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I have a bear I would like to start mounting this weekend. I fleshed and tanned it already and had it in the freezer for a several weeks. I had intended on starting it weeks ago but you know how that goes. Anyways, I took it out of the freezer and let it thaw. Although pliable, I can see it has shrunk a bit. I can pull the skin and get it to stretch out some but I am wondering if I was to rehydrate it somewhat will it stretch more to make it easier to get onto the manikin. What is the best way to do this? Saltwater? Thanks for any advice.
Vic
May 6, 2012
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Vic, your process description is far to generic, at least to me, to answer your question. you need to provide the steps you have taken to get it to the point that you ask your question. please elaborate if you choose, how you processed you Bear.
Marshy Creek, I received the skin with the skull still in and the rest was also raw and not fleshed at all. I finished skinning to claws, removed the skull, split the lips etc. and did a quick shave of the hide to get the big meat globs off. Salted the hide for twenty-four hours, shook it off and re-salted another twenty-four hours. Shaved again on my little Dakota IV flesher and put into Safety Acid with salt as per instruction keeping the pH around 1 to 1.5 for about a week.
Neutralized and then went over a couple spots with the flesher again. I washed the hide in Dawn and Tannery degreaser. Then I used Pro 1 tanning products to tan the hide exact to the instruction. I had intended to mount almost immediately and I put it in the freezer but you know how that goes! Life and preparing lessons for my students got in the way including weekends so it has been in the freezer for several weeks. When I pulled it out and thawed it, the skin did not feel like it had the stretch it had when I put it in. If I pull on the skin I can get it to expand some but I am sure it is not where it was previously.
I guess I am looking for the best way to add a bit of stretch so it fits the manikin without fighting it tooth and nail if possible. So any suggestions would be great.
Vic
May 6, 2012
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Vic, sounds to me you are dealing with some of the pit falls of home tanning, especially bears. did you compare before and after measurements? did you break the hide? IMO, I would mix a water soluble oil like Pro Plus and re apply that, and work your hide as it is absorbed, stretching and working the hide as you go. do not apply salt in any way. All IMO, hope this helps
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