Hi,

I'm attempting to restore two vintage calf heads from a 1930s Leedy 28" bass drum. The drum was shipped to me in an unassembled state, so I haven't put the heads on the drum yet to check playability.

The collar on each head is uneven (1" in one area, 1/8" in another), so I soaked the heads for awhile up to the flesh hoop, but not on the flesh hoop- I'm hoping to avoid re-tucking the heads.

Once the heads dried (still off the drum), the skins seemed less supple than they should be and "remembered" the previous collar. My concern is that if I soak the heads and then mount them on the drum, they will dry and be too brittle.

If I repeat the soaking/drying process a few more times, will the suppleness improve, or should I use a product such as glycerin or saddle soap?