DIY taxidermy, fluffing velvet

[EchoLimaKilo]

Hey guys,

Working on finishing up my NV buck and having a hard time getting the velvet to fluff back up after using antler in velvet tan and acetone for “tanning”/drying.

I’ve shampooed him twice, used a blow dryer, air compressor and reversed the shop vac all to no avail. Wondering if perhaps when I dried the hide underneath it sort of set the hair in its current direction? Anybody have any suggestions or dealt with that before? Thanks in advance.

 

[mooretitan]

I use a tooth brush to try and fluff it up. It’s hard to get it back prefect again

 

[Artanis95]

Wonder if a little starch would help?

 

[Antarctica]

Just tell everyone you shot him early in the morning and he had bedhead...

 

[hobbes]

A toothbrush, as suggested above, is where I would start. Be gentle and work against the grain. Start on a not so visible area to make sure it has the desired effect.