Submitted by Josh David on 5/4/99. ( jdavid5@hotmail.com )
When sewing the bear skin to a felt backing is there more than one layer of felt? And also is the sewing done by hand?
This response submitted by frank on 5/4/99. ( BASSWTROUT@AOL.COM )
Yes there are 2 layers of felt,that can be sewed on by hand or machine. Your choice. Then backing is laid down then a material is then sewed on over the felt and backing. good luck
This response submitted by Janie on 5/4/99. ( )
On my bear rugs I always glue the felt together with hot glue I also
use this to glue the bear to the felt it holds good. Just have you plenty
of hot glue sticks on hand because they disappear quick. I will use
a heavy thread on the toes.
This response submitted by Frank on 5/5/99. ( basswtrout@aol.com )
Sorry glue felt to skin is not the proper way to install felt on a rug. That unless you are doing less than HIGH Quality work that is. In time with pulling and what not the glue will lose hold. I know before I became a taxidermist a friend of mine had a rug done the same way. Well you guessed it it came apart. Well not to say that taxidermist lost a lot of work from him. Why by trying to be quick and give his client a less than a quailty job. So sew that felt to the rug. It may take a little more time so charge for it, and you'll be happy to know your client's rug will stay together for life.
This response submitted by Rob on 5/5/99. ( )
I would recomend to send your tanned hide with mounted head to one of the wholesale rugmakers.I have used BJ's Rugs for years with excellent professional results.Just remember to charge for the additional expense.I would never consider doing the rugging myself after having used BJ's service.
This response submitted by mike on 5/7/99. ( )
we used to sew all of our bear rugs and it is a waste of time and money and time is money! most commercial studios glue there bear rugs nowadays. In fact in my opinion it is better and the clients have never complain. I can only remember 1 rug coming back to our studio in 15 years! and it was not for reglueing it was because the tongue fell out. I would only sew if you like sewing but I MYSELF DO ENOUGH ON EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE SHOP......
This response submitted by Mick on 5/7/99. ( MicD63@aol.com )
I agree with Frank and Rob. Hot glue just dosen't offer enough assurance that the felt will remain attached. I have to echo Mike's opinion as well...I would never sew a bear rug ! I ship them out for rugging services, and they do come back with the felt sewn to the skin.
This response submitted by leanna on 5/7/99. ( scardeer@cornernet.com )
Frank nailed that one on the head concerning high quality. Go with the extra time and deffinitely go with the sewing.
This response submitted by Paul Greenheck on 5/12/99. ( )
This has been a dilemma I have faced many times. There's nothing wrong with glue if done properly. If your glue doesn't get hot enough you're going to have seperation problems later. Sewing is however is the best way to go, but the labor expense is outrageous. We figured that sewing alone would add a couple of hundred dollars of labor to the rug over glue. At the time I was doing rugs I decided to inform my customers of the options, costs and benefits then offer them the choice. Few opted for the extra expense of sewing and I've had no returns on the glued rugs.
I also had customers that wanted super heavy premium wool felt, I had still others that hated the curly felt strip treatment and wanted full flat sheets of felt, others had padding preferences. To debate one correct method is fruitless, it's what the situation demands. I'm an absolute quality freak and always believe in doing the best job, but when it comes to profit I can't afford to give my time away if the customer is unwilling to pay the price.