Submitted by Pacemak'r on 5/30/99. ( jfwagner@hereintown.net )
I have been ask if I can fix an Elk shoulder mount that's been pulled apart at the seam. Seems the original taxidermist used improper thread and it pulled apart about 2 inches. Can I sink the mount in water up to the ears to rehydrate, then re-sew it? The mount's about 2 years old now.
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This response submitted by George Roof on 5/30/99. ( georoof@aol.com )
You didn't mention if the hide was tanned or dry preserved. I'm assuming dry preserved with that much shrinkage, and I hope he didn't use epoxies to secure the hide.
In a word, to answer your question, Yes. You may want to limit that, however, if you're doing this for a cheap price. Since the seam is already split, you can take a spray bottle of warm water with Downy or some clothes softener in it, and spray inside the seam. Lift it as far as you can to make sure all areas are wet. Then soak a towel and lay it underneath the seam and wrap the neck with a good plastic wrap. Overnight, the hide should be pliable enough to resew. If not, continue the process until it does. Use strong thread and paint epoxy glue up under the sides as you work down.
If you plan on a total job, the hide MUST go back on the same form. The skin has been pre-formed to that manniken, and all the water in the world won't make it conform to another manniken.
Nothing is more annoying than fixing someone else's screw ups. Charge accordingly.
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