Brain Scoop
I have become obsessed with everything Taxidermy. The workshop I took at Prey Taxidermy has been a launch pad into the art. A great online resource I’ve found is Taxidermy.net’s forum. Theres a ton of knowledge in its archives and most users on the site are happy to help beginners with questions. I’ve found many talented artist’s and Taxidermists out there creating amazing works too, Polly Morgan is one of my favorite. And I can’t help but love Emily!
So now that I’ve got birds from Frank, I need supplies. I used the pictures I took in class as reference for what tools I’d be needing to practice at home. I found the best deals for the supplies I needed from Home Depot, Amazon, Ebay, Van Dykes, The Dollar Store and Tohickon.
Here’s the list..
- wood wool
- galvanized annealed wire, rustproof
- 14 gauge
- 16 gauge
- 18 gauge
- 24 gauge
- critter clay
- Chinchilla dust
- cotton thread
- needle
- glass eyes
- various colors, I have this thing for two different colored eyes in animals which I plan to make my trademark.
- based on the bird species I already had, I purchased appropriate millimeter sized eyes
- non-sterile individually packaged, carbon steel surgical blades, #22
- apron
- wire brass brush
- tweezers
- 12 piece stainless steel art sculpting tool set, One of the tools Taxidermists use is referred to as a ‘brain scoop’, I bet you can guess which one!
- hair dryer
- stainless steel scalpel handle, #4
- nickle plated mayo scissors
- paint brush
- stainless steel measuring cup for water
- mason jar for old blades
- cotton Q-Tips
- paper towels
- Dawn dish soap
- plyers
- stainless steel trays
- gloves
- denatured alcohol
- pins
- painter’s tape
- trace paper
- sketch pad
- reference photos, You are only as good as your reference photo of the species you are working on.
- Styrofoam
- wooden dow rods
- glass bottles or base to mount bird on
- metal hair clips
- hair straightener
- hack saw
- wire clippers
- frozen specimen
- sharpie
- closed cell foam piping