This is a great site, where you can learn much in a hurry. Take some time and learn what is here, especially the search button, located to the left. Many of the first questions you will have will be in the archives, where you can look them up. Then if you have further questions, ask them. We can tell if you have done your homework, or if you are lazy and want someone else to do it for you. Some of us have very little patience, and if you seek the lazy way you WILL find that out.
When you do ask a question, please try to make it clear in the title. Not only will it be easier for us to answer, it will make it easier for someone who has the same question, to find the answer. You will be helping yourself and the next guy.
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What does split lips and turn ears mean? I have also been told to use salt after the skinning process. What for? I need to know because I plan to open my own taxdermy business next week. Thanks.
J. Doe
if I think a question is not worth answering, I don't wast my energy bitching about using the archives. I just don't answer. If you don't want to help anyone just don't type anything. Why don't we just eat our young so that nobody will want any help. That way we can have all kinds of clueless, horrible taxidermists running around giving the art a bad name. Why do you think everyone started sharing knowledge with one another? Do you suppose that shared knowledge and competition spawns greater quality taxidermy? I certainly do. Yes, I agree the archives are great and everyone should check them more often. But your not going to stop anyone from asking the same old questions over and over again. After all, most of the questions are exactly that, the same old questions. Beginners are beginners and DESERVE or help. If you don't feel like answering them, then don't. Just don't complain about people asking the same "old" questions. Otherwise people will be tempted to not ask any and their work will suffer.
Late,
P.S. Love you guys, don't any of you take this the wrong way. because it wouldn't be the same without the negative posts. (can you say contradiction?)
JT
if you dont know how to split lips eyes nose and turn ears And worse yet!If you dont even know how to salt You ARE NOT going to open a taxidermy shop next week! Get books videos ect... learn on your own stuff first then think about being a taxidermist!
Old Fart, I didn't know this was some kind of school where you were the selfappointed teacher. If you have such little patience and little respect for others get the hell off of this site. I know they haven't dedicated a forum just for you yet but with a little more patience on your part and they may get around to it eventually. Your post shows your true colors alright, Impatient-egotistical-pompos ASS. None of us need a father figure trying to bully us around. Your smart ass comments are not welcomed by any newcomer to this site and actually it probably discourages alot of them. Most people look to this site for help not sarcasm. There are plenty of knowledgeable people besides yourself that answer questions without all the BS. Maybe you need to pay a little attention for a change.
As a beginner, who has very little to offer to this forum in the way of technical help, I try to understand that other beginners may not be aware of the incredible store of info in the archives. It only takes a few minutes to do a search myself and if I find stuff I think might be useful, I'll point it out to them. Hopefully, they will try next time to find their info themselves first. I hope that this encourages them to remain at the forum, for one day they may be able to offer advice too. At the same time, I hope it takes a little of the load off the experienced contributors who try hard to share that experience with us beginners.
On a personal note, I can understand how some of these talented people feel when they have answered the same question a million times and the answer sometimes is not only in the archives but 4 posts down from the question!
Let's remember that this is a FREE RIDE, all that knowledge is here! But that doesn't mean that these old timers HAVE to be here and help, I for one really appreciate their presence. How someone can complain about this original post; I see it as good advice to beginners. If you detect sarcasm, can you blame him? It seems lately that people have very thin skins around here...a good shot of sarcasm may help to remind someone to search a little harder before asking for every little thing.
J.D.,you sound like a person who likes to get things done quickly.
Split lips, turned ears are just taxidermy bafflegab. Salting the cape
after skinning just adds to the total cost, forget it. Drape the raw
cape over the form, pop rivit the ears in place and put a few well
placed wood screws in the corner of the eyes,nostrils,tear ducts etc.
Any baggy areas can be held in place with staples.Call the customer
for pick up and make sure you get paid in full. Oh yeah, be prepared
to move out and set up shop somewhere else within a week (exact timing
will depend on local weather conditions).
If your point is so valid, would you mind leaving your last name and email address? I don't recall God dying and leaving YOU in charge either. I've been here since day 1 and I don't recall all those "knowledgeable" people hanging around because of spoiled snot nosed, anonymous posterboys just like you. Only us old crabby farts would tolerate you and we certainly wouldn't want to be a parental figure to you. Your parents obviously didn't smack you often enough to show some respect for others. And MY email address is up there. As I invited "Ed, Eddie, and others", I invite you to email me privately and we'll save valuable space on the forum.
George, This is from Eddie you can check all the numbers above to make sure that this is my first responce on this. I don't know what your problem is but I am quite capable of speaking for my self. I am not one that rides the center of the fence I take a stand on what I think is right.
That said I really think that Mr Doe was just making a joke to let others know that they need to check the archives. I also agree with old fart about asking the same question over and over and not trying to help their self and save time for everyone that uses the net. If old fart would respond like he did this time he would NOT get the responce he gets. He is a valuable access to the net now if he would do like he tell others to check the archives check his answer to others. He does not have to kiss anyones but he also does not have to insult and be rude to people either. I'm not a your man either but my age does not give me a right to be rude to others. I try to take to other like I want them to talk to me no matter what their age or expreience in taxidermy. All someone has to do if they think the question has been ask before and answered several time before is just NOT to respond at all. Now George calm down I totally agree with you and Old Fart on this and have no idea what Ed or Anyone else thinks I'll speak for myslef.
.....SARCASM??
I think a lot of you missed Mr. Doe's point. In case you did the HE WAS BEING SARCASTIC, SMART, TEASING, HAVING FUN. Geeze come on.
JT
come on guys i have been on here for almost 11mon. and i just figured out how helpful that search the archives was,,hey instesd of everyone bitching and cursins each other remind all rookies of archives and they will find what there looking for ...i am about 88% on all questions needed..thanks for all the help guys and gals yall really do plenty free work on here dont let it get you down,,,you are doing more GOOD--THAN---BAD--I--KNOW PERSONALY.....
Here's my last name and E-mail Georgy. Does that make you feel better. You gonna call me out or something? HEHEHEHE! I don't discount all the valuable info passed down by the old timers, including yourself as I have found some of your posts very helpful. My point is that this is not your forum or mine, the difference being that if I don't want to answer or respond to a question I don't. I don't feel obligated to do so as you seem to think that you are for some reason. And then you turn around and call these questions stupid and redudant. The poor guy or gal could have been new to the forum and even to computers for all you know. They make a post with a sincere question that is really important to them and they get slammed with the old Georgy "thats a stupid question,check the archives and quit being so lazy" sarcastic answer. Think about it for a minute and maybe it will make sense. Do you honestly think because you have been here since "Day 1" that it entitles you to something more than a first time poster, get real. George, my parents taught me that if you are going to demand respect you better be willing to show it to people you are making those demands on.
Sincerely,
Ronnie Sellers
E-mail: BFPOKER2@HOTMAIL.com
Can't we all get along? If you don't want to answer a question that might be stupid to an old pro like you O-F then go to the next question with no comments. No begginer wants to here any sarcasm or to be made fun of we were all just starting one time or another. enough said I will leave you all with a famous quote my father said "Can't we all just get along" REFFAREE.
Can't we all get along? If you don't want to answer a question that might be stupid to an old pro like you O-F then go to the next question with no comments. No begginer wants to here any sarcasm or to be made fun of we were all just starting one time or another. enough said I will leave you all with a famous quote my father said "Can't we all just get along" REFFAREE.
HOMEWORK, the problems will be quickly addressed.
One post says who appointed you teacher. Stayement not question. We to answer that statment directly many beginners did, how did that happen? you may ask. By posting a question here.
After one has been on here a week or even a month, most do know how to use a search engine, dont say no, because you found this site by some means. I will admit that some are so lame brained they may not be able to find the archives LISTED AT THE BOTTOM of EACH PAGE. But thats ok too, we will direct you.
Now I dont personally know George, but I thnk he probley has one very large volume shop from what I see, read and hear. This is why Roof is so valuable here, he admits he is not top end, the last work in quality.
Yox on the other hand, well we all know the Yox reputation for quality work.
Old Fart, I met this guy at this years WTC, he was doing taxidermy and publishing fish paint schedules when I was young! Beginners get that FISH PAINTING ENYC. from WASCO, some of his schedules are in there! This guy was winning ribbons on his mounts years ago. So yes he has the knowledge and he can have a attitude! He deserves it.
Dave T. He does good work, he is getting better, but he also has done his home work. Thats the key to anything is doing your home work, research, trying, failing having good things happen.
I know you dont want to preached at, but that is the only way many of the spoiled brats will listen, I see and read right through some of the post, they simply say "I want it now, I get things my way!"
I know many of you newbies did not read one of the other post. There was a time when noone would have helped you learn or improve your taxidermy, to some of you thats eons ago, to many of us that was just yesterday. Many newbies dont want to spend the money on the WASCO Breakthrough BOOKS, these are your text books, just like your history book, english book, math book or bio. book. You must have these, they will guide you through some ruff water in this field.
We can help you better if you have read and reread those basic to very advanced books. I read them from time to time myself.
The next step in learning, is you dont know what to do to improve your work, do you? Your family says it looks great, but they dont know crap about taxidermy do they? NO. So go out join your state association, go to a few shows then do your best work and enter it! GET THAT JUDGE TO CRITQUE THAT MOUNT FOR YOU! You can refenece the score sheet at home, but see what that judge sees in your mount, 98% of the judges will go over it with you. (Side bar) Yox has ripped me a new AS**^le on several of my mounts, other judges have too, but my work has gotten better a lot better, I will keep pushing, my work is not total championship quality, but I keep entering catagories that I am weak in just to get better. WHY? Self satisfaction, I want to be better and know I can. These things cannot be taught to you over the forums.
Two summers ago I spent some time with a very good deer and game head man in his shop LEARNING, this summer past I drove a long way and spent two weeks wtih one of the most out standing Master Taxidermist, I have met. He does great work day in and day out. Along the way I have had a chance to work in a few shops, two did some great work, and charge for it! One is nothing more than a $hitcan shop, his work is toilet work, he should not be allowed to be ion the business and one was just mediocre. The whole point here is that there is a place for each and every shop. Some people dont want to spend the money for really good work, some taxidermist can bullcrap the customer into beleiving they are getting good work. There is room for all of us, because 95% of you guys are going to quit in the first five years, because of quality or you cannt make enough either way 95% of you are out of here, you did not do your home work!
well all most, No amount of expreience or knowledge give someone the right to be RUDE to others. I have been in taxidermy for nearly 30 years and I have a fair amount of knowledge buy that does not give me the right to be RUDE to anyone with out cause.
Computers thats another story I know nothing about them and found this site by accident. This lame brain is also one that has not "found the archives located at the bottom of each page" at least on my computer. Another thing that would help is to tell people that thay do not look for the word ARCHIVES instead that they need to use the search. To some this is known to someone that has never used the forum it is not. Maybe the word archives need to be changed to search or just tell people to use the search section. It easy to assume that everyone knows what you are talking about but there are several that did not grow up in the computer age and do good to get here. It should not be beneath anyone with a vast amount of knowledge to help others that have very little knowledge without trying to see just how rude they can be before someone strikes back and then get mad because they hurt your feelings. If you are going to dish it out be prepaired to get it back not matter how much knowledge you have. This whole natter was not started by a beginner RUDE but just the reverse.
If you click on any category (except wanted and for sale, which are not archived for obvious reasons) and use the scroll bar to go down to the earliest entry, you will find the archived material just below. It's divided up into months and years. Happy reading! There's a ton of stuff that's great reading whether or not you need the advice...try to find the story about Sergio's christmas; first time I read it, it brought tears to my eyes...the archives give you a sense of history also...it has made me feel as if I know these people; their little quirks, their talent and their style...and their patience. Yup, patience. You'll find that this argument has been going on since the beginning; they are only human after all and after years of answering unbelievable questions like "I shot my first deer, please give me all the steps on how to mount it" maybe they do get tired and cranky, but they hang in there, giving us all free advice day in and day out.
With 30 years experience, I'm sure you have a lot to offer this place too...why not jump in and help out? You haven't been jaded by us pesky beginners...so why not gently inform and take some of the load off the regulars?
I also have a short fuse at times to say the least and say to much. George,Old Fart and company you are all a great bunch of people and with you I'm sure that there is a lots of beginner and pros for that matter that have been helped greatly by your help and advice. There is more than one way to skin a cat and some of the ideas that yall have given have been of great help to me also. I apologize for not knowing when to quit a bad habbit of mine. Keep up the advice and I'll try a lots harder to keep my mouth shut when it would be a lots better to(that does not mean always) but not to the point of over kill. My next postings will be to buy,sell,ask a question after checking the archives first or try to give an answer. Eddie
Well I have to say this being my first time visiting this site, it sure has been interesting. I'm not sure if I still want to learn about taxidermy or just come here for a good laugh! Anywho! Like I said I am a beginner, and I do have a sense of humour incase of SARCASM! My interests for the time being is mostly on white-tails. I have a few capes as we speak just skinned out. I've read a bit on fleshing and tanning but am still uncertain on how I should go about it seeing as I only have a few. Should I attempt it myself, or send them to someone for my first few. Any help at all would be apreciated!