I was wondering if anyone has cut a w/t form down from a shoulder mount to a neck mount. I mean sawing it off and reattaching the plywood,with some downsizing on the plywood and maybe using some liquid nail glue and screws . i have a shoulder mount with all the right measurements but they cut the cape to small. the customer brought in both pieces and told me to do my best.
Return to Beginners Category Menu
But I glue the backboard with bondo instead of those expensive glues,it will never come off, you need to apply the bondo on both sides.
Yes it is done all the time like Alex said and I do it too. However what I do is actually have a neck mounted deer in my shop (on a rifle rack) and when customers bring in a deer with a short cut cape i tell them that it will look like this one or similar and then compare them to the full shoulder mounts. Then I sell them on a new cape to fit their antlers (not a car salesman hard sell). I had 4 shortys come in this year and 2 of those are having different capes put on their deer which means more money for me. Also when the person has his deer hanging on the wall and his friends see it they will see the short form and associate your work with it when in fact he is the one that wanted it that way. (sorry this is so long) Also , I'll bet that before I start on the other two short cut deer at least one or both will call and ask to have a different cape put on their deer ( I can almost see them tossing and turning in bed wanting to call) You can also approach it telling them your job as a taxidermist is to ensure they get a quality mount for their money and the extra cash for a cape is well worth it for a trophy like theirs. Or if he's a cheap sob mount it the way he wants. Good Luck, John
You have some valid points but do remember that some people want their actual capes when possible. Some just don't think of it the same if it's another deer cape. Nothing to do with being "cheap". Truth- Jeff F.
I didn't mean cheap, your right. I just hate doing a short mount whenever possible.
completely what you mean by your work being a reflection of you. You're right but your work will show through facial detail and a creative mount! Charge them the same as a shoulder mount and everybody is happy in the end. And they'll be a little more careful next time too. Happy Holidays- Jeff F.
Why would you want to charge the same as a shoulder mount when you have the extra work of cutting the form and replacing the backbaord.
we were talking whitetails, I figured one would just order a neck form and avoid the additional labor. Jeff F.