I ineed some help a guy brought me a deer to mount and i guess he left it in the back of the truck to long (imagine that)i noticed a little hair slipping while i was fleshing no big deal but by the time i got it mounted ive got a pretty good bald spot on one side of the muzzle and a small spot about the size of a quarter on the other if some one could give me some sugestions on how to fix my little problem it would be appriciated thanks Dave
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Having a spot that big especially around the muzzle is a hide that I wouldn't mount at all.
Why in the world would have tried to mount this deer from the get go. It was slipping at the time he brought it in. Right then and there I would of been honest with the client and explain to that person why and what's wrong with the cape and he should purchase or you get a new cape for him.
I'm not being a smart A$$ here but you really messed up here. Trying to fix a spot like that on the face is the wrong area to try and repair with the slippage you have. If it was smaller you could of cut it out and sewn it back up but now with this size you need to get a piece from another deer to try and repair it. Now with all of this extra work and you can't say it's going to turn out right, you can understand now why I would suggest getting a new cape.
Personally I would call the person up let him know the cape is ruined and the only way to get this mounted is to buy a cape. Having said this I'm not sure what your contract says or what you told your client. If he's not really aware of this you could be held liable for all the costs.
Dave this is one of the reason why the veterans always say check the cape out when it's brought in for all flaws. From there write it down on the contract and let the client know what wrong and if you can or can't repair the hide. This way they know from the get go what the mount is going to look like in the end. I get about five deer a year that the capes are bad from bad handling and they need to be replaced. Some don't want to hear it but we have to explain to them on how important it is from them to get it to us ASAP.
I hope all works out fine.
Replace the cape and remount the head. You are responsible for it.
1. You accepted the head, knowing that there was a problem.
2. You went ahead and did the mount with a slipped cape.
3. If you didn't make the customer aware of the problem when the head came in....the slippage is TOTALLY your fault. Even if it is his fault, he won't see it that way. You're screwed!
That is the how and why you fix the problem.
Just out of curiosity, what are you charging to do this head mount?
if the slippage has gotten that bad get ahold of a differnt cape. in the future, if you find your cape is begging to have hair slippage use stopslip from a large supply co. or go to a pharmacy and get denatured alcohol. sponge the hair side of the cape once on the mount and let it set.
I agree 100% with that Old Fart John...majot boo-boo on your part. If you let that head out oif your shop...yopu'll live to regret it to Eternity.
It should have been rejected on the spot. I understand your loyalty to the guy in having to want producing the esact cape mount for him...and him saying, "well do yer best'...but,,,it jest aint good 'nuff, son.
Iffen it twer me..I'd strip the cape...burn it...replace it to give the guy a mount you'll both be proud to display. Sure...you put a lot of work into it...but look at where it gitcha (and I aint sayin 'where' needer). Chalk it up to experience and bite the bullet.
~ ETCC