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May 6, 2012
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Barrow’s taken in Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Hand wrapped bodies and bills and feet finished with powders.
Nice birds! Still hand wrapping bodies?! (So do I for birds!)
Vic
May 6, 2012
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Thanks for the comment Vic! I was taught to wrap almost 40 years ago, and have since then. There are so many advantages over foam bodies, once you become proficient with the process. The ability to be able to manipulate the position of the wrapped body is far superior than the stiff position that comes with a foam form. I use fine wood wool and wrap with Coat’s button and coat thread rather than twine. I wrap the body wet, after soaking in borax and water. This really aids in hindering the skin from drying to quickly. It is also very absorbent, once dried, to any residual grease that may be left on the skin side of the mount. Besides the things mentioned above, the cost of materials is less than .50 per body.
Marshy Creek, that sounds like a dandy idea I am going to steal (well, copy anyways) from you; the soaking in borax and water that is. (You know what they say, “Imitation is the greatest form of flattery!” As far at being able to make bodies the correct size vs. a foam manikin hand wrapping is definitely superior, and the cost, well, there is no comparison. This past summer I purchased goose body just to see if it would really make a difference in my mounts. The real difference was in my wallet. I tore the goose apart, rehydrated the skin and re-mounted it on a wrapped body. I was much happier with the outcome.
You mentioned “fine wood wool.” Where do you get that now days? At one time Van Dykes carries some fine stuff but all I have really seen in recent times it the coarse wood wool.
Vic
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