DO any of you know any good book that i can check out at the library, and/or good authors?
Thanks
T J
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#1 taxidermy by leon pray # 2 practical taxidermy by john w. moyer # 3 home book of taxidermy and tanning by grantz, these are 3 books i got from the local library that gave me the basic idea of taxidermy, each book covors every type of animal/fish/bird. I then got a catalog from Van Dykes where I ordered supplies such as tools, skinning knives and paste, the reason I chose Van Dykes is it was not shoved down my throat on this forum like WASCO was, I am confident that I can make a decent mount from the books i read for free from the library, and when I do finish my projects I will share the info I learned with people like you, for free, not try to sell you info that has been around for hundreds of years , one little guy to another, go to the library, they wil have what you need, also check ebay for the same overpriced books and videos you will find here....alot cheaper. good luck on your newfound hobby
Are you paying for the info you get off this site because if you are you are getting ripped off and you are the only one.TJ there is enough info on this sight to make many books.Use the search and you will be overwhelmed with info.I havent seen anyone shove WASCO down anybodys throat and as far as prices go theres not much diffrence in any of theme.The regulars on this site go out of there way to try and help you and if you can get it at wall mart they will tell you that to.maybe the reason jvolpe28 is treated so horribly bad is his attuide.
To answer your question the Breakthrough manuals are about the best i have found. If money is a problem most big suppliers have a small set of manuals that are alot cheaper and will get you started. good luck
go to your library and look up the books that jv lope told you later you miht need to buy a manual but library has all you need now
join a chat like kiwis chat ill have his send you an invetation
you will learn a lot from the guys on ther
ps james mabe you have a little attitude your self ever think of that?
thank you both, and as far as james first message, i think you were a little rude, but thats ok, yall probably have a history, and the library books are free to check out! and other person, Thanks for the books....you really helped me out,
you welcome im beggining like you i looked in library found a good book if you need any hep just ask we all will be very happy to help
good luck
travis
What seems to me is.....this forum has bias info here, it seems that no matter what question anybody asks , the only solution is to purchase wosco products , I did search the archives, one example is where a guy asked the cheapest way to mount a fish and he was attacked for not wanting to buy a book and video from wosco, I myself asked a question of what fish I should try first, and found out I had to buy something from wosco, I asked filler or form, strictly your opinions, , instead i got told to buy wosco, it's seems the owners of this forum either own wosco, or some users are owners of wosco, most of the people want advice becuase they dont know what they are doing, I do not want to mount fish for money, it's a darn hobby, something to keep me busy in the off season, no reason to sell me stuff that you could tell me, perhaps I will create a website thats totally free, with all the stuff in your books and videos, FREE, step by step taxidermy tips with free paint scedules. Thats the way it should be, people helping people not trying to sell me info that has been used for 400 years, im so glad i went to the library, and ebay.com p.s. i know i spelled wosco wrong, i just didnt want to give more links.
They tell you to get video or book to help you because nobody has the time to walk you through fish skinning mounting and finishing on this forum. I havent been doing this long either but i did try to help myself a little. Because its just not as easy as someone telling you how to do it. With a video or manual you can always refer back to it when you have problems and you will have problems.There are a lot of good videos out there not just WASCOs but the tom sexton videos and books are some of the best so are matt thompsons.You dont know how lucky you are to have this forum try calling a local taxidermist and tell him you dont want to spend any money on this but to tell you everything he knows. By the way are you a member of your state assoc. There is a ton of info out there ands its free but you will have learn to be a little more openminded.
sir, i am not a member of my state assoc., in fact im a virgin just about ready to start my first fish, i will never ever EVER mount a fish for money, or enter any contests, just a hobbiest, no matter what question i ask somebody tries to sell me something, i bought supplies, and I was ready to buy a video or book (credit card in hand)when i saw someone attacked for not buying WASCO, this is a very commericalized message forum, i saw a 13 year old kid "tore up" becuase he didnt have money to afford big supplies and wouldnt do squat as far as getting him started , and when I learn what the hell im doing I will help anyone who asks a question that i may know the awnser to, and thanks to everyone out there who do help people and not try to force them to buy your crap, and make you think you will have less of a mount if you dont buy their stuff...so thanks if you helped someone
hey jv lope put her to rest this person just wants trouble i thought james was a 13 year old kid any way or just a different james.
who knows you are a good help to people here dont get rapped up in james wanting to start cofrentations.
hey jv lope put her to rest this person just wants trouble i thought james was a 13 year old kid any way or just a different james.
who knows you are a good help to people here dont get rapped up in james wanting to start cofrentations.
This website IS owned and sponsored by WASCO!
How much did you have to pay to log on? Their program is set up so that it provides automatic links to their COMPETITORS, for heaven' sake. What more do you want?
Here's a sample ....
Van Dyke's
Research Mannikins
McKenzie
Joe Coombs
If I spelled them right, they should come up with links.
If people seem to be recommending WASCO a lot, it is due to two simple reasons: One, they are a HUGE supply company and they have nearly everything, plus they cater to beginners,
and Two, gratitude to them for providing this service for the entire taxidermy industry.
You seem to be suffering from a BAD case of biting the hand that is feeding you.
Don't be too surprised when you get a negative reaction.
Nancy M.
Try Joe Coombs Classics Inc. ?
In any case, at the top of the page just under the "forums" banner is a link called "suppliers" which will take you to just about every taxidermy supplier that exists.
Does Van Dyke's refer you to other companies when you visit THEIR website?
Whoa, if i knew my questions would get a huge fight started i wouldn't have asked. i would have just asked some people that i know kina personaly...
Since I have been in taxidermy more than a day or two, I recommend the WASCO Breakthrough MANUALS BEcause they are some of the best INSTRUCTIONAL BOOKS OUT. I also recommend Ron Renoylds Fish Painting guide. When you want the best and most current information where do you go. To the source. WASCO has been and will continue to be one of the BEST Sources.
Thie site is WASCO'S Ken could charge for al the great info here, but he don't!
jvlope you will stay in the dark ages, by never going to a show, you will never get classes on how to improve your work. That is what a lot of people go to shows for. Did you go to school? Same thing, you learned to do the best you could there I would imagine. So why would you be happy with just what you can learn from old out dated books.
Ken is more than fair on this site, he list taxidermy supply companies with links. Do the others? We all know why they dont. I propley would not either but I can say Ken and Sally do!
As for a 13 year old with little or no money to buy books etc. Well there are birthdays, Christmas for getting gifts, why not ask for these taxidermy manuals for gifts? When I first started, I washed cars for a car rental company, mowed yards, raked leaves, helped with building fence, cut firewood, there are tons of jobs a young person can do and get to help theirself out for the money to pursue this hobby.
Soory but your story dont wash jvolpe, but on this given day it is your opinion and like armpits everybody has a couple. Sprry you feel that WASCO is shoved down your throat. But since thats so bad for you, you will not be responding to this post, because you will not be reading all the great information here.
Adios!
JOHN AND NANCY as i mentioned above im ready to attempt my first fish a 12 " perch ,as soon as my Van Dykes order arrives i will begin , could you please tell me if you recommend a form or filler? Also is there any tip's on perch you think I should know as a beginner? must I use alot of chemicals or will the borax wash and powder work. thanks for all the help
- is that no one will offer additional advice (though I could be wrong). I feel that you have more than told people what kind of person you are, and are simply attempting to bait the good fellows on this forum, i.e. play them for fools. Methinks that you will pooh-pooh any responce that is not complete, and criticize anyone who defends Nancy and John C. for the answer you get.
If indeed you are inquiring about serious questions, a good read of the archives will give you many pro's and con's of using a fish fill vs. carved body vs. form, etc.
As far as the original question on what would be a good book to check out of the library. I would say that the BEST good book would be the Bible, or maybe a good John Grisham (sp?) novel. There was no specification as to whether T.J. wanted a taxidermy book or any other book. Besides, libraries are not well stocked with good or up-to-date texts on taxidermy. My personal Library has over 400 individual books on taxidermy or by taxidermists (including biographies and Museum Exhibits) and few big-city libraries rarely have more than 10 different books. The techniques outlined by Pray was set forth in his first edition in 1913, and the text you refer to was written and printed unchanged from 1943. Moyers' Book is a reprint (or the original if your library still has it) or a slightly altered text of 1953 information. The Grantz Text is a compilation and expansion of three individual texts from the late 1960's. Thus your references you suggest to T.J. are at minimum over 35 years old. Techniques change, materials change, their are improvments constantly being made in this trade/art.
By all means start a web site where you dispatch all kinds of FREE advice and FREE paint schedules (which I assume you will develop yourself and not copy directly from another text.
400 year old references would be extremely hard to find. My earliest text on taxidermy is in 1758 by Turgot in France and it is only 244 years old. The oldest reference I am aware of that gives details of taxidermy as we know it was a German text circa 1655 of which maybe only one copy exists in the world. I would appreciate it if you could send me the references of the 400 year old texts that the taxidermists sell information from.
You, my sir, should apologize to WASCO as well as many of the people on this fine forum whom you have insulted.
0-3 on the question
WELL sir, or ma'am, this is a taxidermy forum, so i hought you were wise, or smart enought th know that i meant taxidermy!
People come here for information on Bird Breeding, how to cast the front end of a car and other auto body work, try to get you to become Peta members, get info on building a tree stand, how to sharpen knives, try to convert you to Jesus, tell jokes, etc.
I just want to know how to mount a dam perch without selling my soul to wosco
lol a Jvolpe
Okay, you want info on how to mount a perch. Wasn't it you above that said everything you ever needed to learn about taxidermy was in three books that you mentioned - Pray, Grantz, and Moyer? I was under the impression you could do it all with these books - after all the information is 400 years old and WASCO must be the only company who knows it now? Sheesh you auto workers from Ohio are all the same.
You could always borrow a WASCO fish manual from your library. Libraries will borrow any book on OCLC for you on interlibrary loan, generally without a fee. That way you could read the newer info without selling your soul.
About a month ago a young lad named Brandon came on to the forum and started prosletizing about god, creation, and evolution. Read the archives, it became a heated argument.
fred, i got a video from ebay , got a decent price on a smallmouth video, going to get some smallies from erie tomorow to practice, after i see if this hobby is for me.....then i will begin buying taxidermy tools and supplies from this website, and if this hobby is not for me i will be glad i didnt buy overpriced items from the same website, thanks for the hard time everyone!
People tell you to buy WASCO products because they're great quality and user friendly.I'm a beginner and I know to go to WASCO if I have questions.You otta have your a** beat you little piece of s#^%.Also,WASCO products aren't that bad in the price range.Somethings are a tad high I'll admit but most of it is reasonable.