shredded gator

[alan webfoot]

had a call from a friend who got a 7' gator in Fla. legally tagged! anyway you wouldn't believe the hack job the proccesser did .It was cut off at the head ,then sliced all around the back where the scales are hard ,,the tail was cut to leave just a hard spiked portion of hide full length ,a real mess.As I stood there looking at his first gator in 3 pieces I asked ''SOOO uhh what did you want me to do ,??'' Is there any hope of stitching together the hide to get a full or half body mount??

[coonhollow]

that stinks, if you think another 7 footer to use for parts would help let me know i can get you one that was killed today and it will be skinned right!

[psycho]

Alan I am more of a visual person.  Is there any way you can post pictures of it?  The head cut off is not a big deal at all.  As far as the rest of the hide well let me see what you have.  It won't be perfect, it will be a lot of work, it will cost him more but he still may have a chance to have a L/S mount or a 1/2 what ever he is looking for.  Luckily when it comes to reptiles sometimes "miracles" can be pulled off.  Let me know if I can help.  If you post pics I will be able to let you know for sure.  Later, Dan

[bullwhipcracker]

It was skinned for a commercial (garment) tan. Not a "hack Job" at all.  I did 6 that way today, and one skinned for a rug.
Commercial tan it. Sell it. Have enough to buy 2 more. It is by far the most common method of skinning here. Your friend must not have specified for taxidermy.
Ron
I should also add, that most processors get plenty of extra skins in the smaller size like yours. Contact them, I bet they will trade it out for you.

[bullwhipcracker]

'' Is there any hope of stitching together the hide to get a full or half body mount??"

As for this question...sure.
Carve or buy a foam body. Use a real good glue. Staple the thing up, and repair your seams with epoxy. Not much hope for stuffing it with vermiculite though. Most of the ones we skin that way do not have feet either. If you need feet let me know. I can get you a set for free + shipping.
Ron

[psycho]

'' Is there any hope of stitching together the hide to get a full or half body mount??"

As for this question...sure.
Carve or buy a foam body. Use a real good glue. Staple the thing up, and repair your seams with epoxy. Not much hope for stuffing it with vermiculite though. Most of the ones we skin that way do not have feet either. If you need feet let me know. I can get you a set for free + shipping.
Ron

LOL  Yeah vermiculite is definitely out of the question unless you want a frankengator.   

[alan webfoot]

I appreciate all the replays and sorry about the ''hack'' remark you're right this guy skinned it for the belly leather ,so he did it ''right' ,but not for mounting. Psycho the gator back ''plate '' where all the horny spikes are was cut all around the edge a lifted off like a long skinny cap. The belly skin is in good shape with legs attached and unskilled. I can really study the anatomy of them now and do some carving before I skin., Is 2 part epoxy the way to procede after tanning and mounting??

[bullwhipcracker]

I am not psycho...although my ex wife may disagree.
I would use your favorite 2 part putty.
Apoxie sculpt etc to blend your seam.

[bubba z]

I wouldn't waste your time trying to sew it back together to end up with a hacked up mount. Unless you specify they usually skin them that way to be able to sell the hide. You'd be better off to buy a new gator from psycho and coonhollow.

[psycho]

Well both bullwhipcracker and bubba have told you what you can do.  Those are your only two options but you better let your buddy know that if you try to save that skin that the mount may not turn out like you were hoping.  If you are really good at finishing work you could pull it off, if your not and you don't want to chance it, we can get you a gator that is not skinned for the leather industry. 

Someone did screw up because there is a huge difference for skinning gators for leather and mounting.  I'd like to see a pair of gator chaps! 

[alan webfoot]

I'll take some pics of before and after psycho what part of Illinois are you from ,I have a lot of family ot in the Litchfield Granite city area??

[psycho]

I work in Granite and live in Mt. Olive, right next to Litchfield.   

[alan webfoot]

I have a cousin who lives there [or close by] Kevin Thacker ,his dad used to be on the fire dept. in town.

[psycho]

You may be kin to antlerman, Tim Thacker.