I used the bonded ear method on a W.T. deer. I checked it the next day and it seemed the ears started to curl, whats up? I used A.T.S tanning cream.
Return to Beginners Category Menu
Rich,
This happened to me when I first started doing taxidermy. It sounds like your ears weren't turned to the very edges. I use the bondo method also. Once I made sure the ears were turned all the way, this problem disappeared.
Good luck.
Shawn
Rich-
Had the same thing happen to me on my deer last year and I posted a question here to get help. Make absolutely sure the ears are turned to the very edge or as close as possible. Dip the inside out ear into lacquer thinner X2 and pat dry then allow to air dry. Don't squeeze. Bondo as usual and make sure the bondo is enforced with chopped fiber glass. Allow them to set and card them front and back. I just used cardboard, flat on the front, V-shaped on the back with clothes pins at four points around the edge. They turned out great with no curling.
I also use the bondo method and card on the front and back of the ear.
I then put apiece of wire inside the ear and use the small quickgrip clamps to pinch the cards tight to the ear the wire supports the ear and the clamps just fine. This has worked well for me as long as I get it turned to the edges. you can get quickgrip clamps at your local hardware store ( quickgrip is the brand name).
good luck
GUS
Rich,
these guys are basically right on, you must have the ears turned completely. This is true no matter what method you use on the ears. if you turned the ears completely and the curled, then you didn't get the bondo all the way to the edge. your tanning cream has nothing to do with your problem(however, you need to let it soak up good before you bondo the ears, bondo won't stick properly to an oily surface)
Other additives, like glass and chop aren't really necessary as long as you get the bondo distributed evenly. It will be plenty strong unless the deer falls off the wall and lands on the ear, or something of that nature.
since the ears are already done, you should card the edges like the others have suggested, and wait a few weeks for the ears to dry.
Also, when you bondo the ears properly, you don't have to card them, that's one of the great advantages of using bondo.
Good Luck
Dave
Completely turning the ears and carding them with cardboard on both the front and back should solve your problem. I have found that using three giant paper clips (4" long X 1-1/8" wide) on each ear provides the best overall clamping devices with the least weight. These giant paper clips are available from a few suppliers.
Thanks to all who replied,I think not using lacquer thinner was the problem as the ears were turned to the edge completely.By the way I was able to fix them by heating with a hair dryer,then re carding.
The first time I did a bondo ear, I made the edges too thin. The curling bugged me so much that I just had to take the bondo out to see what happened. Wa-la, after doing that I saw that I had actually squeezed too much bondo away from the edges and there was only a paper thin layer left at the edge. Easy dies it on those edges, you want them thin but not too thin.