I've heard of using clear, latex or silicone caulk for injecting bird feet....how do you inject that into the feet? Also for all you professionals out there, do you leave the feet attached to the skin for mounting or treat them separately? I'm just wanting to get the feet on a duck to harden and look good in a standing position. Thought maybe i'd remove the feet entirely and do them separately, then reattach? What works best?
Cheers, Derek
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I remove the feet on all my birds. Now, mind you, I'm not doing tons of birds, but I do my share. I remove the feet when I skin the bird. I wire the legs and set them up on the form and pose everything like I want it. Then, I inject the feet with Fantastic Cast Injection Grade. I plug the holes so the fluid doesn't run out. It will set completely in 12-24 hrs. I paint the feet and mount the duck. With this method, there is very little (if any) shrinkage in the feet and once the bird is mounted, there is basically no finish work (other than dusting and grooming). All the painting is done. Works great for competition or commercial pieces.
Derek,
I used caulk for the first time about 8 months ago. It works great.
No shrinkage at all. Caulk also does not leak like the other injectable liquids because it is a thicker consistancy than the others. And if any leaks out of the holes created, which actually has never happened, unless the legs are shot up. You can just wipe it off with a wet cloth. I use a insulin syringe. Fill the syringe without the needle on it than place the needle on and inject. Patience my friend,is a key while using caulk because it is thick and doesn't flow through the needle easily. I inject the feet moslty from the underneath side. starting at the tip of each toe, continuing to the 1st digit toe (the back toe)at this point I fill the part that looks like your wrist ."I'm not sure if it has a name" but it's the area where the 4 digits "toes" meet. Than up the tarsus From the inner side of the leg up to the ankel.
Result :: A nice full plump looking foot. And the feet can still be ajusted after it has been plumped up back to it's like life fullness. Yes ! I now possition my bird feet after I inject them. You couldn't do this with the liquid type feet injection materials. Because of the leakage that would accur. I do remove the legs also and tie the top of the leg closed. The main reason is you learn how to balance your birds better without the feet. Balance is a key in good bird taxidermy. I don't claim to do great birds but they have gotten much better over the last year or two. As for the price consience guys out there, Which I'm normally not. Just want to do and use what works best for me, the cost of a tube of clear acrylic latex caulk is around a dollar and you could easily do 50 birds or more. Hope this helps. Ernie Kuhn
what do you use to clean your syringe to reuse?
Mike,
I simply bring the Syringe to the sink and wash it out with water. Water breaks the caulk down fairly easy. The pressure of a sink is enough. Once it is almost empty I put the plunger back in and push out any excess. Repeat the process a few times and it's as clean as a whistle. I have many syringes but have used the same one on all the birds I did last year.
What size insulin syringe are you using? My sister is a diabetic, but I do not see any way possible to shoot caulk thru her needles. She has very small diameter needles. If you could e-mail me the info I would appreciate it. I have trouble just shooting mod podge thru her needles.
Todd B
Todd@buckspromounttaxidermy.com