I usually use Joe F. heads and they are normally too big for the skin to fit over a Widgeon(the open mouth Widgeon is ridiculously big) or Green Wing teal. I usally dremel them down a bit to make them work. I tried Stephan S. heads this weekend for the same birds and they would not go over without grinding them down as well. Does anyone else use a different brand that works better with these two species? Thanks...
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Your own. You'll never have that problem again. A quick way is to use alginate for the mold and you can use bondo mixed with resin or there are many other plastis on the market that work well. Just make sure your mold is dried when you pour it.
If you look deep in the archives or search button you'll find on how to do it in steps.
Yes, I know how to cast my own heads, but there are times, when that is not practical for me...So does anyone have any better luck with different brand(s) of heads for Green Wing Teal and Widgeons? They are the only 2 species of duck I ever have problems with. How about Tony F.'s or Corey C. heads for Widgeon and Green Wingers...Anyone try those before and did they fit? Thanks
I've used Corey's widgeon head without any problems. dex
Rick,
I have used both Tony Finazzo heads and Stephan Savidas heads, without problems on either one.
The Stephan head I used this weekend wasn't going over my Green Wing. And this was not a North Dakota bird...California, fully plummed(Prime)...When I went to compare the two heads before I put him together...It wasn't even close...Frusterating. Then, I did an open mouth Widgeon the next day(Ferebee head) and that was ridicuous...Practically twice as big. If I had time to cast my own heads, I would...I'll try the Tony F and Corey C heads(who I use on pheasants with great results). I was just wondering if anybody else has noticed this discrepency.
While commercial bird heads work good IF they are the same size as the head of the bird you are mounting, all duck heads are NOT the same size. If you cast your own, they are always the right size. It would be interesting if someone did a comparison of duck heads for Breakthrough or some other venue. Simply measured the heads of the 15 most common duck heads with complete analysis of bill dimensions and overall head size from the eight companies/individuals who market them.
Yes, I know all to well that not all duck heads are not the same size. I'm not debating that. Just looking for a smaller size of those two species. I'm going to try Corey or Tony's...Thanks for those who responded!
That someone sit down and physically measure the heads of several suppliers and publish the measurements. Then prior to thawing a duck, the taxidermist can have the right sized Green-Winged Teal head available - IF it exists. Otherwise, the taxidermist will know that because the head is not available, he must cast his own.
Rick you didn't mention how many greenwings you have personally done in your career but, in 25 years I haven't found but a handfull of greenwings that would fit over an artificial head without some additional splitting---and I cast my own heads. Make a small split at the lower V notch on your teal and you'll find they fit much better. Sew it up with fly tying thread.
Joe's heads have ALWAYS been large. Grind them down. In fact, if you use caulking to achieve your head shape you can grind the heck out of anyone's artificial head and make it work. As long as you don't change the width between the eyes any head will work with a little grinding.
Since you jumped on Frank and Stephen by saying bought heads save you time I haven't seen that. In fact, by the time I get done grinding that $10 head down to a workable size I could have made my own and used the money to take my wife out to a fancy dinner at McDonald's....LOL.
Paul Czarnecki
www.tristatetaxidermy.com
Paul,
I'm glad to know I'm not the only one that has trouble with Green Wingers...I've had my business going for about 3 or 4 years now, but over the years I've probably done 25 or so...Not a ton, but enough to know there is a discrepency...
I guess I'm going to have to master making my own...Thanks for your help Paul, Taxidermologist, and everyone else...I really do appreciate it! I think I'm going to take the family out to Mcdonalds tonight!
I get water, a potato, small salad, and small burger, and the wife the same, and it comes to less than $7.00 - about half the price of a purchased quality duck head plus shipping.
One day, two years ago, on the way to judge the Indiana show and against my wife's suggestions, I ate at a Wendy's. She didn't. Needless to say, I spent the entire convention sick as heck. I don't remember judging---good thing Christie was there. I don't remember doing critiques---again, good thing Christie was there.
I do remember Bill Yox being there and him saying something to the effect of, "Wow, you look like sh..!"
And that's all I'm gonna say about that....
I think the difference is in what heads are cast. Pen raised bird heads seem to be larger than wild birds. That's why I cast wild birds heads. I can't speak for the others. I also try to get the anatomy corect so the eyes will be in the right place and the shape of the finished head will be correct. I spend three days sculpting the heads. Heck I'd have to miss two dinners at MCDonalds and one at Burger King.etc. lol