Hunting Washington Forum

Community => Taxidermy & Scoring => Topic started by: boneaddict on February 13, 2008, 09:26:54 AM

Title: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: boneaddict on February 13, 2008, 09:26:54 AM: I am looking for some tips or tricks from some of the local taxidermist group. I am working on some old mounts that are teaching/learning projects of mine. They have been hanging out in the garage, not so great of mounts, early start projects for myself etc. Some have been waiting on paint jobs. Some need filing and wax work etc. Anyhow, one problem at a time. I have a mount with a bad ear. (Actually, three quarters of my problems have to do with ears. It would be better illustrated with pictures and I'll try to get some. This particular one had a whole or tear in the skin, and the skin is drumming off of the insert. I think I can fix that with superglue. this particular one has a tear or whole, and it pulled away from shrinkage and has a gap between the ear liner and the skin.

Also, Michelle posted an animal with slippage problems and a guy fixed it. I have two mounts I need to do some minimal effort with. Both are from around the eye and ears. I think it was more freezer burn than from what occured with that mount, but the same. One is an elk and its in the ear and around the eye. The other is a muledeer and around the eye. I really hope I can get some input here. More the merrier. Thanks in advance. I'll get some pics of the problems. Pretty embarrased about posting it actually, but I am trying to improve on my mistakes. You don't have to fret, I'm not striving to be your competition. No plans of being comercial.
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on February 13, 2008, 09:37:32 AM: Ok, still confused. What exactly r you asking?
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: boneaddict on February 13, 2008, 09:52:00 AM: If a head came into your shop with the above problem, I'll try to get you a picture when I get home. Might be a day or two, but anyway. Take a head mount and the earskin has pulled away from the liner. close to the inner ear area there is a whole or gap between the skin and the ear liner. Do you fill it and pain it. what are you best options to fix ear issues? I can insert super glue closer to the ear tip to secure it to the liner. How can you hide tears in ears. I would say most occured early on in skinning and weren't sewn properly or something like that. There are areas without hair, sutff like that.
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on February 13, 2008, 09:57:13 AM: Sounds like drumming to me. Pulling out from the inside huh? Did you mount them? Are they tanned? What kinda tan was used? What kinda glue was used in the ear?

Honestly if they are real bad I recomend a re-mount.
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: boneaddict on February 13, 2008, 10:27:53 AM: These were probably tanned with Research Mannikin stuff. Larry Bollman.

Glue would have been also out of there for paper earliner. It is drumming.

Not worth a re-mount. Definatley not a display model, jsut me using piss poor capes, a pair of sheds and fun learning how to fix things. I had thought about using another poor cape , salvaging the skind and grafting a bit in over some aoxy sculpt.
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on February 13, 2008, 12:31:27 PM: Cream tan? Brush on tan? Imersion Tan?

Probably get a good ealiner glue. Wrap a damp rag (not dripping) around the ear. Leave for 24 hours. Inject glue with syringe, work around with fingers, card, let dry.
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: boneaddict on February 13, 2008, 12:52:50 PM: I wondered if I could do that. It was an brush on I guess. (Full regualr tanning process, pickle, etc. then brush on, l;et sit, tumble and good to go.

Have you ever had spots that are without hair. I suppose similiar to that african animal. Do you just pian over it or what?
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: Coasthunterjay on February 13, 2008, 02:34:52 PM: Quote from: Michelle_Nelson on February 13, 2008, 12:31:27 PM
Probably get a good ealiner glue. Wrap a damp rag (not dripping) around the ear. Leave for 24 hours. Inject glue with syringe, work around with fingers, card, let dry.

hey bone i recommend this also. re-injecting the ears after you make them a little bit more flexable should work no problem......i recommend getting the rag steaming hot also....if you are interested i have a repairing old mounts video i just ordered if you would like to view it.....i should have it in a few days and will watch it and then send it your way if your want.......might be something of intrest........

also i have heard of people painting the earslip areas and flocking them with similiar colors.......might be an idea

goodluck with the mounts bone, AJ
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: Hunting Cowboy on February 13, 2008, 03:47:32 PM: Bone, I sent ya a PM.
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on February 13, 2008, 03:58:34 PM: Quote from: boneaddict on February 13, 2008, 12:52:50 PM
Have you ever had spots that are without hair. I suppose similiar to that african animal. Do you just pian over it or what?

Depends on how bad the spots are.

Quote from: Coasthunterjay on February 13, 2008, 02:34:52 PM
i recommend getting the rag steaming hot also....

Uhhhhh. NO!!!

It does not matter how hot you get the rag it is still going to take a while for it to rehydrate enough to work with!
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: boneaddict on February 13, 2008, 06:28:07 PM: Here's the ear.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv47%2Fboneaddict%2Fbonesbucks%2Fear_edited-1.jpg&hash=461e0e2266016c12ccafbb890fb75b16905e5124)
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: boneaddict on February 13, 2008, 06:31:49 PM: Here's the other side. Turned out a bit better, but missing one chunk.....
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv47%2Fboneaddict%2Fbonesbucks%2Fear1.jpg&hash=97fdaf983e9e5cc9bc0cb0b5940cb94951194a33)
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on February 13, 2008, 06:38:43 PM: :o Thats pretty bad. Don't realy know where to begin.
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: Coasthunterjay on February 13, 2008, 06:39:54 PM: michelle there are different ways of doing this.....i was not stating that i wouldnt do it your way....i have heard of people who did this and they refered to it as steaming an old leather hat....if you want to make it flexable and movable and be able to bend it then you use warmth as well as moisture........

but you are the professional...i was simply stating what i have heard and what i would do........

hey bone did the skin peel completely off the liner? it looks like it tore off in the picture.........almost like the liner was to big for the ear and when it dried it tore when it shrank.....is that what happened maybe? im not sure so just a guess...?
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: boneaddict on February 13, 2008, 06:51:03 PM: It did peel off the whole liner, and it probably was a bit big. I have much better with the bondo method, but always playing.
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: boneaddict on February 13, 2008, 06:54:55 PM: Some help would be good Michelle.
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: boneaddict on February 13, 2008, 07:00:14 PM: I managed to fix this drumming, for the most part. Painted it last night.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv47%2Fboneaddict%2Fbonesbucks%2Fdrummin.jpg&hash=7319be2a319cb8f48f8d1215797cae7e6b525c4e)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv47%2Fboneaddict%2Fbonesbucks%2Fdrummin2.jpg&hash=24620eb40165a16926bdcb3ae0042cd76d2e5698)
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on February 13, 2008, 07:39:02 PM: Quote from: Coasthunterjay on February 13, 2008, 06:39:54 PM
i have heard of people who did this and they refered to it as steaming an old leather hat....if you want to make it flexable and movable and be able to bend it then you use warmth as well as moisture........

Where did you hear this? I have never heard anything like this befor. Warm water yes, hot water NO.

Quote from: boneaddict on February 13, 2008, 06:54:55 PM
Some help would be good Michelle.

What I would do is but some of the Epo-Grip 2 part quick set epoxy.

You can get it from McKenzie I know for fact. Don't know if you can get it from Reasurch. I will check and give you page numbers either way. It's kinda spendy but you can use it on a LOT of different stuff. The reason I say get the quick set is because it will cure befor the skin has time to dry and pull away from the eal liner. Plus if some gets on the out side of the skin you can paint over it.

First off get as much paint out of those ears as possible.

Than get a wash cloth and get it wet with warm water. Put the cloth inside the ear so it will rehydrate the inner ear skin. Don't rehydrape the back skin. this may take a day or so befor the skin is completely pliable.

Now mix up your epoxy glue and put some between the ear linner and the skin. Put zap a gap along the edge of the skin and press it against the linner to seal in the glue. leave a little open so you can work the air out while you spread the epoxy glue around. Make sure you don't get to much in their. Than wipe the excess glue off of the surface. Card the ear for a little bit 3 - 4 days. Giving the skin a chance to dry.

You can do any repair work with regular epoxy putty.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv47%2Fboneaddict%2Fbonesbucks%2Fdrummin.jpg&hash=7319be2a319cb8f48f8d1215797cae7e6b525c4e)

Deer eyes are not white. They are brown. I mix all my colores by sight so i can't give you my exact mixture recipie. I would start with burnt unber and dilute 50% with laquer if you use laquer paints. Lightly mist over the eyes. USE LIVE DEER REFERACNE PHOTOS.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv47%2Fboneaddict%2Fbonesbucks%2Fdrummin2.jpg&hash=24620eb40165a16926bdcb3ae0042cd76d2e5698)

You are using WAY to much white pain in the ears. Get some light flesh colored paint and LIGHTLY paint that inside the ear with your airbrush. Than apply bass belly white over the flesh. I use Polytranspar paints.

I have to ask of all the deer you have seen how many have perfectly white ears? At best they are a very light off white cream color.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi126.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fp115%2Fmichellestaxidermy%2FDSCN0064.jpg&hash=1a560c973ead27aa44bcee2956084c6fd286b010)
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: boneaddict on February 13, 2008, 10:14:48 PM: First off, don't look at the eyes, haven't waxed them or epoxied them yet or painted either other than dusty pink, or light flesh. Part of that might be the flash on my camera as that color is supposed to be light flesh from timberline. I even added regular flesh or pink to it as I thought it was too white. I see my initial thought was correct. I've never even painted my ears before. I usually leave them natural. Mule deer won't be nearly as pink as your whitetails, at least to my experience in the field, but you are correct. I probably should have left them. Like I said, first time painting them.

I will see what I can do with that bad ear. I probably have what you are talking about already. I think I bought some for soemthing else. Thanks for the advice. Like I said, just a mount for my garage. The otehr one you are looking at has been hanging over a woodstove for 5 years. :) It had been rained on, smoked, cooked, you name it. Like I told Hunting Cowboy, more fun to see them on a mount than in a pile.
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on February 13, 2008, 10:21:30 PM: Is that a mule deer in the pic? If it is than the ears are still WAY to white. Get a cream or bass belly white color. If it is to off white you can always brighten with white. Lightly misting to desited color.
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: boneaddict on February 13, 2008, 10:26:30 PM: Yeah its a muley. I'd have to agree with you. Glad I added pink or you'd have really wondered. Wonder why they sell it as flesh. Here is one without a paint job. I almost like it better. Funny(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv47%2Fboneaddict%2F3d66dfb2.jpg&hash=b26357ed897fc865bd06a768178427968d75db95)
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on February 14, 2008, 08:19:34 AM: What did you add pink to?
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: boneaddict on February 14, 2008, 08:28:59 AM: I had the set of mammal paints from Timberline. Comes With brown, black, white, Flesh and light flesh. I was using the light flesh as the flesh color looks like the inside of a bears mouth per say. The light flesh seemed oftly white to me so I added some flesh to it to get a little more pink. I guess I should have added a touch more.
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on February 14, 2008, 08:32:16 AM: You got pic's of the ear you sprayd flesh in?
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: boneaddict on February 14, 2008, 08:33:00 AM: What do you like around the eyes etc? Do you use wax.....epoxy sculpt....colored sculpt...all game???
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: boneaddict on February 14, 2008, 08:35:12 AM: Uhmmmmm Yeah, that one. Thats what I mean, thats darker flesh than what they are selling as light flesh. I'm guessing I should either go with medium flesh with them, or go to dusty pink with life tone, or try their flesh ??? or add some more and see what I get.
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on February 14, 2008, 10:43:16 AM: Put some light flesh in a botle and add the darker stuff and make your own color!

I use natural appoxie sculpt and mix burnt umber laquer polytranspar paint with it.

I mix ALL my paints. I make colors to match an individual animal. Every animal is different and must be treated so.
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: DeKuma on February 14, 2008, 12:45:19 PM: You two are making this sound like a very fun undertaking. Difficult and somewhat expensive, but fun. Would love to do my own mount someday, but then what would the taxidermist do? Can't put them out of work..........
Hopefully I will be sending one your way this year Michelle. Needed a break after 04 and 05. They get expensive........
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: boneaddict on February 14, 2008, 01:39:00 PM: Its all hobby Dekuma. It is very fun. I'm about to dive into a couple deer and an elk that will be much more important.
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: boneaddict on February 14, 2008, 01:40:42 PM: P.S. I appreciate the insight and cander and expertise that Michelle offers on this site without anything in return. One of the little things that makes this a great place. If there are any oher taxidermists out there that want to dive into the conversation, feel free.
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on February 14, 2008, 09:03:47 PM: Alright Boneaddict is this mounted with Ear Linners or Bondo?

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi126.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fp115%2Fmichellestaxidermy%2FDSCN0064.jpg&hash=1a560c973ead27aa44bcee2956084c6fd286b010)
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: boneaddict on February 15, 2008, 11:18:41 AM: Earliners.
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on February 15, 2008, 01:22:12 PM: ;) BONDO!
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: boneaddict on February 16, 2008, 07:42:49 AM: I had a 50-50 chance. :) No lotto tickets for me today. Saving all my luck for the draws. I did a little more airbrushing last night. DO the words TOOO PINK mean anythign to you. Might make my girls like him more. ;)

Fun to have projects to learn on. I'll keep you posted as soon as I get home from work in the next three days. ANother one of those long ones....
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on February 16, 2008, 08:01:03 AM: Do the words LIGHTLY MIST tell ya anything! ;) Than lightly mist bass belly white on top.
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on February 16, 2008, 08:05:14 AM: When painting always use just enough paint where it doesn't look like enough. Than it is just right!
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: boneaddict on February 16, 2008, 08:40:11 AM: No Bass beely white in the paint chest, but I did take that Flesh, which is almost white, the original color you were harassing me aobut, and did just that. Just barely took the pink edge off blended it persay.
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on February 16, 2008, 09:07:59 AM: Harassing you?
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: boneaddict on February 16, 2008, 10:42:39 AM: Quote
You are using WAY to much white pain in the ears. Get some light flesh colored paint and

ok, harassing is a strong word but sounded nicer than lecturing me. Harassing is what friends do, lecturing is what wives do. ;)
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: Coasthunterjay on February 16, 2008, 10:47:38 AM: Quote from: boneaddict on February 16, 2008, 10:42:39 AM
Quote
You are using WAY to much white pain in the ears. Get some light flesh colored paint and

ok, harassing is a strong word but sounded nicer than lecturing me. Harassing is what friends do, lecturing is what wives do. ;)

LOL................................LOL...................................LOL
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on February 16, 2008, 11:25:20 AM: Quote from: boneaddict on February 16, 2008, 10:42:39 AM

ok, harassing is a strong word but sounded nicer than lecturing me. Harassing is what friends do, lecturing is what wives do. ;)

Lecturing is what wives and girlfreinds do. Considering we are both happily married to other people! I guess that puts me in the girlfreind category, lol. :-*

:chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: Coasthunterjay on February 16, 2008, 11:36:02 AM: you guys are freeking hellarious.....ROFL...LOL...........
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on February 16, 2008, 11:39:25 AM: Don't be jealous Coasthunterjay! :P
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: boneaddict on February 24, 2008, 10:54:32 AM: OK...one finally done, at least good enough for me and my garage. First of all, ignore how messy it is. How embarassing.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv47%2Fboneaddict%2Fbonesbucks%2Fgarage1.jpg&hash=1b20b064984871f65f758eaaffb1f81048ef6ad2)
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: boneaddict on February 24, 2008, 10:57:37 AM: This thing has been very poorly treated and abused and this is my restoration. The ears aren't as white as they appear. Plenty ink for me. I chose a relaxed look on this deer, so that is on purpose. I have so many wih them at attention. First time painting a deer with an airbrush. Lots of practice needs to be done still, but glad to try to tackle it. its been intimidating me for a long time.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv47%2Fboneaddict%2Fbonesbucks%2Fgarage2.jpg&hash=c665b2827bf82a77b7de53a1a79d3c36eb46b817)
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: boneaddict on February 24, 2008, 10:58:07 AM: .(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv47%2Fboneaddict%2Fbonesbucks%2Fgarage3.jpg&hash=38810f3ab166487f2af877f6366e58e763908862)
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: boneaddict on February 24, 2008, 10:58:38 AM: (https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv47%2Fboneaddict%2Fbonesbucks%2Fgarage4.jpg&hash=64a005fb2bf5bedd7d794679d179af469f45f030).
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: Red Dawg on February 24, 2008, 11:16:58 AM: I think it looks good. I haven't been keeping up but i will ask it anyway. How old is the mount. I dont know anything about taxidermy but I would be happy with it. Besides you did it. That would have to mean something to you. It would for me.
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: Hunting Cowboy on February 24, 2008, 01:22:12 PM: Looks good boneaddict!
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: boneaddict on February 24, 2008, 01:25:59 PM: Its been hanging in my garage now for at least 5 years, lets see, I guess 7years since thats how long I have been here. It was in a storage shed for about a year before that and so forth. I had started it, but hadn't finished it by the time I had to move, so it just kind of tagged along unfinished. It then hung above my woodstove inthe garage and cooked. I cleaned it up, repaired some bad spots, and painted it. Now it goes back on the garage wall until I get that trophy hall made. :)

Thanks guys. I know its a long ways from professional, but glad to have it on the wall. It was my second head I think that I tried working on.
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: gray brow on February 25, 2008, 09:00:53 PM: I find the airbrush to be the defining taxidermy tool. You have to get all the fine knife and fleshing work right, basics for proper horn & eye setting, form work, etc, but putting on the final makeup is what brings the critters to life. It's a fairly subtle thing to learn and I agree with Michelle - use as little paint as possible and custom mix your colors for the best effect.

Also, if you over paint, say get a base that is too white in the ears (not saying they're too white in your mount, just an example) I've had better luck wiping the paint back out with an acetone rag and starting over. It's quick and takes the paint right off back to the skin, prepped for the next round.

For me, the bondo method on ears is hands down the easiest way to get great ears with minimal risk for damaging the inner ear skin.
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: boneaddict on February 25, 2008, 09:49:24 PM: I agree. Much easier to blend I can tell. I used to hand paint all of my animals. Very hard to blend, do evenly and keep it thin. Lots of learning to do. Do you guys have any particular preference over water based versus laquer based paints. Currently I am using waterbased. Easier to clean up probably. Advantages, disadvantages from you more experienced folks???
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: gray brow on February 27, 2008, 08:37:26 PM: Bone, I use water-based Polytranspar with good results. Water-based paints can clog your tip more easily than laquer-based I'm told, but it's easy to avoid by thinning your paint mixture a little bit with water. If you keep a wet q-tip handy, you can swab off the tip and keep going so I find it's kind of a non issue. Wear the latex gloves while painting and you can constantly adjust your spray pattern and test on the back of your hand as you go. And remember to have acetone handy - it will handle any clean up of dried paints easily on mounts or the gun. Also really handy for cleaning up incidental overspray on birds or on furred critters.
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on February 27, 2008, 08:49:13 PM: I use polytranspar laquer based paints.
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: boneaddict on February 28, 2008, 05:49:54 PM: Thanks all.
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: boneaddict on March 06, 2008, 07:37:04 PM: This ones fixed now.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv47%2Fboneaddict%2Fbonesbucks%2Fmon2g.jpg&hash=00beb9e95f8440e28034732c2a332a8d9f6287dc)
Title: Re: Taxidermist help (Fix it)
Post by: boneaddict on March 06, 2008, 07:37:53 PM: took the picture and then saw the dirt on the chin :chuckle: