Curing cock & hen capes

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Curing cock & hen capes

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Maranne

Joined: 12 Apr 2005
Posts: 16
Location: Orkney Islands, Scotland

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 05 7:06 pm Post subject: Curing cock & hen capes
Does anyone know of a supplier of saltpetre or borax for curing poultry capes for fly tying uses. I've asked in our local pharamacies and have been told they are both unavailable. I recently culled off some cocks and have had to use common salt in an attempt to cure the capes. They seem to be ok so far but they are still rather weepy. Cheers Martyn

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 05 7:49 pm Post subject:

Hullo Maranne, no, hang on, Martyn (is your username like Jema's?

)

I don't know *anything* about curing capes, but I do know that Alison's 3 day bacon cure article mentions a supplier of saltpetre - go to https://www.downsizer.net/Projects/Curing_and_Smoking/Making_Bacon_-_3_day_cure/ for the address

Erm....is this a bad time to say...how do you go about using them once cured and do you fancy turning it in to an article?

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 05 8:30 pm Post subject:
Boots sell borax. Also, what about Alum (most chemists have it), I recall Gareth curing a whole pheasent pelt (or whatever you call the skin with the feathers still on it) in ordinary salt and alum once, worked really well- he made hair hecorations with sections of the feathered skin.

Maranne

Joined: 12 Apr 2005
Posts: 16
Location: Orkney Islands, Scotland

Posted: Sun Apr 17, 05 6:22 am Post subject:

Thanks for the replies Bugs and Sally.
The info on the saltpetre is noted, I will contact them and see how I get on.
Sally, I was surprized when my local Boots didn't have any thing for curing skins.
Some of the longer time served members of staff could remember having borax and saltpetre but they all seemed to think that such items had been withdrawn in the last few years. No one seemed to know if this withdrawral was for commercial reasons or on health/saftey or security grounds.
As for writing an article on the use of such skins I don't think it would make riveting reading ie select feather from skin, pull it out , tie into fly/lure. I won't hold my breath for the Pulitzer prize

Finally my user name is a composite of Martyn (me) and Anne (trouble and strife) not very imaginative but seemed like a good idea at the time as we came across the site together.

Thanks again for the info and I might even try the bacon reciepe.
Cheers
Martyn.

moggins

Joined: 24 Feb 2005
Posts: 942
Location: Gloucester

Posted: Sun Apr 17, 05 10:46 am Post subject:
I bought a kilo of saltpetre online from a sausage making site. I've never found the borax though, have you tried a local hardware store?

alison
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon

Posted: Sun Apr 17, 05 11:28 am Post subject:
If you have a boots with household cleaner, one of the larger stores, they sell it near the washing powders.

Maranne

Joined: 12 Apr 2005
Posts: 16
Location: Orkney Islands, Scotland

Posted: Sun Apr 17, 05 11:34 am Post subject:
Hi Mogs Yeah I've tried the hardware stores and they all say it has been withdrawn. Alison we have a relatively small branch of Boots here in Orkney so I guess I will have to wait 'til I go "Sooth" to find a larger store. In the mean time I wll contact the saltpetre supplier in the bacon article. Cheers Martyn

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Sun Apr 17, 05 8:07 pm Post subject:

I missed the bit about borax...I also bought it in Boots a couple of months ago, as Alison says, there's a small section of household stuff. In this store it was near the baby stuff; if the assistants look at you like you have two heads when you ask for it, tell them Boots do their own brand sensitive skin washing powder/liquid/conditioner, it'll be next to that.

But this was a large town centre store...

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