When putting horns on a plaque I have a ton of trouble covering the skull base and horn form with velvet. I dont like any of the cheap plastic covers that some of the suppliers have. The velvet wrinkles and looks terrible. I eventually get it right but it takes forever. I do use cotton batting under the velvet. I was just wondering if any of you use a pattern to cut out the material. Am I the only one that has this trouble. I had rather mount a cottonmouth than mess with a dang horn plaque. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!
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Get yourself some good stretchey suede leather, and you will find the job of horn-mounts very quick and profitable.
comes into play.
I mounted the same set of elk antlers THREE times this week! I used a stretchy goat skin with the suede side out. I got a form that looked like the contour of an elk skull, not the round oval type. It looks nice but it was hell to cover.
The first time, right as I was finishing, I dribbled some contact cement near the antler burr. Of course it wouldn't come out. At least I was smart enough to use the first cover as a pattern to cut out the second. That's my advice to you. The second time, the beautiful finished peice was resting on my work bench when my hammer decided to leap from my peg board, strike the antlers, and in an effort to save them from a fall to the floor, my tanning oil #1-covered hands made the save that I couldn't duplicate in my entire life. Of course it wouldn't come out! By god, this time they're on the wall until the customer comes to pick them up.
I'm venting but the practice was good for me anyway.
;-)
Kristi
is what I like to use. Looks good and utilizes extra skins.