I have mounted several raccoons now and am frustrated with the end result of the toes. I am filling them as much as possible with clay and then using bird injection fluid to help the process. After they are dry they look OK, but not great. I have seen the work of others and have been impressed with toes that look lifelike. Can anyone tell me what to use or what the trick is on this? I would really appreciate any help. Thanks folks!
Michael Spencer
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use Fin Backing Cream...or caulk to inject....John B(retired) used it all the time in the past, if you'd like...search the archieve on "John B fin backing cream" to learn more. Hope this helps.
I use fin backing cream on my squirrels and find it easier to get in there verse clay...BUT....If you have tiny pin holes that are not visible to you.....It will come squirting out that hole. The only downfall is if it gets into the fur. It will leave the fur stiff and it is rather cumbersome to wipe off since those tiny toes are filled with a soft substance....I would still recommend to try it though.
You probably won't like this, but one of two things going on with your mounts are doing you in. ONE - you aren't skinning the toes down to the toenail OR TWO - you aren't installing the clay properly.
In order for your toes to have that full look, the toe must be skinned down to the nail. If you split the foot pad, the toe will be easier to work with then. I take a small string of Critter Clay and feed it down into the toe "sock". Then I take a match stem piece of wood and PACK the clay down into the toe area. I continue until the toe is stuffed full. At this point, each toe can be flattened to look natural and excess clay will be expunged from the toe area. Then I put a thin layer of clay in the foot area and sew the pad up. Once the mannikin is installed, any excess clay can be worked around the foot and up the leg under the skin to give your the desired look. Pose your coon and using seamstress pins from your local sewing outlet, pin the toes in place by inserting the pin alongside the toenail and down through the toe. Once dried, repairs can be made easily to your pin holes and the hair will cover the repair.
Thats how I do my coons too,I learned it somewhere,likely in Breakthrough mag. You need to be patient while doing it.
IAM EXPORTERS OF LIVE BIRDS,REPTILES,MAMMALS AND INSECT FROM TANZANIA.IAM LIKE INTRODUCE MY COMPANY FOR THIS COUNTRY FOR DEALERS BUSSNES. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR TEL 255 744 770955
HASSANI SAIDI JORRY
BOX 4787
ARUSHA
TANZANIA
IAM EXPORTERS OF LIVE BIRDS,REPTILES,MAMMALS AND INSECT FROM TANZANIA.IAM LIKE INTRODUCE MY COMPANY FOR THIS COUNTRY FOR DEALERS BUSSNES. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR TEL 255 744 770955
HASSANI SAIDI JORRY
BOX 4787
ARUSHA
TANZANIA