finishing fish mounts

[trbruning]

hi, im a begginner taking lessons from a local taxidermist and i watched him do a large mouth the other day. it was a wall mount and i was completly shocked when he just turned it over and spray painted the wall side black. it was not what i expected, does anyone else have a better way to hide the back seam or do you just finish the back as well?

[Perca]

I'm not sure what you are looking for as a " better" way to do the wallside, but painting it dark is a very common practice. Some guys will spend extra time to make the seam look much like the show side, but time is money to the busy fish heads, and effort on the wallside is not cost effective. Good luck.

[rocco]

Give it a coat of Bondo over the seam and just paint the Bondo black. Thats what I see a lot of and thats what I do.

[trbruning]

alrighty thank you for your insight

[den007]

Skip the Bondo....it will crack. Ep0-Grip epoxy or even a felt strip glued on with clear acrylic caulk or fin backing cream is a more stable option.

[JUST FISH]

Did he use one eye or two. LOL That will get things started.

[Perca]

Skip the Bondo....it will crack. Ep0-Grip epoxy or even a felt strip glued on with clear acrylic caulk or fin backing cream is a more stable option.

Ditto on the bondo. Us bargain basement hacks use paper towels with a soaking coat of Modge Podge....and one eye!    

[Ross Vogler]

That cyclops icon topped it off, Perca. LOL

[rnviper3]

how many times do you have a customer come into your shop to pick up their mount and turn it over to look at the back.  Almost all of mine do.  So my back side is finished.  Not as well as the front side for sure.  but I Always do a good seam repair, sculpt in scales, and basic paint.  And yes 2 eyes.  Its just my way of doing business.   

[Perca]

http://www.taxidermy.net/forum/index.php/topic,248059.0.html   

[Fish Whisperer]

I put 2 eyes in. It just looks better if it is looked at from the side. I also put either Apoxie Sculpt or Magic smooth on the seam and paint it either black or brown.

[Darkman]

I use two eyes and a piece of felt to cover my seems.A lot of folks do look at the back,but never say a thing.I was at a Scheels store recently and noticed the backs of their mounts were felted as well.Guess It's just preference.Although,I read somewere about putting a note on the back that reads "you should be looking at the front".Not sure If I'd recommend doing that though.

[GBRUCH]

You don't like the sharpie note?   LOL

[Pescado]

I would put in two eyes if it was a flounder.

[Perca]

100 fish a year x  $5.00 pr for eyes = $500.00.
100 fish a year x  $2.50 ONE eye    = $250.00
                                  Savings      = $250.00