking soda. I always use 4 gallons of water for deer capes and usually 8 gallons of water for elk (depending on size). It's 1 oz. baking soda to two gallons of water so if you are using 6 gallons, it would be 3 oz. added 3 times but start counting your 20 minutes with the first addition of baking soda, not after the last addition. You would actually wait 10 minutes before rinsing the baking soda from the cape with the last addition of baking soda. You do not want to neutralize longer than 30 minutes. Doing so may over neutralize and that could cause the hair to slip.
i have mounted roughly 125 animals with korwtann 2000 and have never lost a single one (many foxes inlcuded)
for example: to neutralize a deer head i mix up two gallons of water and add 3 ounces of baking soda - i dont add it a little at a time - always thought that was stupid so i tried it all at once - let soak for exactly 30 minutes (timed) - take out and wash - flesh and then mount - no problems yet