Bill, I have a deer head that is mounted- relatively new mount, with some of those very light deer eyes in it. I want to replace those eyes with a better eye. I've softened and tweeked surrounding area many times but have never exchanged eyes. Do you think I'm better breaking the old eyes with a nail set and leaving the clay work (which is pretty good) or should I dig everything out, reclay and work it from the outside. (I was afraid the hide might have too much memory to do this at this point.) Thanks for your advise on this.
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It is pretty simple task to change the eyes. A wet rag over the eye for a while will soften the skin so it can be worked loose. Slowly inject a little water under the skin, then let the wet rag sit on the eye a while longer. Keep repeating this. In a couple hours the clay will be soft and eye easily removed. Put in new eye and resculpt clay through the eye hole in the skin. Add small narrow rolls of clay at a time so you don't end up with voids and air pockets under the skin.You can do your final skulpting of the clay through the skin. Retuck your eyelids. You will be in good shape after that.
And heres how I did it, you decide of you like it, I did. I soaked the skin and clay, cut the skin from the front corner of the eye through the crease and into the hair pattern at the tear duct. Once its opened that amount, the eye comes right out, setting a new eye is a breeze, plus theres enough room for new clay and glue, and after finishing, you cant see the incision. I know for sure this method works.
It sounds good- much better than working through the eye hole.