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The other thread talked about just wetting the dried up/stiff zonkers to bring em back to life.
I just dyed a section of a rabbit fur hide and when it dried it dried really, super stiff and almost shriveled to a point. Any thoughts on this? Should I just get it wet again when I'm ready to tie with it?
How do manufacturers dye rabbit and other zonker strips and keep them soft? Is it dependent on the method dying?
At least if it isn't salvage-able I've got a tone of olive dubbing to make!
It sounds like the hide wasn't tanned first. Untanned hide is rawhide which shrinks and hardens when wetted and dried. Zonkers need to be tanned.
Wetting it will make it supple again but I don't think it will un-shrink. I believe it is irreversible once it has shrunk, however others may have a solution.
Sorry, not sure about salvaging but I had the same thing happen and as I recall it occurs because the dye mixture is too hot....I believe [it's been awhile] the temp should be less than 140 degrees.