Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: wolleybugger on May 17, 2012, 10:12:28 am
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Shot a little jake and wanted to mount the tail. I salted the heck out of it where there was a little meat left on, someone told me to use Borax. Hope it turns out, anyone ever done one???
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I did and it worked well. There's an article on the NWTF website that does a great job explaining the process. I used Bondo car body putty to help hold the feathers together and give a base to screw the mounting hardwear on. It was a fun project.
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Salt draws out the moisture....change it a couple of times.
Lyle
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Here's what I do. I'm terminally cheap so I try not to buy anything. First I remove as much meat and fat out of the tail as I can, salt it good and tack it to a piece of drywall. You can see 2 nails holding the fan open in this picture while it dries. You have to do this right after the meat is removed and the salt is applied.
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2796/5731849181_89678a8a48_z.jpg)
While it's drying I prepare a round of cedar wood to form the plaque. They're chain sawed about an inch thick. I get them mostly flat with a hand belt sander, then finish it on the stationary belt sander. It gets a couple coats of poly to seal it up and make it shiny. Then a round piece of plywood is cut and painted black to cover the base of the tail. After the tail is dry I use drywall screws to attach the tail to the plaque and the plywood to the tail. It looks like this when it's done.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7224/7219260002_9c46283318_z.jpg)
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7096/7219260892_bc916d46a4_z.jpg)
Hope this helps.
George
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Nice bird George ;) i have not used salt, just cleaned fat/ meat ,and borax them .spread out to dry like George said to. I have only done 6 so im open to better ways i may throw salt on the next before the borax
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remove all the meat and fat down to the quills if possible. Spread out fan and pin in place then borax heavy. I will change the borax with fresh borax after a few weeks. I let the tail dry like this for 4 or 5 months or longer. The I make a special plaques for them to sit in. Usually out of cypress or red cedar.
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I've done the Borax route and then took a tip from a Taxidermist. I made a frame from a close hanger and used multiple layers of leather to make a nice plaque. When I get back from bow fishing tomorrow I'll post some pictures.