When attaching a mammal such as a bobcat to a wall hung base what methods are you guys using to attach?. I have been using the bolt down method where you would cut a hole in the back of the base and then bolt down. Now I am considering doing away with that and just sliding the mammal on to the base and possibly setting the rod with slight bend in some Bondo?. What opinions or other techniques are out there. Thank you
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I took a mammal off a base, from one of the best taxidermists on this forum. The taxidermist said "the rod is set in hot glue" but this was AFTER I'd taken a chisel to the base.
Observing what was done: is a hole was drilled in the base, the rod was bent, the end bent over completely, then hot glue was used to fill the hole. The heated wire was then shoved in to this and allowed to set up. A little bit of moss was then stuck on top of this hole/wire combo to make it invisible. The mammal was so firmly attached that I had to chisel out the entire wire. No damage to mount or base (base repaired fine).
I'm sure other people have other methods. This is just one I can share.
The one I use depends on the pose. I always develop my base before I mount the specimen. In this way I can fit the form, and base together sometime I install a block of wood into the form so I can later screw through the base into the block. Other times I may bond a threaded rod into the form. and others I will use the leg rods. By fitting the form and base before the mounting of the animal you can work out all the logistics. Making for a quality job.
Depending on the base and mount design, I sometimes prefere to make it a "Plug-In", meaning it is not a hard mount. This allows easier transportation along with making it easier to attach the base to the wall. The cridder is "Pluged" into the base after it is on the wall. It makes it much easier to clean your work also by removing the cridder from the base.
I know, for some reason?, it is a deduction in compotition, to have a "loose" mount, but it works really well sometimes.
I have a standing bear, Kudu Pedestal and others that are done this way and I love it everytime I move them!