Ok, I'm getting to the point where things are starting to feel like second nature. I've now mounted about 40 deer and things feel good. But I STILL struggle with two areas: Turning the nostrils to save as much inner nose skin as possible and those darned ear butts during cartilage removal.
I always seem to lose the inner nostril skin while shaving no matter how carefully I shave. I always end up hacking holes in it or cutting it too short when getting that little piece of cartilage that always floats around (anyone else have that problem?)
On the ear butts, I never can get the entire cartilage to pull out of the inner ear detail. I don't "absolutely" need it because I'm using ear butts without the detail but it would be nice to have it for peace of mind and a sense of accomplishment I guess.
Any tips I may have missed in the archives on these two areas?
Thanks, as always, for the help.
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First the nose. Why do you need the inner nose skin? I leave less than half an inch on mine. The inner nose detail is carved into the foam and the septum is installed. Then I simply tuck and glue that small sliver of skin that I save so that I can "turn it under". When dry, I finish with colored Apoxie.
As for the ears, are you splitting the cartilage and doing the ear in halves? If so, do the bottom half first. I cut off the flesh leaving only the cartilage of the ear in place. Then I make two small, shallow relief cuts along the bottom of the inner ear in line with the edges of the ear. I grasp the ear in one hand and I use a pair of pliers on the cartilage. Once I get the cartilage down to the inner ear, I simply pull them apart. The inner ear pulls free of the cartilage intact. Then I have to go on the front side of the inner ear and remove the small shell of cartilage left after the relief cuts have torn free. SOMETIMES you get a small tear or two OR if you make the relief cut too deep it will tear, but most times, my ears peel right out. Then I remove the top piece of cartilage, being very careful to watch for hairs pulling through the skin. If they appear, I take a scalpel and shave the cartilage a short ways until I'm past that tender part. I use needlenosed pliers on all my ear work as those tips are superb at lifting cartilage and pulling it free.
I think taxidermist remove the cartilage after It comes out of there home tan?perhaps a bit easier then
I like to get mine before so I can THINK that the tan will get better penetration from both sides of the skin without going through cartilage to get there.
I personal remove all the cartlidge until I get to the base of the ear butt---then I just cut the cartlidge at the base of the butt and use the real thing as my ear butt...cuts down on the inner ear work big time..
I like the sounds of your idea but am having trouble visualizing it. Nothing better than trial and error, though so I've got two heads right now I need to cape out so I'll give it a shot.
And, now that I think more about it, you're right. I don't need much nose skin. But I would still like to be able to get that half-inch or so much quicker and easier than I do. I just have a ton of problems fleshing them. But I've got a new fleshing horn on the way (been using a wood dowel inserted up through) so that may help.
A fleshing bat or bulb? If not get one it works wonders for these areas.
Jim,
I've been using a large light bulb for facial fleshing/shaving and a good-sized wood dowel inserted through the nostrils for fleshing them. I think the fleshing bulb/horn I've ordered will work much better. Thanks for the help.