I realize that this is something that most of you have already worked out or may not need but after getting a brand new set of eppley eyes in the other day and deciding to sink the eyes in somewhat and after about 2 hrs. of removing foam form the eye socket.adding clay here and tilting there until I thought they were right .I sat down and thought ;for an alert ,looking forward deer there has got to be something that i can make to remove foam from the eye socket that will be the same on both sides so I don't have to add or remove clay and keep fiddling around.
Heres what I came up with .I got a threaded pvc. cap for 3/4" pvc pipe .I put it in a vise and with a small saw (could use small square file)cut teeth 1/8"deep all the way around the top .I turned the cap over and found the center of the cap.I drilled a 1/4" hole in the end.Igot a 1/4",1 and 1/4" long bolt and put into the hole from the inside and put locked nut on the outside then I mixed some epoxy and packed it into cap to within about 3/16s of the top of the teeth .(you make depth whatever you want).then I flatened the epoxy with end of socket (whatever).
This rig seems to just fit inside the socket (tried McKenzie and Medder form) and cuts a groove about 1/4" wide and 3/16" deep into both sockets .the circle in the middle that is not cut seems to keep the cut aligned all the way around the groove so that you have 3/16" depth all the way around I guess you cold rock it to add or subtract on one side or the other but my purpose was to get a consistant way of getting the correct depth (in my opinion)in both sockets ,thereby saving some time.You can still add clay at the front or back but at least you know that you started with the same depth and correct angle on both sides.
Use this if you want ,like I said you may already have a better way or may not see the need but if you do try it.
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I have noticed a symmetry problem with Joe Meder forms as well. I thought about trying to correct the problem. However after about 10 minutes I realised that the customer will never notice that detail. It us that notice. Now if your going to compete, them I'd be more inclined to take those steps.
I guess I am my own worst enemy ,I spend entirely to much time nitpicking .I have sat in chair in front of a mount for hr. Looking for something wrong . And I can usually find something.
I actually love deer I have hunted them ,and watched them for for40 yrs. I want to bring them back to life when I mount one.I 'm not in the class of some of the guys on this forum but I keep trying.
You are right about most of the customers ;they generally look at the over all appearance and if you try to tell them about muscle structure or wrinkles in the skin of an earbutt they will probably get bored.
I watch a guys face when he first sees his mount and if his eyes light up like a kids on Christmas mourning you know thats enough.
the gizsmo above is going to work for me I belive.I have seen an auful lot of posts oh here about eye depth and bug eyes .It took me about an hour to make but I think its going to save me many more .
I to have recently noticed a symmetry issue with Meder form. The first thing I noticed is the eye sockets are not horizontal with one another and the nose wings or should I say the lack of them. I have always been able to deal with the short lip line and the narrowness from the top of the forehead to the bottom of the jaw but it seems whoever is manufaturing these form has some sleeping on the job in the QA dept. I have been getting different measurement from the same exact forms.
will not correct for lack of symetry between the eyes .if the back of the sockets are not at the same angles you will have to do some more carving to compensate .the only thing it dose is make sure you remove the same amount from both sides ,and it will retain the same angle as the back of the socket.If the sockets at the back have different angles or depths then,I guess we just have to keep fiddling around.
If these are those plastic eyes your talking about then I think that is the problem. I tried those years ago when they first came out if we are talking about the same thing, and had the very same problem. Way to much plastic on the front of the eye. Had gouge out the form to get the right angle. Symetry is gonna be a problem on every form you by. Thats where we earn our money, makin it look symetrical.