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Re: Rehydration with baking soda

The reason why baking soda is added to the bath it can and does give you extra stretch. Now with that said the down fall is major slippage.
I would not and never will recommend baking soda on any tanned hide. It over neutralizes the cape (raises the Ph) that can and will cause slippage. If your cape is that thick then thin it down to get the proper stretch. If a tannery tells you to do this have them do it in writting and also ask them that if the cape slips will they replace it. I doubt it one bit.