Antler Mount???

[Fran M]

Krusty12 ,Try using a lighter on the frayed ends,to slightly melt them.

[Katie H]

Krusty12 ,Try using a lighter on the frayed ends,to slightly melt them.

That's what I do to unraveling ends.

[krusty12]

Thanks! I should of thought about that so simple. What was I thinking!

[whitetailtaxidermist]

My instructor showed me a cool trick for that...put a few drops of super glue on the rope, wait just a minute, then cut it...won't fray! 

[outdoorsalways]

Use a lighter on the ends of the rope.It will stop the fraying(It does for me)

[Nina]

I have another way of finishing them that looks good. Sorry I don't have any pictures. When you can get the head before the antlers are cut off and the hide is in good shape, skin it out first. Then after you get the bondo shaped the way you like flesh out the skin, use DP and put the skin back on. Sew it up and staple to the back and fasten to a nice plaque. I think that looks better than anything you can put on it.

x2 here is one I did recently.



Another way I do them is shape the skull plate up with clay, mache or Bondo first and then mix up some Rock Mix and apply that over top. I like the texture of the finished product and best of all no seams and it can be painted and finished any way you like.

[mountman62]

for the frayed rope ends, rough measure the length of rope around the burs and mark lightly with marker, then put small dab of hot glue around rope at mark, let cool, then cut, no frayed ends

[George Roof]

Frayed ends should never be an issue and you shouldn't lose rope with hot glue, super glue, torch, etc.  Go to Lowes and by half inch masking tape.  When you start using the braid to cover your leather work (if you MUST) push the tape down inside the manikin behind the antler.  Run a bead of hot glue under the pedicle and wrap the braid around. Since I use buckskin, I have a slot down the back of the "skull" to cover after the leather is tucked.  I run a bead of hot glue down that crack and lay the braid over it. When I get to the back side, I allow about a quarter inch handover and then wrap a small piece of masking tape tightly around the braid.  Then I cut in in half with shop shears.  I staple the tag end and still have maintained the integrity of the rope braid by having a quarter inch band of tape on the remaining rope.  I buy my braid in 5 yard lengths and when I finish, I never have over an inch or two wasted.  There's no "premeasuring" using this method.   I always take a 3/8 drill and make a shallow hole on the back side of each antler to tuck the rope into.  A spot of hot glue sets it there.  If you don't want to take the rope down the back as I do, you can still tape your rope off, cut it and tuck it into that same hole.

[Edgewater Taxidermy Galen]

Lets see  More  pics.   I  like  the rock  idea  pretty  cool .I don't  have  any  in  my  shop  right  now  . otherwise I  would  post  a pic.

[Edgewater Taxidermy Galen]

Well  I  guess I  forgot I   just  looked  at  my  website  and  I  have  a  picture  of  3  that I  did .  I  wrap gold rope  around  the  rack  and  around  the  base  of  the  skull.

 look under Conventional Mounts on  my  website
www.edgewatertaxidermy.com

[murph]

Hey George.....

            If you have any antler mounts to do, What's the possibility to do a small tutorial on your method? Would really like to see it and understand it...
           Thanks,   Lance!

[Dangitboy]

Here is one done a while back. Just a basic horn plaque mount.

[7-Point]

That antler mount with the skin looks really nice Nina. I want to try that now.