Whitetail Pedestal Base

[Shannon]

Just a couple of questions on building a base for a whitetail pedestal mount.  How small (diameter) square stock can I go to properly support a large whitetail shoulder mount?  I'm planning on inserting a piece of square stock in the brisket area  of the form, with a smaller dia. piece of square stock inserted down through the center of a 10" tall  weathered ceder stump. I plan to leave 12" or so of the smaller dia. square stock sticking up out of the stump, that the shoulder mount will slide down onto. I want to use the smallest stock I can without compromiseing a good solid base.  I guess I will use a spade bit to bore the hole in the stump that the square stock will come up through.  I have never done a pedestal mount, or built a base of any kind for that matter, so any help would be greatly appreciated.  Are there any good books on base building that anyone knows of?  Has anyone built a base similar to what I have described?  Thanks in advance.  Shannon.

[Steve]

Shannon, I'm a beginner and just completed a whitetail pedestal doing it in the manner you're describing.  I used the pedestal pins that are available from Jonas Supply.  They are 13" x 5/8" and fit together nicely.  I don't think I would want to use anything smaller.
      Steve