Might try removing the feet prior to mounting … I remove the feet when I skin the bird , as long as I know the pose , I shoot the feet up let them dry and paint them … It’s ten times easier to paint them off the bird and re attachment is super simple .. saves time .. no worries about getting paint on feathers ..
Great videos! Thanks for sharing. I just started learning birds and your videos help fill in some things I didn't know. Like you said the videos they sell seem to skip or don't show enough details.
If your talking skinned to make extra space in the freezer, then I fold up and wrap with saran wrap to compact as much as possible. Then put in freezer bag, fill with enough water to cover bird and freeze. This greatly slows freezer burn and can last years and years longer than a full bird in a freezer bag.
not sure, try it out on a batch. , it still hardens is the big thing. even with laquer thinner can make it gel instead of hard plastic. ok though since it still starts in the feet and for can dry without shrinking.
I love that you use the casting medium to also do the feet! I've been planning on trying to use epoxy but this looks to be a better idea. Can you move the feet much after they are set? Like I said prior I can't wait to start taxying the birds I have skinned so far! These are the best videos on UA-cam by far!
You can move them around really well for maybe half an hour. Think it's part material hardening and part heat from material stiffening them up. The stuff on the inside takes a bit longer to harden than in the cup so you do have time to clean tools, feet, and pin feet etc.
Like which for example? Have to look up to see if it'd work. Too thin and more will drain out before hardening. Too think and big needle leave big holes that will drain too much before hard. All that to say, with the smooth cast, the quicker time helps with those aforementioned problems. In the freezer and cups placed on ice pack, can do two birds in not a rush and time to clean out your needle and syringe then clean feet with lacquer thinner on paper towels right as it's gelling up so comes off feet easily and then hardens and then pin into place and move on. Much of that is how I have my process set up over 23 years of doing it so it's optimized as much as possible but seems to work well so far for me anyway. I also am always game to do something that will produce same results and either quicker or cheaper to do so since even a few minutes starts to add up over hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of birds.
I don't understand you have so few views, your explanation is clear and you're obviously very knowledgeable. Thanks a lot!
Might try removing the feet prior to mounting … I remove the feet when I skin the bird , as long as I know the pose , I shoot the feet up let them dry and paint them … It’s ten times easier to paint them off the bird and re attachment is super simple .. saves time .. no worries about getting paint on feathers ..
Great videos! Thanks for sharing. I just started learning birds and your videos help fill in some things I didn't know. Like you said the videos they sell seem to skip or don't show enough details.
Jeff Snyder Awesome! Let me know if there is something you'd like to see!
Another great video! I have always used masters blend for my feet but may have to give this method a try!
Great video what do u use for preserving your birds
Just borax before I sew up.
Cool .. Thanks .. Still some really messy stuff but it works great
good tips how do you stop the skinned bird from drying to fast cheers
Depends on what were tAlking about. After drying off and before I wire up to mount, I stuff with damp paper towels to rehydrate .
If your talking skinned to make extra space in the freezer, then I fold up and wrap with saran wrap to compact as much as possible. Then put in freezer bag, fill with enough water to cover bird and freeze. This greatly slows freezer burn and can last years and years longer than a full bird in a freezer bag.
Can i use turpentine to thin amazing cast ?
not sure, try it out on a batch. , it still hardens is the big thing. even with laquer thinner can make it gel instead of hard plastic. ok though since it still starts in the feet and for can dry without shrinking.
Did you do a video on painting the feet? I can’t find one and it’s one of the biggest problems I have right now
I have one on prepping the feet for painting to avoid overspray. I still need to do one of actual painting of the feet.
I love that you use the casting medium to also do the feet! I've been planning on trying to use epoxy but this looks to be a better idea.
Can you move the feet much after they are set? Like I said prior I can't wait to start taxying the birds I have skinned so far! These are the best videos on UA-cam by far!
You can move them around really well for maybe half an hour. Think it's part material hardening and part heat from material stiffening them up.
The stuff on the inside takes a bit longer to harden than in the cup so you do have time to clean tools, feet, and pin feet etc.
I use 305 it's a touch slower.
why not use a slow epoxy like west systems
Like which for example? Have to look up to see if it'd work. Too thin and more will drain out before hardening. Too think and big needle leave big holes that will drain too much before hard. All that to say, with the smooth cast, the quicker time helps with those aforementioned problems. In the freezer and cups placed on ice pack, can do two birds in not a rush and time to clean out your needle and syringe then clean feet with lacquer thinner on paper towels right as it's gelling up so comes off feet easily and then hardens and then pin into place and move on. Much of that is how I have my process set up over 23 years of doing it so it's optimized as much as possible but seems to work well so far for me anyway. I also am always game to do something that will produce same results and either quicker or cheaper to do so since even a few minutes starts to add up over hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of birds.
@@AARBIRDS west systems 105 and 205 hardener