I have 4 boars in process, One customer wants me to use the actual tusk from his hog. What problems could I be lookig at using the real teeth,and is there anything I should do to prepare them
Thanks Paul
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Explain to the customer that in time the real teeth will crack, and that you'll not be responsible for them or the repair when it happens. Nothing else to say to them, except do the mount the way he wants it.
Coyote
I agree with Coyote, but you might still have him insist on the tusks. Have him sign the work order, or prepare a legal document explaining the problem with real teeth. When I get this request in addition to doing the paper work, I will fill the tusk with smooth cast. Im not sure how long it will hold the tusks from cracking, but it seems to help.
Hugh
Rugh up the inside of the tusks with a file or rasp and Fill the tusks with Fiberglass resin and they will not crack. I charge an extra $40 when a customer insists on using the real teeth.
And folks around here wouldn't have it any other way. The tusks ARE the trophies! I am sure that none of my customers would ever want fake ones put in. As far as I am aware I have yet to have a single one crack on a mount. I have boiled the crap out of some and made rear view mirror ornaments out of them and those did crack. Tusks for mounts I don't boil. I let them rot out. I fill mine with Apoxi sculpt. Might be the humidity where I live that keeps them from cracking? Personally I cant stand the sight of the fake ones. I've yet to see fake ones that could fake me out.
I agree with you on using the real teeth...I like using them on my personal mounts. But sometimes a hog hasnt got large enough tusks and if it werent for the fake repro tusks and jawsets I would be out of a job considering I miunt uo nearly 200 boar mounts a year.
Joe Coombs hs some awesome jawsets ...But I prefer and use WASCO /Rick Carter forms/jawsets on 90% of mine and 99% of the customers cant tell the difference.