STRESSED OUT!?!?!?! Help

Holes happen. Part of taxidermy is knowing how to sew, Calm down everything can be fixed.

 

Sounds like you need to put it away for a day... Come back again when your relaxed...

Ears can be fixed, dryer sheets and some super glu does wonders LOL.. Just take your time, relax, its not that big a deal..

 

Don't peel the cartilage out until it's tanned.

 

You'll be amazed at how big of a hole you can learn to repair...most of us learned to repair them because we hadn't yet learned how NOT to make them. Stress and sharp knives don't go well together. You'll make more holes in the deer's hide or in yours. Take the advise to step back, calm down, look at a couple of ear turning videos on utube or from the tutorials section here. You might pick up a tip that helps you that you hadn't picked up on before. Then go back at it and do the best you can. It does get easier as you go!

 

Slow down and take it easy! Taxidermy takes patients. It gets much easier with practice

 

You said the hole was in the back of the ear, are you using an ear tool to open??
95% of the ear can be opened without it being turned inside out with the tool. You have to skin up above the ear muscles to get it to break. Watch the edge of the ears and realize there is 1/4 inch or less past the edge of the cartilage that will need to be split with a scalpel. It takes practice. If your making that big a hole in those places your working too fast. I get mad at an1/8 th inch nick. Work slow until you learn the skin , you didn't mention the nose yet. That can be a bugger too until you figure it out.


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Dood, your not going to get a good deer without practice and paying dues first. You are expecting to much of yourself, watching one video doesn't make you a taxidermist. The first dozen deer are for learning on and wrecking. Take your time, especially with that knife, scratch with the tip of the knife, take tiny cuts instead of big wild cuts.
Nobody picks up a guitar from scratch and plays rock &n roll, it takes hand to brain muscle memory and dexterity that has to be developed, taxidermy and scalpels are no different.

 

I feel ya. I have done many things in my life and find it extremely easy to pick up new tasks, skills, whatever. Taxidermy however...........man it's different. There are so many variables , methods, secrets, tips and such. You don't always have to go A B C, it amazes me how much is really going on all at once and not just with one project either. Chill out and try to have fun.

 

Stop it! No it isn't scrap, just fix it and stop being a baby. Every thing is fixable, everything!

 

hey truetexan, you really think it's tuff? i would thought that being a texan or cowboy fan was tough.............GO STEELERS!!

 

I am brand new at this too..I'm tanning 2 capes now and they went about like yours..i put a butt load of holes in all the wrong places too,,but i put just as many cuts and holes in my fingers in the process..and learned krow-tann burns like a s.o.b. in fresh wounds..My new lesson is learning how to take my time,,and when i get frustrated,,step back,smoke a cigarette, and the go back and try a different approach...

 

Going back to the earlier post from Rae. How do you fix the hole with super glue and dryer sheets? I'm new to taxidermy as well, and trying to glean as many tips as I can.....RD

 

Your just putting a patch on. Super glue gel on the hide, close the hole tight and apply patch material ie... dryer sheet , piece of shaving from thinning hide, or whatever you decide to use. I sew the holes closed with 2 pound clear mono, then apply patch. Ensures hole isn't patched open. Part of taxidermy is creativity, and figuring out unique solutions to things.
When you get to the boar replace the nose , it will be easier.


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Mammals of all kinds came pretty easy to me so I thought birds would be a breeze. WRONG! I really struggled with the first 6. I recently finished my 8th and it went together much easier. Actually each was easier and better than the last. Those buggers frustrated my bad. Just keep at it, always strive to improve and you'll look back and say I'm glade I stuck with it.

 

Don't worry. We've all been there. You have to start somewhere.

 

Re: Re: STRESSED OUT!?!?!?! Help

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