Interesting post.

I am a few weeks away from getting my mounts from RSA. Safari Taxidermy sent me a letter with instructions on how to preserve my mounts. They recommnd painting mounts once a yr with a mixture of 1 part caster oil (oleumricini) and 5 parts paraffin (Kerosene). And after the oil has penetrated for 2 hrs wipe the excess oil off with a sponge. I have never treated any of my mounts nor have any taxidermist ever suggested I go anything but wipe the dust off them. Not sure that will kill bugs, but it's more than I knew before.

David the bugs eating the mounts are the dermestid beetles, the same ones taxidermists use to clean skulls for european mounts. From everyone I've talked to regarding prevention, I was told there is pretty much nothing you can do. As they put it, "there a fact of nature".

Miller Trophy Room is trusted and used by such companies like Animal Artistry and Cabela's. Now, I just called them because I wanted to get these bugs off my mounts so that they'll last forever, but if a company like Cabela's, a company that I'd assume has no trouble getting new mounts, uses Miller Trophy Room to protect and preserve their mounts, then they have to be a quality operation. They are the only people with this protection method and Cabela's can afford any method, but they use them. Right now, MTR is trying to work out a job with the Smithsonian Museum beacuse all methods the museum has tried to prevent these bugs has failed. David, I'm sure you could try to prevent them, but it sure makes me feel better that they are already protected.

Sevens

Gringo - - - -

I'm a taxidermist, I have never heard of doing that to mounts, I don't want to scare you but, that just doesn't sound right. the skins I'm sure weren't tanned, just pickled. I'm sure your going to have problems with them. I've seen to many mounts from Africa with problems. I picked up mounts (from Newark Airport) for a guy once, when I opened the crate it was full of bugs! There were holes bored right in the horns& in the skins! These were mounts done in Africa, ready to hang on his wall! I'm licenced by USDA & USF&W to clear shippments from out of the country. Next time have the skins and horns sent home to the USA, have them tanned and mounted here. I'm not saying this to get the work, I'm saying this so you have a lot better chance of getting quality work. I don't know what other taxidermist do, but I stand behind my work 100%! maybe taxidermist in Africa stand behind their work, but how do you get it taken care of, hell your only 9 or 10 thousand miles apart.......................

Safari Taxidermy uses a Lufkin tanning process or whatever it is, If seen quite a bit of Safaris work and they do good work. I did think the mixture was unusal, but these guys mount a lot of game. But I'm just a hunter, I wouldnt know the difference.

Gringo,

The skins are not tanned, if you have to treat the mounts with a strong mixture like that every year, that's not right. But if that's what they tell you to do, good luck............. widowmaker416

What do you use to clean the hog tusks?
Thanks

Some furnture polish, like pledge. this are ones that are already cleaned and in a mount or on a panel right?

They are cleaned and ready to put in a wooden plate but they do not have that shine if you know what I mean, I will follow your suggestion. Thank you.