I've done alot of deer mounts but I persoally don't care for these mounts so I've never done one and it happened a customer said I want one so can anyone please give me some ideas on how to finish the back that you can see it is a McKenzie form thank you sean
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I did a pedastal for my step son and used a piece of brown leather that I had layin' around that was used to re-upholster some kithcen chairs. I used regular thumb tacks but air brushed the heads a light brown let them dry and then glittered it with dark brown.
Hope this helps.
I give my clients 2 options on these. The first is to have the back finished with Fleck Stone paint. The second (more expensive) option is using buckskin.
Either way, before mounting, paint a thin coat of bondo/fgresin mixture on the sides and back of the form. Allow it to set good and sand it smooth. This will allow your hide glue to adhere.
If you're using the fleck stone, paint the back of the form. If you're using buckskin, cut a piece to fit the back before mounting, but don't attach it yet.
Now, mount your deer as normal except use a 2 part epoxy on the sides where the hide will not be stapled to the back. Allow ~1-2 inches of hide to hang over the back edge. You might also use some hide nails to keep the skin in place. You can staple the hide in the area where the back board is.
Once your mount is dry, if you painted it, all you have to do is trim the hide from the leather side to allow the hair to flow over the mannikin. You can hot glue a decorative rope around the junction of the hide/mannikin if you desire. If you are using buckskin, use a good 2 part glue like Epo-Grip or Killer glue and apply it to the back of the mannikin. Leave a 2" gap all the way around so the glue doesn't sqeeze out onto the deer's hair. Apply your piece of buckskin and mash the glue so that it spreads to the edges. Use pins to hold the buckskin in place until your glue sets. Once your glue sets, remove the pins. You can leave it or add the decorative rope, if you desire.
You will not be able to really see the back that well unless you just have to look. The main thing is to trim the skin real neat so that the hair flows real pretty over the edge.
Another option is flocking. It is sold in several colors at Van Dykes. Its real easy. Take enamel paint the same color as the flocking. Paint the backing, then apply the flocking. When it dries, it will look just like felt but perfect without any wrinkles. I think they look really good this way. I'm sure the other ways above look just a nice. This gives you several options. Good Luck.
On my last pedestal I went to Wally-World and bought a yard of Mossy Oak patterned material( about $3.00). I used upholstery adhesive (aeresol type that you can get in thr craft section) and adhered the material to the back of the manniken. Trimmed with a sharp scalpel, trimmed with braided rope and wallah! Customer was very happy.....he liked the mossy oak outdoorsy touch.