To Use Earliners, or Not to Use Earliners?

[wolfforce58205]

I'd like to say right off the bat that I'm not doing a taxidermy mount. However, I have a set of mule deer antlers and a mule deer face. My plan is to make a kind of headband that will have the deer antlers and deer ears attached to it (to give an impression that the wearer has deer ears and antlers, of course).

So I've got a small pair of antlers, and a deer's face. The face is tanned (I just got it from someone, and it's damp...does this mean it was wet-tanned, or that they just wet it before sending? I've never seen a wet tan before, so I wouldn't know), and the ears are turned and free of cartilage.

Now, I want them to maintain a shape. However, is it worth buying earliners for? Or should I just try to use something else like wires and cardboard to hold them in shape? (ok, maybe not cardboard, but you get what I mean)

[Krysta (Knuxtiger4)]

If the tan is damp/wet, it is probably wet tanned then.  As of the ears, you could bondo the ears, but usually you do that with ears that still have cartilage in them, not sure how well it will work.  You could use clay in the ears.  Only thing is that with clay that you would have to get every inch and smooth it out to make the ears look proper, plus you have to worry about getting a clay that has very minimal shrinkage. (I have a feeling I'm going to get ripped apart on the clay ears)

I would go with earliners honestly, probably your safest best, plus from what it seems your using them for it would be more durable.

[leopardpaws]

earliners, Bondo could break and the cardboard would not be enough support.

[HAPP Mark S.]

definatly use liners. Clean with some lacquer thinner and ruff them up. Get some epoxie glue, mix some up and gluethe liners in. get all the air out and be sure you have everything in place as it kicks and sets up. If you want the rest to be some what soft....as the hide dries, oil it and break the skin by working the hide to get the oil into the skin. You may need to do this several time otherwise the skin will dry rock hard.
Mark/ HAPP

[jazz_fan1]

I think I saw this in a cartoon. So who gets to wear it into the woods during hunting season? IRS rep? Ex? Childhood bully?

[Roger R]

That's funny stuff, jazz fan. Where are you located?

[Nina]

just use  earliners. they will look better and be easier on a beginner than Bondo

[PLTannery]

Its wet tanned.  Earliners are probably easier, but have fun getting the cartilage out... That is NOT something I'm good at.. I use bondo myself....

[IceDragonAlchemist]

I use fabric and plastic earliners and besides what I named, there are all sorts.  Get the kind you think you can work with.  (Deer face sounds like a wet tan to me)

[deerhunt1985]

clay the ears whew!!!!thats is a good one