The following procedure is used for repairing dry tans.   

1)  Align the two sides of the tear as closely as possible to each other.  (If repairing a hole, cut the football before aligning the two sides.)     

2)  If the tear is long, inserting pins along the length of the tear to hold the sides together may be helpful.       

3)  Flatten the two sides by using the glue squeegee  

4)  Run a bead of Tech-Bond™ Black (Thicker Viscosity) Bonding Agent along the seam of the tear.  If the tear is long, do a section at a time. 

5)  Force the Bonding Agent into the hide by rubbing the glue squeegee back and forth along the seam.

6)  Make sure the sides are still touching then spray with area with the Tech-Bond™ Activator/Accelerator.          

 7)  Apply a second bead of Bonding Agent along the seam       

8)  Use the glue squeegee to rub the Bonding Agent into the hide a second time.  ( This application will often create a sheen; however that sheen will be flexible, not brittle.  Flexibility is required when working with hides.)       

9)  Spray the Activator yet again on the seam.

At this point the tear is repaired and mounting can begin.  Soaking the hide for stretching will not damage the repair.   If you want to test the repair by pulling both sides with maximum force, please wait five minutes.

SPECIAL NOTE
If the tear on a dry tan is near the eyes, ears or mouth, rehydrate the area and use the wet tan procedure, except for using the dryer sheet.  to finish the repair, put a bead of the Bonding Agent at the end of the tear.  Rub it in.  

Wet Tans

With the extensive variety of salts, oils and chemicals used in Wet Tans by taxidermists, tanneries and tanners, adjustments need to be made to the bonding process.  As with Dry Tans the two sides of the tear must be aligned, as follows;          

     I.      Align the two sides of the tear as closely as possible to each other. 

 a.       If repairing a hole, cut the football then align. b.       Bond the football a section at a time when applying the first application of Bonding Agent.     

       II.      Use the glue squeegee to remove excess moisture from the hide by rubbing the squeegee along the tear. 

You are also flattening the bonding area at the same time you are removing excess moisture from the hide.         

  III.      Run a bead of Tech Bond Black along the seam.a.       Brush the Bonding Agent into the hide using the glue squeegee.  
                                    
iv.  Squeeze together then press the two sides of the hide with your fingers until the hide becomes tacky.

 v.  When the hide is tacky, press the two sides of the tear together with your fingers until the sides stick to each other.  Test the hold by gently pulling on each side                

 vi.  If the two sides do not adhere to each other after this first application, run another bead of Bonding Agent along the seam to get the tackiness. 

vii.  Repeat the process of squeezing then flattening the sides until tackiness occurs 

Do NOT use activator.      

When you have joined the two sides , run one bead of the Bonding Agent along the complete length of the tear. 

Place a used dryer sheet or a sheet of Silk Span over the bead of bonding age 

Use the glue squeegee to spread the bonding agent.  Spray the join with the Activator. 

To ensure strength, apply a bead of Bonding Agent over the dryer sheet or Silk Span along the tear.  Use the glue squeegee to spread the Bonding Agent.  Spray the Activator/Accelerator on the seam.

At this point the tear is repaired and mounting can begin.  If you want to test the repair by pulling both sides with maximum force, please wait five minutes.