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Form Help

Discussion in 'Beginners' started by omarm295, Mar 17, 2023.

  1. omarm295

    omarm295 New Member

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    Hello my cap is 7.25 x 17x18x19 can the form be 7.25x 171/2 x 18 x 20
     
  2. 13 point

    13 point Well-Known Member

    Yes you will be fine
    But test fit it before sanding form , if need be , you can sand some of the neck down
     

  3. joeym

    joeym Old Murphey

    No, not if it's a tanned cape. A dry preserved one would slip on that form like a glove.
     
  4. Mike Powell

    Mike Powell Well-Known Member

    Any form can be aLtered and made to fit your cape, but if you haven’t purchased the form yet I would definitely not order a form that is larger. If anything, if it were mine, I would go a half inch smaller. Making tight fits almost always causes other problems as it dries.
     
    Nick87 and drob like this.
  5. 13 point

    13 point Well-Known Member

    Sorry bud your wrong on this one . A tanned cape done correctly will stretch 2 inches easy past neck measurements. There will be no problem putting that cape on that form , except hair patterns may be stretched out a bit , but no difference then your DP capes
     
    Richard C likes this.
  6. omarm295

    omarm295 New Member

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    It is a wet tanned cape
     
  7. Frank E. Kotula

    Frank E. Kotula master, judge, instructor

    No you never want a bigger form than your hide. You’ll only suffer trying to put it on. Always go 1/2-1” smaller and it’ll be more helpful in fitting plus a better look deer.
    It’s a common mistake many beginners do is try to make their deer bigger than it is. Dont fall into that notion.
     
  8. joeym

    joeym Old Murphey

    I may well be incorrect. I suspected that omarm295 had already stretched to the hilt. That last inch can be a booger bear at times!
     
    livbucks and 13 point like this.
  9. 13 point

    13 point Well-Known Member

    Here’s my thing , he is talking an inch maybe, if 2-3” I’d agree 100% , most capes are measured on the conservative side. And as I said test fit and sand the form a bit , he ask if it would work, and it will .
     
    joeym likes this.
  10. 3bears

    3bears Well-Known Member

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    The answer to this relies on the persons experience My answer is yes, it'll work but pull stitches tight towards the head as you go, and then taxi the skin back down after sewing is done. For a person with no experience at all, I would say, if there is a smaller form available, that may be a better route because fighting the cape to fit is the beginning of falling in quicksand when mounting, and never getting out.
     
  11. Mike Powell

    Mike Powell Well-Known Member

    In the beginner forum, I try not to assume the person asking the question understands basic taxidermy principles or has a certain level of experience. In this case I wouldn’t assume he had a conservative measurement, or even a correct measurement, nor would I assume he knew how to slightly or moderately make any alterations. If the person posing the question knew those things he likely would not be asking the question in the first place. I endured a lot of frustration with my first several mounts until someone on this forum gave me the tip 3bears mentioned - about sewing pushing the skin and pulling the thread tight upwards toward the head. It was a “monumental” learning moment. Up until that time others trying to help commenting on making a cape fit all took for granted I knew that one little thing. When someone (I don’t remember who it was) shared that tidbit of information with me it rocked my world!!! That’s why I love this forum!
     
    joeym and 3bears like this.
  12. omarm295

    omarm295 New Member

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  13. omarm295

    omarm295 New Member

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    So found a form that is 7 1/4 x16 x18x19 after mounting will the 17 to 16 inch difference tighten up after drying time. Again, I am new. This is my first mountain. I’m just looking to gather all the information I can.
     
  14. omarm295

    omarm295 New Member

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    Mount not mountain lol
     
  15. 3bears

    3bears Well-Known Member

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    With good hide paste and proper skin alignment, yes, you may have to taxi skin around a tad to even out excessive wrinkles but not much.
     
    omarm295 likes this.
  16. omarm295

    omarm295 New Member

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    Thank you for the advice. Do you think would be better than just sanding down the other for a lil in your opinion
     
  17. 3bears

    3bears Well-Known Member

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    3,367
    MN
    Have you ordered a form yet? If not order the one closest to but not above your measurements. I have to ask, is the cape tanned hydrated and stretched prior to measuring? The pose of the form will play a role into how exact the measurements have to be to avoid possible issues.
     
  18. omarm295

    omarm295 New Member

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  19. omarm295

    omarm295 New Member

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    I ordered the cape from east coast capes it said it was wet tanned and had the above measurements was all of the info I really like the McKenzie 9600 form, but can’t seem to get the measurements right on them
     
  20. tem

    tem Well-Known Member

    I have a few taxi magazines in case I run into that kind of problem. someone seems to always have a form that fits or comes close to what I'm looking for.