Last season, several of the deer I did had their ears curl from top to bottom as they cured. I use bondo and the ears are degreased with lacquer thinner then blotted dry before inserting the bondo mix. I didn't use chopped glass last year and have been advised that this might help avoid this. My butts were a little small for these deer and I was wondering if this could have contributed to the problem? Or, could it have been too little or too much hardener in the bondo? Has anyone else had this problem and found the cause/ solution? Thanks in advance for the help.
Return to Beginners Category Menu
it would be your hardener Lance. Without knowing if the capes are tanned or dry preserved? Or cartlidge in or out? ---I would say either increase the amount of Bondo or card the edge of the ears, top to bottom. That should stop any curling. We use the white aluminum trim that you see on vinyl sided homes. Keep it in position with 3 clothes pins per ear. Does a super job.
Forget the bondo and try earliners. But if you insist on using bondo make sure you have it all the way you to the tips of the ear. This is why they curled. There is no suport in the tips. Plus always take the cartilage out of the ears.
With earliners, you can see exactly where the tip of the earliner is. And with a good epoxy(epo-grip) you will not have any drumming either.
Instead of bondo use kitty hair. It is avaiable at a auto parts store . It has the resin and long strand mat aready mixed for you; its about the same price as bondo and is in the same type of can. I only use "bondo ie kitty hair ears on small ears such as bighorn sheep and maybe a small white tail earliners on a tanned cape is the best way to go otherwise.
The main reason ears curl is that they are not opened all the way to the edge. The unopened part is what curls,not the bondo. I have been using bondo for years, and never have any curling problems. Once the bondo kicks off and gets hard,there is no way for it to curl. If you are not sure,do as the man says and card the edges.
I had the same problem on a few deer this year. I got carried away hearing about those really thin ears at some seminars. After I stopped trying to get the ears super thin,I didn't have any more problems.
Good luck
Ear liners seems to give the best results. Remove cartlidge, fit earliner, clean earskin with alcohol, and coat earliner and earskin with RTV adheasive silicone. Work silicone out to edges and card as normal. I've had great success with this method for years with no drumming or curling. Easy to work with and plenty of working time.
Just a suggestion, give it try. Kent
I used Bondo (auto body putty) in all my mount's ears, with and without earliners. The trick to prevent curling is to card the ears. Just cut out some cardboard (two pieces for each ear, front and back) which are slightly larger, and in the general shape of the ear. Pull each piece of cardboard over the edge of your work bench to give it a curve. After you've done your mounting, place one piece of cardboard in the front of the ear, and one piece on the back, both slightly down from the ear tips. Hold the two pieces together and in position with the ear in between, and pull them up so they extend beyond the ear tips. This helps to align the hair properly. Hold the cardboard in position with three giant (4" long) paper clips, and leave the carding in place until the mount is dry.