I started doing taxidermy in the begining of this year and have done around a dozen gameheads. Since the begining, I've had poblems with the lips. My mentor taught me to cut the lip slot at an upward angle. I even started "not cutting" the lip slot and only breaking the skin of the manakin and using my lip tucking tool to force the lips directly into the foam. The upper lip stays right where I put it, but the bottom lip always pulls out even with about 20-30 pins in it. Should I be tucking the lip strait (perpendicular) into the manakin?
Any advice is greatly appreciated. Could the temperature in my shop have anything to do with it? I'm in South Texas, and it gets a little warm around here sometimes.
Thanks again.
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Kevin, Wow, 20-30 pins and the lip still pulls away? That suggests to me a couple of things. I guess you are using a dry preserved skin, also probably not thinning that lip nearly enough. For sure I have to recomend you look at other methods. A properly tanned cape needs VERY few or no pins at all- I use 4 on a whole deer head and they are not used on the lip. Whatever method, if you get the skin really thin it just can't pull a pin out. On the lip slot, angled up is standard. Be sure to keep it thin, use a good adhesive (I like the epoxy type-very strong). Be sure that the face of the form fits the face of your cape. There are some forms out modeled say on Ohio deer with a heavy face and our Southeastern deer here usually are just not a glove fit. Some forms are more suitable than others. Enjoy, Aaron
place a piece of bristol board,( cereal box paper ) under lip and pin thru paper. Paper 1/2 in. wide, fitted to contour of bottom lip and pinned (10 pins) will hold bottom lip skin in place till dry.. and will stay put after mount is sufficiently dry... good luck... Ps use glue...or hide paste... on hide and form.
Agree with AAron your hide is not thin enough and when you tuck, it is thick then when it drys it gets thinner ( shrinkage) it pulls even with hide paste and nails. Thin hide = thin lip slot= less shrinkage combined with good tecniques and hide paste = lip slot staying in place. Along with a little babysitting.
Pretty much already been summed up for you. A 1/8 th inch lip slot is all you need. and Epo-Grip. I know you guys and gals get tired of hearing me and other preach about Epo-Grip HIDE ADHESIVE, but doggone it it simply is the best and will not slip and pull. It locks the skin where you put it will very little of no pinning.