I have been doing fish taxidermy for a little while. Now I decided it was time to do a deer shoulder mount. I have done quite a bit of research (books/videos) and attend several seminars. I decided I would use Krowtann and shave with a flesh-all mini-flesher. I "rough) fleshed everything, turned the ears (easy, one small hole), split eyelids (not bad, I can see the eye lash roots - small hole), split nostrils (ok), split lips (nearly cut lips off cape). Then I prepared tan and followed directions. After I started shaving the cape, I realized that there was a lot of tissue left around the eyes. It shaved off clean but will this hurt the tan or the cape? What is the definition of "rough) flesh? How clean should the face be prior to the tan process?
This is a practice cape, so the fact that it looks like it caught on fire and was put out with a hatchet does not bother me (learning with mini flesher). I just want to learn how to make it better next time. I will try to save the cape; I can fix the holes in the body. What about the lips? Any other pointers? Thank you for your time - JCR
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Without seeing the cape I would say that the tan should have worked around the eyes if you removed the heavy fresh before tanning. The tan will puff the remaining fresh, which makes it easy to remove. As for the lips, if the holes are not in the hair line you will be ok, just use a good glue like Epo-Grip and they will remain in the correct location. If the are in the hair line you will have to repair by sewing are glue, depending on the size of the hole. I've never tried the mini flesher, but if I were you, I would flesh the face and lips by hand for a while until you get the hange of it.
Good Luck!
I've used krowtan on 5 deer capes and a mini flesher and flesh around the eyes and nose with a scalpel.I have never had a problem with slipping and get good stretch.Just fix like Marc said and you should be fine.