Bass restoration

[fullsneak]

I have a customer with 15 yr old skin mounted bass.  It is in rough shape, busted curly fins and scales popping up. Paint job is poor quality and needs to be completely repainted.  What is the step by step process to completely restore this fish?  Thanks!

[Perca]

This is may be a great example of the intrinsic value of a skin mount to the guy who caught the fish. The easy out is to buy a replica that is as close to the size of the bass as you can find. I think there is a good possibility that the owner would reject that option...eh? If he doesn't, that is the easy way out. With that option off of the table however, you've got a big job on your hands. I'd have to actually SEE the fish to determine what specifically can be done to refurbish it. "Nothing is impossible for the guy who doesn't have to do it himself", so I'm sure it can be fixed up to look nice. 

[Brian W]

Strip paint
cut off bad (if not repairable) fins
set new repro fins
probably pull eye and reset or replace
apoxie sculpt/ magic smooth for fin base transition and lost scale area (you can iron down lifted scales)
seal, paint and gloss

[John C]

Brain listed where to start.. Onc stripped and dried, the scales can be ironed down with a warm clothing iron. Any that continue to curl can be sealed dwon with a spot of super glue under the curled edge and a quick touch of the iron on the scale not touching the glue.

 Then seal with lacquer or shellac.

Here is one that was done in Florida many years ago with a polyester resin body.. wen through a fire the only thing the man salvaged from his house.. I did the steps as listed about,, and this is how it turned out..

The old man was super happy, the fish did not look this good the firswt time it was mounted..

Just take your time and do it right.



Here is another I restorded this year, filled with sawdust... First mounted in 1979 . So if you take your time they can be better than ok and why better than the were..

I use Citric Paint remover it is easier on the mount.  Its not abig deal but can cost as much and a reproduction...  Great prodjects do do and fun to see the end result.

[clifftax]

This is may be a great example of the intrinsic value of a skin mount to the guy who caught the fish. The easy out is to buy a replica that is as close to the size of the bass as you can find. I think there is a good possibility that the owner would reject that option...eh? If he doesn't, that is the easy way out. With that option off of the table however, you've got a big job on your hands. I'd have to actually SEE the fish to determine what specifically can be done to refurbish it. "Nothing is impossible for the guy who doesn't have to do it himself", so I'm sure it can be fixed up to look nice.  

I second that decision.