Post by: clindsayrun on January 26, 2009, 11:26:18 AM
All in all it was pretty simple...just took a few nights to complete each step.
I hung it dead center above the fireplace in the living room. The wife isn't home yet so we'll see what she thinks of my choice for a display location. It's pretty cold out so I don't think she'll send me out to the doghouse, but we'll find out this afternoon.
Post by: PacificNWhunter on January 26, 2009, 12:44:26 PM
Post by: wf70gonehunting on January 26, 2009, 01:01:05 PM
Post by: dbllunger on January 26, 2009, 01:11:11 PM
Post by: Little Fish on January 26, 2009, 01:54:19 PM
Post by: blindpig on January 26, 2009, 03:13:58 PM
Post by: huntnphool on January 26, 2009, 04:20:21 PM
Post by: Red Dawg on January 26, 2009, 07:18:42 PM
Post by: clindsayrun on January 28, 2009, 11:01:41 AM
Okay, so I used pine for the plaque. That was all they had at the hardware store here in Oroville. With some sanding and a few coats of nice stain I got it looking pretty good. Turns out I should have used a hard wood like I originally wanted to.
Anyway...here are the newest results of my hard work. I guess I made the arm that connected between the two plaques a little thin. Also after conducting my disaster analysis I saw that I created the piece with the stress of the weight bearing along the grain, rather than against it. I remember doing this because I wanted all the grain to flow in the same direction. Instead I played right into the woods natural weakness.
I woke up this morning to find my trophy in pieces. I guess I'll try to super glue it back together but I know it won't look the same. All the fine bones of the nostrils and insides are destroyed.
Oh well, maybe next year.
Post by: huntnphool on January 28, 2009, 11:12:31 AM
Post by: PacificNWhunter on January 28, 2009, 11:39:55 AM
Post by: clindsayrun on January 28, 2009, 07:20:56 PM
Okay, so I've actually managed to glue the large pieces back together. I've also constructed a new and stronger arm to connect the display plaque to the wall plaque. I need to sand it and put a second coat of stain on, so it will still be another day before I can put it back on the wall.
The skull looks sorta okay now. There are several residual superglue stains and a couple of places that didn't quite go together like they should have. Also a majority of the thin, fine nasal bones were not repairable. They were also very difficult to vacuum up, not sure why.
Anyway, I'll post another pic in a day or so with the round two final results.
Post by: huntnphool on January 28, 2009, 07:34:31 PM
Post by: clindsayrun on January 28, 2009, 08:37:29 PM
Got anybody in mind who can do it, or should I just run it through google.
Post by: bow4elk on January 28, 2009, 08:43:49 PM
Post by: huntnphool on January 28, 2009, 08:48:29 PM
http://nwhydroprint.com/
Post by: robb92 on January 28, 2009, 08:51:26 PM
Post by: bow4elk on January 28, 2009, 08:52:02 PM
Post by: HardCorpsHuntr on January 28, 2009, 09:36:00 PM
I've used maple burls for two of my elk plaques and one for a euro muley. I just ran two three inch screws through the back and into the skull (not brain surgery here!)
Post by: huntnphool on January 28, 2009, 09:59:15 PM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on January 28, 2009, 10:04:12 PM
Post by: alecvg on January 28, 2009, 10:05:08 PM
So sorry Clindsayrun..., what beautiful craftsmanship on the plaque!
I've used maple burls for two of my elk plaques and one for a euro muley. I just ran two three inch screws through the back and into the skull (not brain surgery here!)
How did you make that plaque?
Post by: HardCorpsHuntr on January 29, 2009, 08:29:08 AM
[/quote]
How did you make that plaque?
[/quote]
I bought my burls from Randle Woods; a wood store in east Lewis County. I look for the burls with lots of variegated mineral streaking, coloration change just prior to rot, grain charactor etc., and have them cut to 1". Sand and sand some more. I stir a quart of high-gloss polyurethane making sure there's no bubbles and I pour it on thick and let it ooze off the edges. A little touch up on the edges is usually required. This one below doesn't have the stark color changes, but it's a beaut.
Post by: Pathfinder101 on January 29, 2009, 10:56:41 AM
Post by: clindsayrun on January 29, 2009, 01:23:09 PM
So here are a couple of pics of the skull now that it's glued back together. You can see some of the sheen from the super glue. It actually went back together pretty well. As you can see most of the fine interior bones were completely destroyed. I hadn't thought of sanding away the blotches of super glue. Thanks Robb92, I'll give that a go.
I just finished the sanding and second coat of stain on the connector arm between the two plaques. I should be able to epoxy the mounting screws back into place on the skull and have in back on the wall in about 24 hours.
As for making the plaques I'd seen similar stuff on other peoples posts. I measured the length and width of the skull and used a scroll saw to cut out the appropriate shapes. It sure did look nice the first time... I guess next time I'll take into account that the skulls are a lot heavier that you think they'll be.
Post by: Pathfinder101 on January 29, 2009, 02:19:24 PM
Post by: alecvg on January 29, 2009, 04:13:01 PM
How did you make that plaque?
[/quote]
I bought my burls from Randle Woods; a wood store in east Lewis County. I look for the burls with lots of variegated mineral streaking, coloration change just prior to rot, grain charactor etc., and have them cut to 1". Sand and sand some more. I stir a quart of high-gloss polyurethane making sure there's no bubbles and I pour it on thick and let it ooze off the edges. A little touch up on the edges is usually required. This one below doesn't have the stark color changes, but it's a beaut.
Thanks! I might do that with my next buck.
[/quote]
Post by: Black Ghost on January 30, 2009, 07:05:10 PM
Post by: fc2038 on January 30, 2009, 07:07:09 PM
Post by: clindsayrun on February 09, 2009, 03:14:56 PM
Post by: clindsayrun on February 09, 2009, 03:17:55 PM
I've been a little slow posting a final photo of the complete fix job back up on the wall. So anyway here it is.
Doesn't look too bad. Not as good as the first time, but it'll do.
Post by: 509er on February 09, 2009, 03:20:30 PM
Post by: lazydrifter on February 09, 2009, 03:50:40 PM
Post by: Pathfinder101 on February 09, 2009, 05:04:59 PM
Looks good. Now if it falls tonight you'll know it's the wife knocking it off the wall.
:chuckle: :chuckle:
Post by: Guy on February 09, 2009, 05:13:51 PM