Velvet Field Care/Preservation?

[SpokaneSlayer]

What sort of things should I do to make sure I don't ruin any velvet?  And if I do, could it be repaired or is the whole rack ruined?

Also, I just want to do an antler mount.  If there are any of you taxedermist's here in Spokane, what would you charge to preserve the velvet?  I've read that it takes some pretty nasty chemicals that I could buy, but I'd rather leave it to a pro as this will be my first deer.

Thank you.

[bucklucky]

What ever you do, dont grab the velvet with bare hands. More than likely it will cause that area to slip. If you absolutely have to touch the antlers use gloves. I use a velvet tan from research and inject the blood vessels in the base of the antlers . It is time consuming . You have to use a seringe and find each individual vein and inject the tan until it comes out clear, oh and you must cut a small slice in each antler tip. The veins will plump up once you hit the vein. Once you have ran the tan through all of the veins take a paint brush and brush the velvet tan onto the velvet and hang upside ddown to dry. Once dry you can fluff the velvet with a light bristled brush.

[Big10gauge]

My Grandpa and Dad always just poured turpentine over the horns. I've got horns that are over 15 yrs old that I have used turpentine on and the velvet still looks ok. I haven't done it for quite awhile but I remember you need to pour it over multiple times because the horns are usually too big to soak them in the turpentine.

[bucklucky]

Wanabee taxidermists   

Terpentine! DUDE! There are products specifically made for this very reason! Lets see, Velvet Tan or Terpentine, Ill stick to the correct preservitave.

[Big10gauge]

At least spell it right,   They probably used turpentine on velvet before you were born, worked then and works now. Takes the blood right out 

[bucklucky]

I guess you are a taxidermist ? I have seen velvet with nothing used look fine too. As long as all the blood gets drawn out it should be good to go. The blood is what spoils and will cause the slippage. I will not use turpentine for there are products developed for this very thing I am a professional so people will get a professional answer. Bad spelling and all  There I used spell check  for ya!

[Big10gauge]

Bucklucky, No i am not a taxidermist and did not claim to be, SpokaneSlayer asked for ways to preserve velvet on horns and I replied with a tried and true method for a person who wants to do it at home. I gave him an option and it obviously ruffled your feathers. To each their own 

[actionshooter]

Bucklucky, I had Alden do a caribou in the velvet a few years ago and he soaked it in some type of solution for what seemed like 6 months. Do you know what that might have been? It turned out awesome and still looks like the day I got it back!

[bucklucky]

You are in the doghouse in central washington  

I just want him to get the correct info, your info is OLD SCHOOL and UNSAFE!

No you didn't ruffle my feathers at all, you gave info that's fine. I'm just giving the better info   Would you listen to a professional or just some bum off the street for info like this?

If it works that's great, I didn't say it did not! Too bad I have never heard of such a thing used, but hay good luck with that. Most Taxidermists would have ripped up one side and down the other.  

[bucklucky]

It is very possible he soaked it in a Aluminum Sulfate and salt solution. That is an old time tanning method used by alot of oldtime Taxidermists around here. It is real good for setting hair and velvet. If I had a cape that was slipping, I could usually save it eith this method. Probably what he used. That is how he used to tan also.

[actionshooter]

I was just wondering what he used, I have had people ask and I had no idea........

[bucklucky]

Her ya go Big10Gauge, thought you might like too see what has been said on the topic of turpentine for velvet preservation.


Tell your friend he's FOS.  This silly assed suggestion is like a hemmorhoid that keeps flaring up on this site.  Turpentine is distilled pine tar.  It is used to thin oil paints for artists and used by foresters to clean the blades of pitch on tree cutting saws and devices.  It is an oil base and as such will simply make the velvet slough into a greasy messy glop.  Velvet is living skin tissue and injecting it with any type of petroleum product is sheer lunacy.  My grandmother insisted that a tablespoon full of sugar saturated with turpenting or coal oil would break up a cold.  Would you give that to anyone today?  I had my share and sure enough, after 5 days the cold went away.  Who the hell cared if the cold was going to go away after 5 days if I didn't take ANYTHING? 


This came from a world renowned Old School Taxidermist.  I thought it was kind of funny!

[SpokaneSlayer]

Thanks for the info guys.  Sorry about start such a fuss with my first question.  Figured it would info everyone could use.  I still haven't seen a hard horned deer so I think there is a good chance of taking a velvet buck.

[bucklucky]

 

[Opportunist]

Isn't there a product that is fake velvet that is applied to hard horn. I thought I saw that at Corey Wrights taxidermy shop a couple of years ago.