My sister and I went to school in the summer of 1998, we havn't been able to practice much, until now. We started a mule deer, another first mount, memories for you all. Why didn't any of these problems happen at school! The tan came back nice, but there are a million holes,and spots where it was shaved way to short, the hair is sticking through. not to mention half the lip skin is missing. I recieved the wrong eyes for the mount. And the form I got is about six inches to large in the neck. I remesured and I sent in the right mesurements, it is not a swelled neck form. I know I can overcome all of these problems, and am excited to do it. My biggest concern is that this is a coustomers mount and my form altering experence is rusty and impossable. Should I order another form, smaller? Try to alter? And as for the tan is it normal for the shavers to produce so much trouble, I'm talking 30 holes. I am so excited to start my taxidermy buisness, but the lack of confidence is scary. I feel rusty but am addicted. This is the moment I've been waiting for, we bought a house with two shops, his and hers. Now I can lock up with no fear of finding my tools under the motorcycle, truck or snowmobile covered in God knows what. I don't have to work full time, so I can concentrate on starting my buisness. And I love Taxidermy, I just need a little help, advice, anything you can offer. Maybe someday I can read others first mount stories and laugh with you . Thanks.
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Chances are that even with all the alterations, yo will still have problems with fit. Myself I would order a new form, sew a bit of extra skin to the lips where needed and sew up the holes. (Never use that tannery again) New shavers or some speed demon (brain /shaver/child without a clue) without gaurds No that many holes are not normal! Good luck, wow his and her shops!
Thanks for your help! Do you think I should order the new form from the same company? And how much smaller should I go?
Your the best!
I would first fix all those nasty holes they, whoever, put them in. From there I would remeasure the hide and get those measurements and order a manikin to fit that size. Don't try to go bigger, you may want to stretch and pull and all that pulling might rip the hide on you.
Make sure you use a good hide paste. This will help hold those loose strands of hair that is coming through. Best of Luck to you!
Do this before measuring, then order a form thats the same as the measurment a few inchs down from the ears on the cape. You may even want to mix a very mild baking soda and warm water solution before stretching. Sponge on the leather side, and keep a close watch as many hides are not totally neutralized at the tannery. Keep in mibd yes you can over neut. the hide.
Stephenie,
Don't let the tannery get away unscathed either. Call them and tell them exactly what you've said here. Tell them such work is unacceptable and that unless they can give you good reason, you'll find services elsewhere as well as informing every taxidermist you meet about your experiences. If its a shady business, they won't care anyway, but at least you'll have self satisfaction and you are in a position of preventing the same thing from happening to others. What you've described is inexcusable for ANY taxidermy tannery.
You have just recieved great advise from some of the best. Something bothers me about what you said. We are all assuming the hide was soaked before you tried the size. If not it would be quite a bit smaller. If it was wet, freeze it until you get the new form. Don't let it dry out and soak again. It is posible to re-wet, but it doesn't make things easier. George is right. The bigger a tannery gets, the more problems. They train new employees and they make mistakes. I once had ten capes come back with everything from missing ears to the whole nose cut off. I insisted they replace the capes. They did, all but an Angora Ram with a missing ear. I was able to make one with an ear liner and some arm pit skin. The client didn't notice.
Good Luck
Tony
The hide was soaked, and is now in the freezer. I can't belive you thought of that though, that is some awsome problem solving skills, I'm impressed!
And I thought I had it bad with one bad tan, There is always someone out there who has had it worse. I take it you found a new tannery.
I don't know if I explained that the form fits on the head, and on the sholders, snug, but workable. I had it pinned, but the neck itself wasn't close, hide strecher, with two of us pulling our butts off it just wasn't going to happen. Thats why I'm so worried, it just dosn't make sense how all the other measurements were ok, or just a tiny bit off and the neck was six inches too big. Could it be the form, it is a semi sneak position? the company? The actual mule deer?Or the inexperenced taxiedrmest? What is the most common reason forms don't fit? I'm reasonably positive I sent in the proper measurements. I just appreciate everyones time and help on this.
Hi! I think it was John C. that said measure the neck 3" down from the base of the ears and use that neck measurement. I think research has good mannikins and I think we'd be pretty safe ordering there again, they are a good company. Just so everyone knows that is interested, that Tannery is Hair, Hide and Fur out of Arlee, MT. It was a husband and wife team with the wife doing rugs and husband doing the tanning and it used to be excellent, Husband and Wife have divorced and she's trying to do tanning and that is who we sent that Mule Deer to. It only took 4 weeks, but was not worth it.
Anyway, just wanted to send my 2 cents all the way from Montana to you in Washington, I love you!