I am getting ready to mount my first whitetail deer and I want to know if I should use an epoxy or hide paste on the ears. What would you recommend and what are some of the advantages/disadvantages of each? I will be using hidepaste on the rest of the mount.
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is the only way i do it! I've never had a drumming problem with epoxy. I can't say that for hide paste. do a good trial fitting on the earliners,take that cape outside and wash the oil off the inner ear skin,take it back in and have at it! epoxy works great! good luck to you,
Don
As Don said epoxy is the way to go with earliners! We offer a very good earliner adhesive with our Epo-Grip Liquid Fast Set, sets up very strong when doing earliners in about 7-10 minutes. See the archives for more a lot of information on this. If I can help call me at 800-888-2467.
Bryan, for your first mount I would recommend using bondo instead of earliners.Its is just my personal preference. Earliners can be pretty tricky at times.On the bondo(bonded)method all you need to do is mix some chopped glass with the bondo and fill the ear pocket with the mixture. Use yuor fingers to work the bondo to the edges of the ear.Make a very small hole in the end of the ear to remove any air pockets.Use a wad of paper towel to block ear butt so bondo does not back out on you. Make sure not to use to much as it will make the ear to thick. It will take some practice to get the fill for the right amount.Start with about a golf ball and a half amount of bondo. If you mess up just turn the ear back out once the bondo is in flexible state but before it gets hard and do it over. As far as hide paste,go with a good epoxy.KIller Glue or Epo-grip are both great.Hope this helps. Dont get frustrated. Good luck on your first.
epo grip is the way to go with a good earliner. If this is your first deer then I would recommend using there slower setting paste and to sit down with some good ref pics. Try to see how the hair patterns "line up" on the pic and then transfer to your ear. The reason I recommend their slow set is that you will probably appreciate the extra time adjusting the skin. I would not use traditional hidepaste as then you could encounter an additional problem called drumming. What ever you use make sure that you have plenty of slack in the inner ear when the earliner is installed. Test fit it before you put the epoxy on it. Good luck to ya
Dave Toms
Bryan, This is how I've done it for years with great results. Remove the cartilage. Before mounting I wipe the ears with laquer thinner to remove any oil. I use "Natra-Look" earliners from McKenzie. With a rotary leather punch, I punch holes all over the ear liner.
Turn the ear inside out. On a paper plate, mix 2 tongue depressors of bondo with some fiberglass resin. Mix well. The resin will thin the bondo some. Now add the hardener and mix well. Spread the bondo all over the ear skin. Invert the ear right side out and put the liner in. Adjust the patterns, and make sure the ear looks right. When the bondo hardens, you will have a nice permanent ear.
Because of the holes in the liner the bondo bonds to itself. If any bondo leaks through you can use a small wire brush to get it out of the hair before it hardens completely.
I like this because I can get my supplies at the local hardware or automotive store. Been doing it this way for a long time. Works great!