I have bought a video that said to use the ducks real head. You are to clean it and cut half of the skull off, then fill it with clay. Is this the best method or should I use and artifical head? And also is dp good enough for birds or should I use a bird tanning method? Thanks murr
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...learn both methods. Artificial heads for ducks are great because you do not have to make the neck incision to invert the head. Depending on the species this cut can be difficult to hide. The artificial head eliminates the cut and any bill shrinkage. For any birds whose neck is big enough to fit over its head, use the method described in the video...learning both will prepare you for anything...
you should stick with the real head for awhile then experiment later with the repo head. I dont see the shrinkage of the heads to be a problem at all, In fact some repo heads are not any good in the first place, the can be wrinkled, the underside of the bill is alway in bad shape, such as the lamellea area. you can lightly sand the real heads to to smooth out the shrinkage areas. As far as bird tanning dont bother with bird tanning kits. Just be sure you clean the bird very very good. then wash in Dawn. then degrease with a degreaser Kemsol, Grease Buster just to name a few, then use a solvent such as laquer thinner to help dry, blow dry until the bird is completely dry(feathers not the Skin). Best Bryan
I agree with the principle, but disagree with the logic. How many of you have ever boiled a skeleton and wired it back together? How about using a paper form or using a 2x4 and the real deer skull? Why not? Because it's a practice whose time is PAST. Murr, you've already read about it and you know as much "history" as you need. Trash the skull and bill, buy a generic artificial head, and do it the current way. Your work will look much better and you'll find it far less frustrating than the OLD way. Trust me. LOL
DP is the most effective method available, but learn QUICKLY to stay away from any of those neat solvents that assist drying. Anything that goes BOOM is no longer necessary any more than using the real head.