Against my better judgement, I decided to try the bondo method on my deer's ears. I used liners last time, but I really wanted to try bondo. I had heard alot of bad (as well as good) things about it, but was pretty nervous.
As usual, I read EVERYTHING about bondo ears, thought it over in my mind, prepared for it, did everything right, and what happened?
I think I ruined it.
I put a big blob of the mixture inside the ear and I squashed it all throughout the ear for a long time, but now it's hardening and it feels like the bondo is only along the middle of the ear. 2" along the edges just feel floppy. I was sure I got bondo in there, but I guess not... NOW what will happen? I guess the ears will curl terribly. Not to mention the ears have bumps in a few places.
Can I possibly get the bondo out of the ears and do earliners after all? I feel the answer is no.
In that case, is there ANYTHING that can be done?
Also, some bondo got on the inside ear skin and hair. How can I clean this off?
I'm love taxidermy, but I'm really such an amateur... to think I'll be entering something at the NTA ):
-Amy
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Try to turn your ear inside out again. Your "earliner" may come right out.
When I typed this, the bondo was already thoroughly hardened. I tried to invert it to see if it would come out, but it looked to be adhered pretty well, so I didn't want to try it. I'd probably tear the skin.
I discovered that there was a little hole at the base of the ear that led to the part of the ear that wasn't filled with bondo, so I shoved some more bondo into it and smashed it around. It's still not perfect, but at least I've got some bondo in that area.
I guess it could have been worse... nevertheless, I'm going to do earliners from now on! Whoever said bondo was easy? I found the whole process to be a heck of alot harder that earliners were.
Amy
yes u can get it out of the ear just turn the ear inside out and work it out slow should be ok i do it sometime but did u put a few (small) holes in the edge of the ear where the air can get out when puting in the bondo might be u reason for it are could be that the ear was not split all the way to the edge but try againe it will work and when u put the bondo in try useing a ziplock bag and cut the end out of it works really good alchol will get it out of the hair good luck next try
Amy, I have used bondo ears for years. There are 2 main points that you want to remember- open the ears all the way to the edge, and
"vent" the ear so the air can escape . I use a T pin, and punch 3 or 4 holes near the tip of the ear so as you are spreading the bondo around in the ear, the air will be worked out. I use a 5 ounce paper cup for mixing, and usually put in bondo to a depth of 1 inch in the cup for an average size ear. This will make a real thin ear. Hope this helps.
unfortunately.That is my take on it anyway. It takes some practise to get a feel for bondo. You can't just as you put it shove it in there and smash it around. LOL. Besides getting a feel for how bondo works you also need to know what a deer ear looks and feels like. I keep an unskinned deerear in my freezer. I take it out everytime I bondo ears and feel it and look at it from all sides. Practise with the bondo before you get real serious with it. You can do a ear over and over with bondo. Just need to pull the bondo out before it gets hot. Some taxidermists make earliners like that and it works good once you get good at it. So don't give up on it completely. Even if you never going to use bondo again and stick with earliners from now on, it is always good to learn that method. Practise practise practise.
amy,
one or many (havent checked in a while) taxidermy catalogs offer an inner ear mold. its a eurethane foam "platter" with foam molds attached that represent the inner ear space of whitetail deer. i have used said molds for years. this gives you an anatomically correct (close anyway) insert upon which to slide the ear (which has just been filled with COLD bondo) and allows you to force the excess bondo toward the earbutt. the coldness will allow you much more work time. i put my allotted amount of bondo onto a metal liscense plate which helps hold the cold longer. work fast, moisture can collect on the cold bondo while it is exposed to air. fianlly before you use the molds, look at them carefully to make sure both earmolds are symetrical, you may want to rasp one or the other down to match.
Amy,
All good advice from above..especially from Evelyn, about trying to learn all ways. Their is one thing they did not mention though and that is lighten up on your hardner! Not to much mind you just enough to give you a bit more working time 'till you get used to it and do only one ear at a time and wait until it kicks. You can remove bondo from hair (or cut excess on bottom of ear) while it is in the soft stage just before it kicks hard (hair just pull off at this stage).
I would do like Evelyn said and practice with a little bondo and time it for kick so you get the hang of it. Use it on small mammals, smaller ears..lol. Don't get discouraged kiddo, you're doing great! You go girl!
i hope im not tooo late.card them with a pop box and let them dry for 2 weeks. the should turn out fine
Amy, I'm with Bonnie. I think you mixed your bondo way too hot. If you had given yourself even 15 minutes working time you would have done just fine. You're a talented and intelligent young lady and I feel you are quite competent to do bondo ears. I did the same thing starting out.If it still wasn't right you could have easily pulled it out as soon as you felt it starting to kick. You'll get it, don't get discouraged.
Amy dont stress out you can remove the bondo at anystage after it has cured just ligthy tap it as it will break up thats if you havent got it to thick!
And Amy when you put the bondy into the ear, before you do this get a spray bottle of water and wet the out side of the ear all around in the ear butt and hair this will prevent the excess bondy sticking to the hair and and helps you see the shape of the ear better, when the bondo is just about hard you can brush it off with a firm brush.
hopes this helps with the rest
Kiwi
i to just did first deer, had the bondo sitting there and at the last minet changed my mind and went with liners, read this neat post about getting some junk ears to practice bondo on and the light bulb went on for me ! lol practice first then acheive lol.
Amy, Don't feel bad there are some people like me who never could do any good with bondo. I have had the same problems with it that you did. In fact yesterday I had a deer that had 3 notches in one ear and it was next to impossible it seemed to use earliners so i got the old bondo out. Well luck will have it I had to do it over twice before i got the ear right. Airpockets all over it even after poking holes in the tip. It still doesn,t look right to me but now its mounted so I am leaving it. If at all possible I avoid Bondo as im one of a few or moaybe more that cant make great bondo ears so Im sticking with earliners. Good luck, Mark
AMY I ONLY USE THE BONDO METHOD, DONT LIKE LINERS. USE A PIECE OF WIRE TO HOLD THE EARS OPEN THEN WITH A BUTTER KNIFE PUSH YOUR BONDO INTO THE EAR. (MIX SOME FIBERGLASS FIBERS IN YOUR BONDO, WILL KEEP IT IN A NICE LITTLE BALL) CLOSE THE EAR BUTT AND SLING THE BONDO TO THE OTHER END,MAKE SURE YOU CLOSED OR SEWED ALL HOLES BEFOREHAND. THIS WILL LET THE AIR OUT THE BUTT END OF THE EAR. NO NEED TO PUT AIR HOLES IN THE END OF THE EARS.THE MOLD TO SHAPE ON YOUR HAND.
SOUNDS LIKE YOU DIDNT HAVE YOUR EARS TURNED ALL THE WAY. DONT GIVE UP. BONDO WORKS AND ITS CHEAP!