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Ear Solutions


Turning Ears

Option 1:

Turning the ears takes a little practice. Start turning the ear from the ear base; slowly separate the ear skin from the cartilage on the backside of the ear first, until you get near the tip of the ear. If the ears have dried out too much or are freezer burned, you will most likely need to re-hydrate them before you are able to separate without tearing the inner skin. It might be easier to finish turning the ears after you remove the cape from the pickle, if they are badly freezer burned.

Option 2:

The ear opener is especially designed for separating ear skin. After the ear skin has started to open up from the butt end, insert the tip of the ear opener and gently squeeze the handle of the tool, working the tip around, between the cartilage and the back of the ear skin. Use caution as you get near the edges and the tip.

Removing Cartilage

Option 1:

You have to skin the ears all the way to the tips and edges. Fold the ear in half from the tip to the butt with the cartilage side out. With a scalpel, cut along the fold, taking care to cut just through the cartilage and not the skin. Cut from one edge to the other, as you get through you can see where to start removing the cartilage. Using your thumbnail, pick the edge of the cartilage to start the separation, once started the cartilage can be grasped with forceps. Remove in two halves. Go slowly - it’s easy to cause a rip. Work from the center to the tip, then down to the inner ear. You may have to trim away some of the loose cartilage if you wish to keep the detail of the inner ear. For commercial mounts you can cut just ahead of the inner ear lobes, but for competition you’ll need all this detail.

Option 2:

For liners, invert the ears so you can see the cartilage. Place a finger inside the ear (hair side) and feel the edge. If it has been turned/split all the way, it should feel smooth and lay flat. If not, split it some more, being careful not to cut through the skin. Once satisfied, study the cartilage itself; notice that it feathers out almost to nothing on the edges and is thickest in the center and towards the bottom. With a scalpel, trim the bottom of the cartilage to a length usually just above the inner ear. Most taxidermists cut through the cartilage across the width of the ear being very careful not to cut the skin on the other side. Instead try this, cut through the cartilage at the bottom of the ear. At the bottom of the ear opening there will be a small sliver of cartilage about 1/8” to 3/4” long depending on how much you trimmed off; start here. There is less chance of cutting through the inner skin, and you don’t have very much cartilage to cut. If you do cut through, it is in a hidden area, easier to repair, and not as noticeable. Once you are completely through the cartilage, start peeling it away with your fingers. Peel around the ear canal and work up the middle to each side and to the tip. Be careful when peeling around any holes that were already in the ear - they will tear easily. It is also helpful to sweat (dampen with a sponge) the ears and cartilage to moisten them beforehand. It is much more difficult to remove when the ears are dry.

 

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