I am a beginner at taxidermy and I want to try to mount some small mammals. I have heard that the sprayable foam works ok for body forms. Does anyone have any advice on mounting life size small mammals?
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you would be better off just purchasing forms from a supplier. It is better foam too.
First of all, if your a beginner, you probably don't have any molds. Second the spray foam is too soft and as Craig said, its cheaper to buy the form.
spray foam will never cure in a mold properly. Spray foam will expand 40% and (taxidermy foam) will expand 25 to 30 times it's volume.
This is only free rise.
Back in the day I used the zap a gap foam to make a couple of squirrel forms they came out ok but they were a real pain to demold (had to bust the mold off of them) and it will shrink. I would buy foam ment for taxidermy as it ends up being alot less work with better end results.
I use the same type of foam that is used in ice chests. it is not as dense as the foam used in a supply house form but I have done many mounts with it and never had a problem.
I get it in a 2" sheet that is 4'x8' and it is about $30.00. I can make about 4-6 forms out of it so it is really cheap compared to a premaid form. You need for hot glue the sheet together to make it thick enough for your animal body. Then you have to hand carve it so that could be a little tricky.
Looky here
http://www.shopmaninc.com/foam.html