Other than having to order the correct size, why does the Breakthru fish book recommend an eye measurement before skinning your fish?
Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I've always just filled the socket with mache when mounting. Once dried, I drill it out and pick an eye from the dozens I have and set one that fits.
We're talking commercial taxidermy here. Why measure it before?
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The purists will argue, but if your method works and your customers are happy, keep doing it. The reason is to insure the same sized iris being put in the mount. I'm even worse. I measure the fish, pick up the catalog and then order the size eyes and eye sockets recommended. Some are really snug while others are a tad loose, but Apoxie fills the bill and it's a done deal.
Now get ready for Frank and Cecil to tell you why my advice is all wrong. LMAO
I see you refer to "eye" in the singular form. Does this mean what I think it means?
Paul
I think he means he is keeping the other "eye out" for Cecils reply to George LOl LOL
No argument here. LOL
You shouldn't even have to measure an eye. You can tell what it is just by looking at it. It reminds me of my drill sgt. in Air force basic training. When it was time to get our first dress uniforms he could tell us what lenght sleeve to get just by us outstretching our arms. And he did it in a second. I was amazed.
Your right on track by having several eyes in stock. I can not have too many 16 mm LMBs, 10 to 12 mm All purpose trout for use in bluegills and redears. 16 to 18 mm crappies eyes etc.
Man I hate to say it but being I cast all my heads I do just about the same. I hate it when I measure an iris that's 11mm and I can't get one. Do I go smaller or bigger? I will place both eyes in the socket and see which one I like better.
But it's good pratice to check out the measurements. This way you'll learn what you can do or not do. If your using the real heads on warm water you'll find out that you'll get shrinkage here and actually you'll be able to put in a bigger eye. Well that's why you measure first so you can put back in the proper eye and then learn on how to rebuild the head to where it should be. So in reality most folks are putting in a bigger eye than what it should be.
As for George LOL he's right. He buys the generic heads and they take all teh fun out of things. It will tell you the right eye that goes in. I for one hate them but then again I'm not generic LOL
What really counts here is the final out come. If you did your job right and it looks good fine leave it as is, but if your fish is really bug eyed and if you look at a few you can see that you made a wrong choice. Hey if it works do it.
Yes, I USE to set a single eye and epoxied the backside "eye" to the point that you really had to look closely to tell it wasn't an eye.
But, I've since done a complete 180 on this one. Thanks to Cecil helping me open my "eye(s)" ;)
Personally, I don't see why one would spend the extra time finishing something that no one is going to see. But, if I look at it from my customer's perspective - instead of mine, then I can see why I should set two eyes.
Many customer's perceive this as "quality work". And since they're paying the bills, their perceptions are reality, not mine. That, and I actually did the math. Setting an additional eye amounts to about an extra 8-12 hours a work a year - WHOOPEE! (I just tacked on an additional 7 cents per inch to make up for it! - LOL)
Frank, you made the point that I was going to make. That availabilty (or lack of) sizes would limit your ability to "match the hatch" in some cases anyways. But, considering I HAVEN'T been doing this all that long, I probably should be measuring as a reference point to where I need to go. Good suggestion.
Thanks all!