I've just gotten my first couple of animals that need to be tanned and stuffed, and I was wondering if someone could name some of the more unnoticed tools like scales and pins. I also would like to know if a flesher and airbrush are things that I need to purchase right away. I have a very limited budget ($300), so I can't buy anything unnecessary yet.
Thanks,
~Wakeboarder
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Don't use the term stuff. You stuff a turkey during the holidays. You are going to need an airbrush. I'm sure I will be debated on that issue but... with that goes a compressor, paints etc. If You've got a second job, which I hope you do, your best bet would be to buy supplies with each customer job that comes in. You are going to need a fleshing knife and beam at minimum. You can purchse a fleshing machine at a later date. A lot of the tools you will need you may already have.
You may not need any fancy hardware of any kind to mount some things. Hell, most of what you need for some small projects are lying around the house in kitchen drawers and sewing kits and the like. What do you plan to mount? I will give you a bare minimum list of the materials for the job at hand......You seem to have left out something........it was......er.....ummmm.......SKILL - Yeah! That's the word! How do you plan to acquire basic knowledge to go along with those tools?
BD
Sorry about using the term "stuffed"; I meant mounted. I am only 16 so I don't have to worry about food or rent. I have scalpels, but is there a specialized knife I need to buy? If so, how much is it?
Cur
I am just starting, so I was planning on simple projects such as squirrels, rabbits, maybe a coon. On how I will be getting basic knowledge, I have ordered several Breakthrough manuals and my brother is working as a taxidermist's assistant. I can't ask my brother's boss because he won't let my brother work on anything outside of his business, even just as practice. My brother already knows how to mount ducks, quail, doves, geese, and turkey because his boss is specialized in birds.
Thanks
~Wakeboarder
All the catalogs you can. You could probably get a beam and a fleshing knife for around $100. You could get by doing the squirrels/rabbits with the scalpel. You are going to need the fleshing knife for the coon. Be careful those rabbits have skin like wet toilet paper, and the coons are fatter than a bucket of Crisco. I don't know what kind of "boss" your bro has but when he goes home at night he can do whatever he wants. I'm sure he doesn't want your brother to steal any business from him. Good luck! Got questions? Ask away.
I don't think you'll find a rabbit easy to mount?