tucking lips

[Kenny]

Good question, something I had been struggling with myself.  George, somehow you always make it sound so simple and easy, like why didn't I see that,  thanks again.

[buckstop]

George is a genius!

[mr.T aka mr. friendly]

The dremel tool is a pi$$ poor way of doing lip work. Most beginner videos use the dremel and sabotoge the beginners right from the start.
You want a thin slot and use the foam as a clamp, and you don't need deck screws either. You automaticly get extra skin that has to get "taxied" remember that word? Back into place, it will pack back in place. Extending the lip line gives the deer a long mouth. The slot is suppose to be tight,  thin the lips so they dry faster and they will stay where you clamped them. Use a tool thinner then the slot to tuck with is the trick.

[Mrwhttail]

I agree with George, only every so often have I ever had to cut that small part of the skin to get it to look just right. You don't want to stretch it any more than you have to. The less pins the better you are.

[deerslayer64d]

Thanks again to everyone for the input and great advice !!  Gordon

[bullwhacker]

If you use a very small bit in a dremel then it doesn't do any of the things George says it does. I take a very small bit and I have to wrap tape around the end to get it to fit in the dremel. The slot is so tight that it is often difficult to get the lower lip in after the top has been tucked.

As for the corner of the mouth you also don't have to cut the skin off. If you pay attention to it when you skin it you can put clay in there and put it back just like it came off.

There are a lot of ways to do every part of this stuff. Many people tell you that there are absolutes, which is just not so.

[ElkinsTaxidermy]

I don't think George said it is absolute!  The Dremel does REMOVE material that is a valuable aid in "clamping" the skin until dry!  The back corner does not have to come off...true.  His way is meant to ease the problem for himself and a lot of beginners (or anyone else who fights the problem)!  I would have to think the small bit with tape around it would wobble a bit....causing it to be "wider" than it actually is?  Whatever works.  I'll take George's way for beginners.

[bullwhacker]

UMMM...believe it says WILL SEPARATE and look like crap when done with a dremel. Looks like he is saying no matter what it is going to separate when you use a dremel. That is just not true.

The bit also does not wobble if you wrap it careful and tighten it really good. That seems to true it up. . 

Like I said to each his own, but there are many ways to do things that will not ruin the mount. I do not have to pin my lip lines at all and they don't move. Like many things you get a feel for doing something. I can dremel the glands, nose, and lips in less than a minute because that is what I am used to. It would take me longer with another way that works but that I am not used to.

It is going to make people think that they cannot develop their own way of doing something without ruining the mount. We have all been in a lot of shops and know that everyone does everything different. One of the best I know does the entire face with a small screwdriver because that is what he is used to, including cutting in a lip slot.

[Curt]

I agree with George.

[Bobbi Meyer]

I cut mine all around with a knife, then take my slot tool, insert it and sorta wiggle it back and forth. I also make the corners deeper and a little rounded.