I'm considering switching to ear magic next year for my deer as it seems the biggest part of my time is used in removing the ear cartilage. My question is, do you tint the ear magic with some powdered paint before using it to get a more natural color? Is it harder to get the correct ear shape without the liner? I know from looking back at some of the bondo ears I've done that the ears aren't nearly as accurate as the ones with liners.
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I tryed it and have mixed feeling's about it. As far as commercial work I would say it would be ok. The thing I didn't like about it is that it never really got a good stiffness to it. I took untill the hide itself had dryed enough for them to stiffen up, and by then they had lost alot of there shape and semitry. I tryed carding the edges but I don't like to leave the carding on for more then 24hrs as it will cause the hair pattern's to lay down to much.
I have always done bondo ears but thought I would try ear magic to see if I could get ear strength and a little thinner ear, especially at the edges, so I called and talked to them about it (do a search for ear magic and you find the contact info also under a post of mine about 2 months ago). So far, I like it. It is much easier to apply then bondo (thick...somewhere between liquid honey and peanut butter) so it spreads easier in the ear. Leave the cartilage in and get a pair of ear forms from Research. I left these inside the ear to support the cartilage for an hour and when I came back to check, the ears were nicely formed and good and fairly stiff...but best of all, they were 1/8 to 1/4 inch thinner (in spots) then I found I could reliably get with bondo. Be sure you split your ear thoroughly and leave the cartilage in. You need about 1 1/2 to 2 oz of each part (A & B) for a large mulie ear. It kicks in about 10-15 minutes but remains flexible/workable. After 24 hrs its there...
When I tried it I had drumming everytime. I applied it exactly like I was doing bondo ears and it was fine until it dryed. DRUMMING big time! I may be doing something wrong because others say it works great? not sure......
Dan my number is 800-888-2467 feel free to call.