How to clean crab & crawfish claws?

I soak mine in 50/50 denatured alchol and water first for at least 24 hours. Then clean out meat. Sprinkle in borax and then wash and dry. Wire and stuff then pose and let dry. Haven't had any issues.

 

When you do this, do they retain their natural color? Or do they fade and turn red and then you have to repaint them?

 

They will keep thier color as long as you don't leave them for weeks in the DA. You may have to touch up paint where the seams are. But it's not much. Here's a crawfish I mounted last week. Soaked in DA overnight. Very little paint.

 

Might want to check this out. http://www.kastaway.com/store/store...oduct_ID=179&Category_ID=1&Sub_Category_ID=12

 

I do a number of Atlantic Lobsters and I cook them to make getting the meat out easier, then I cut access holes where needed to totally remove the meat. Wire and mount, them paint the colors back. George Roof has a way to do Blue Crabs. I'd contact him for advice on your project. Good luck, JL

 

Sorry for the double picture posting. That's a 24 pound lobster.

 

What a lobster! Great job!

 

Soak in denatured alcohol for several months, peel the flap off the bottom and scrape the meat out and glue back in place. Pose and let dry, paint, seal with clear coat and then pour on glaze coat or other epoxie coating to seal and lock everything in place. You have to baby sit after the epoxie coat until it starts to harden, to stop the drips, but it will lock the legs and fins in place and make a nice looking finish. This is one I am currently working on, 8 1/2” across the shell points.

 

Dylan, that's one of the best crab mounting job I've ever seen. Congrats!!

 

Thanks, still have some minor touch ups to do.

 

Finished up this crab tonight, same crab as above, just put it on a habitat.

 

Man that crab looks great. I’m looking to try my first 1 and have a few questions.