HI all
I am very new to taxidermy. AS in I havent yet mounted ANYTHING but I am reading manuals, I ordered that Series from WASCO, have some tools already and now IM pretty much just looking for some cheap critters to practice on. Hate to spend too much since I imagine Ill massacer the poor thing..
I have a loft in my husbands shop that he is making into my Taxidermy room.
if you could set it up how you want what items do you consider a need to have vs what is nice to have but could do without?
The room will be insulated, air conditioned and heated. I have a flesher table mount, I want to tan my own skins and hides. SO I am considering a tanner but was wondering if its worth the expense vs having it sent out, or using the pickling method.
What tools do you find yourself using the most? Your favorite knife? Speciality tools? table stand or floor stand? Or do I need both? Should I have cabinets or just put in shelves?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I want to have it set up all nice, and figured those who have been doing it awhile might tell me what I need instead of me guessing.
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Good luck in starting out. I have an autotanner that I use a lot. I now use it mostly on full-body mammals like cats and canines. You might be able to find a good used one here. In the future I'm sending all my deer and elk out to a tannery due to time savings. You will need a good air compressor. I would stay away from the little jobs for airbrushes. You will find that a couple horsepower/10 gallon tank will work for most applications unless you use a mini-flesher or air sander.Get a water trap for it and a good regulator plus at least 25 feet of hose. I would not try to skimp on a good airbrush. Buy an Iwata eclipse or HP model and be done with the grief. Get yourself a dremel tool with the flex shaft and a good assortment of bits for it. I use one daily. I personally use scalpals with #10 or 11 blades for my small stuff with the small handle. I use the large handle with #22 or 24 blades for skinning or such. I also use a curved blade(bird beak)knife a lot. You will need a good drill and I would recommend you go cordless. Get an 18 or 19 volt with 2 batteries and charger.I use the mounting stand set-ups from Van Dykes. I use table models for most everything but elk or larger. Buy one of the deals where you get 5 bases and 5 inserts that fit the stands. The 5 bases can be put into the wall for drying your mounts without ever taking the insert off the form. This is some of the best $$ you can spend for mount stands IMO. Get your self a good assortment of sheetrock and sheetmetal screws in several lengths and sizes. You will soon find that most of us taxidermsits can't pass up a tool display or catalog. Get one of those ergonomic mats to stand on. It will save you lots of back and foot problems down the road. I was lucky enough to find 2 stainless steel roller hospital gurneys for work tables. I will never have anything else! I use a bar stool to sit under the end of them when skinning or assembling. They can be rolled out of your way and hold WAY more junk than any person should own. You just have to put out of your mind what they might have been used for by the previous owner. Hope this helps some. I have put my new shop together in the last 3 years and still find new and better tools that I can't live without.
Here is a link to a website I saw and it has a nice list of things you will want. http://www.hidetanning.net/BeginnerToolsTaxidermy.html
I hope they don't mind me posting this here. As far as shelves or cabinets it is all what YOU want? If you want to cover everything up it is up to you. I like it in the open so I can easily find it.
MrDUX Thank you so much! THAT is the kind of info Ive been looking for. I have a big air compressor with a 50 ft hose. It might be too big though. My husband uses it for his air guns when he works on the trucks. We have two so I am going to use one for my shop if it doesnt have too much psi.
Do I really need an airbrush? Im not doing fish, so do you think it would be better to have an airbrush when doing the birds or would a good high quality brush set do fine?
I have those scaples you mention. I really like the larger one but my handle is too slim and wimpy, so I ordered a more solid feeling one. I ordered the variety scaple blades pack from WASCO, comes with 10,11,12 and 15. and I also have some of the 22, where did you find 24? I dont see them in the WASCO catalog. I am thinking of dipping the handles in a rubber coating. Like we use on our handtools. They get slippery so was thinking Id rubber coat them for better grip. What do you think of this idea?
I have a cordless drill and stapler 18v, 3 batteries and charger. The stapler also shoots those small finishing nails. Would that work for nailing or do I need something different.
Ill defineitly look into the 5 pack deal on the bases and inserts. and I love the gurney table idea! Sounds like that would work great and be easy to clean. I dont mind the previous owners use LOL.
Thank you so much for taking the time to tell me all this :)
GG- Thank you so much for that link. It is very helpful :) I appreciate it :)
Rae
MrDux that was very nice of you thank you for being a good person
Sounds like you have a good start. I would definately get an air regulator and moisture trap for taxidermy use only. The air brush is a personal choice. I do feel that you can get much more lifelike colors onto bird beaks and feet. It is not at all unusual for me to put 6-7 colors on snow goose or speck feet or heads. I like to be able to use subtle color changes. I also use brushes on some.I have found that I use a narrow crown air stapler and brad nailer on most of my mounts and especially on habitat bases. They save me a ton of work but the battery job might work fine.I ordered the #24 blades from a site that is advertised here often.The handle dipping will probably work good, I would be concerned about keeping them clean.
I appreciate the kind things said about my previous post. I see this site being dissed on other sites and have to agree with some of it. I do feel that all of us should try to help those who have a true dedication to making our industry better. I will never be able to contribute a fraction of the knowledge I have gained here. Lots of the tools I use and the way I set up my shop were a direct result of advice I saw here.
Glad to help.
Where did you get the 5 pack of stands? I only have the WASCO catalog right now, but I do have a bunch more different ones coming. Ive looked online as well and found more suppliers (link above LOL) but who is it that offers the 5 pack of stands/inserts?
Also do you have any thought on the Versa Flex 360 that WASCO carries for doing birds and small mammels? Its on page 168. I was thinking of getting the heavy duty one. Since it would work for both light and heavy critters. By any chance do you use one? And if so how do you like it?
Thanks so much for your kindness and help
Rae
First, it isn't MrDux it is mrdux as in m-r-dux. It goes back to an old verse I saw several years ago. Mr.Dux sounds really arrogant to me. It is also my KY license plate number on my truck. Lots of folks do the same as you since I sponsor on a couple of sites and run snow goose hunts in Jan-March. No problem.
Now, I have looked at the Versa Flex stand but have found that once I bought the Van Dykes item 01009315 ($85.99) and item 01519034 adapter ($16.99) I can set up a table mount stand that will move 360 degrees. I use the inserts and attach one to a piece of board or plywood and it allows me to use the stand to mount birds, fish, small mammals, etc. when I'm done, I take the insert and mounting board/mount and put it into the wall mount to dry. I have also taken some steel pipe and made more inserts and adapters that fit the bases. I have 2 bases mounted for table stands, one for counter mounted paint/finish stand and the rest for whatever comes up. Most versitile system around. It lets me have several items in process without ever taking the insert loose from the mount until I'm finished. I have purchased 2 sets of the stands so I have my shop walls pretty well lined with them. I have considered the Versa Flex for fish painting since I saw a smallmouth painting demo at the WTC. Looks like a nice tool.
LMAO oh how funny! So your name is like that redneck joke. Thats cute.. My son cracked up over that LOL
I went to Van Dykes and I see what your talking about :) Ill be sure to order those.
Thanks so much :)
Rae