mouldy jungle cock!!!!!

[roders]

Hi folks.
I'm just posting this as a warning to keep a close eye on your fly tying materials.
Iv had the cape for about a year and last used it in october. Its kept in a zip=lock bag and iv just noticed the skin stinks and has gone mouldy!!!!!!!!!!!. All my other capes look fine so think it may have been the curing of this one.
When i got it i noticed some little fatty blotches on the card it was stapled too but thought little about it.
Due to the age, i cant blame the seller, and to be fair, this time of year my house gets a little damp, which is obviously not great.
Think Ill try freezing it, then rubbing some borax into the skin......... Or maybe, just pluck the eyes from the cape and bag them.
Any tips would be gratefully recieved.

tight lines

Rod

[thedeadskunk]

Grab a piece of A4 photography paper you'd use in your computer printer. Now carefully remove all nails starting at the top so the sizes are arranged in descending order, and staple, yep I know it's a pain, each individual nail in rows onto the photography paper.You may need two or even three sheets, Then place finished product in a large A4 zip-lock poly bag.

[chuckie]

i cant think of anything worse

[harveyangling]

this happened with a kingfisher skin I purchased from abroad, the skin was clearly not cured.

Did you spot anything when you bought the cape?

[thedeadskunk]

Originally Posted by chuckie

i cant think of anything worse

Yes you could, try omitting the word Jungle from above.

[chuckie]

lol, i knew someone would join in lol

Originally Posted by thedeadskunk

Yes you could, try omitting the word Jungle from above.

[GuyFromLaw]

Originally Posted by thedeadskunk

Yes you could, try omitting the word Jungle from above.

This.

[tk8456]

I had a mouldy jungle cock once.

2 tablets off the Doc, right as rain

[roders]

haha......... I'd have been thinking the same chaps
Thanks for the tip deadskunk. a great idea!!!!
on closer inspection, a couple of my indian cock capes have just started along the same route!
I popped them in the microwave and within 5 seconds they imploded and screwed right up with a puff of smoke!!!!
On close inspection, the effected capes are very softly cured, with all the good ones being hard.
I put a good hard one ( what am i saying) into the microwave with no response after 15 seconds on high power.
I think the issues related to residual moisture inn the skin, making it more susceptable to bacterial attack in my dampish home (theres a lake under the building )
Iv moved all my capes into the dry living room and massaged antibacterial soap into the skins. Ive left them skin side up to dry, but not in direct heat, so as not to embrittle the stems and fibres.
I'll bring the stapler home tomorrow to set to work on the jungle, if im dubious about the outcome.

all the best

Rod

[planter]

I would try washing them, then covering with salt to withdraw all the moisture, before treating them with Borax. Leave them in the salt until completely dry. Worth a go if it is a nice cape.