Howdy guys - a while back someone here recommended a guy in Lakeland (seemed to have an office near the regional airport) that could put a nice fake ostrich border around my zebra skin. Ring any bells?

Otherwise, could someone suggest to me a place where I could get something similar done? The skin isn't felt-backed, and I just want to hang it on a wall, not use it as a rug. Also, and ideas as to how to hang it other than just putting a bunch of carpet tacks through the edges to hang it up? Or would that work out OK?

Don't know about the ostrich border, but the only way I could figure out how to hang my zebra on the wall was with tacks. I used the brass upolstery tacks, it looks ok.

A friend did two using 1/8th inch pegboard. Glued it on carefully, and they both hang (four years now) nicely without wrinkling or drooping. It is permanent, so make sure that is what you want.

Rich

I remember seeing comments or a discussion of about tabs or rings off of the border that could be used for attaching to the wall. You might do a search and see what you can find. Also, the taxidermy thread might be the better place to check.

I'd suggest not getting your rug felt backed as the felt is extremely hard to clean. I hung mine with regular tacks, worked out fine. Hung there for 10 years until we moved.

Contact Tony aka Outdoor Writer. He painted the heads of some sort of tacks or small nails using black spray paint and placed them only on the black stripes.

I just used dark brown thumb tacks, the difference wasn't noticeable.

I had my zebra rugged out with the two color felt borders (used med grey against the skin itself and black as the outside)( I personally don't care for the thin leather edged look) and then had 5, 1" rings sewn to the felt on EACH side of the rug. This then allowed me to hang the rung with the head facing either direction on the wall, depending on location and the 5 rings more than supports the total weight of the tanned skin and the felt edges and backing. This was done by by a lady named Rhonda from Rhonda's Ruggery. Took about 6 weeks from the time I sent the zebra hide to her before I got it back and hung on the wall going up the stairs to the second floor of my house. I found her name and numbers doing a search on the Taxidermy.net website. She has done several rugs for me and made some sofa pillows from backskins from some other hides I had.
Do a forum search here under my screen name and you should be able to find some pictures I had posted of the finished product. If that fails send me a PM with a email address and I can send you a pic or two plus I can get the full contact info for Rhonda to you.

Next time I need rug work done, she will get the nod again.


Regards,
Willi

Good memory, Graybird

I used regular 3/4" antique brass upholstery tacks but stuck them into a hunk of styrofoam and sprayed the heads with a couple coats of flat black enamel.

My rug does have a black felt backing, though, so I stuck the tacks in that only rather than through the hide. I put them about every 8"-12" and they are pretty much invisible.

My bear rug is hung the same way, but the tacks are hidden under the top red layer of felt. When I first got it, it had several rings for hanging, but the rug wouldn't stay completely flat, especially along top edge. So I went the tack route.

A bobcat rug has the same treatment.

See below.





Bobcat on wall to the right...

John,

Being that you are in Florida it is a good idea to put a border and backing on the skin as I have repaired many rugs from that area that curl on the edges after time from the humidity when not backed.

I also like a leather border on African skins. I just think they look classier. You could go with a scalloped leather border (as in the style used with felt) or a rolled leather border but definitly get it cloth backed not carpet backed if you are putting it on a wall as it will be lighter to hang.

Hanging with a few d-rings and tacks, as Outdoor Writer suggests, will give you that nice flat desired look. It is always sturdier to go through the animals leather/skin than the fabric when tacking as the fibers from felt can weaken and sag after a period of time.

PM me if I can be of assistance.

Kind regards,
Mary

This rolled leather border sounds like the style you are looking for. I would stay away from fake leathers as they can cheapen the look of your finished product. A nice black or dark brown leather looks great on zebras. Or real ostrich can be purchased to be cut into the strips needed to put a nice rolled border on.


Below is the carpet back which is best for the floor:


This lion has the fabric back which is ideal for wall hanging:

I've used Mary for a bunch of stuff, pillows and a giraffe rug. Her work is always first rate.

Nganga

Ahh, thanks for the info, esp. Mary.

So, is there any particular advantage to a backing (as mentioned, like the fabric) vs. just hanging it on the wall as-is with tacks?

Given my humid environment, I just want to ensure that it looks good on the wall or floor (where it may end up someday) and doesn't curl or get stretched out.

Outdoor Writer,

Am I correct in assuming you just pushed the tacks into the sheetrock? Did you use the hangers and the tacks on the bear or just the tacks?

Antlers,

Yes, just pushed into the sheetrock with a bit of help from a small hammer where needed. No D-ring hangers on the zebra at all. I think I used two cards of the tacks, probably about 48 in all.

You'll need some extra hands to hold the rug in place until you get a bunch of tacks put along the top edge. I managed to get it done even with my wife and daughter-in-law helping. But once that's done it's pretty well supported so you can flatten and fasten the rest of it.

Wow Mary, the zebra is awesome! Now I know what to look forward too.

They have black tacks with 3/8" diameter heads at Home Depot.

I recommend using sewing needles to hang rugs. They are hardened and do not bend like pins. By driving qood number of them about every 8" thru the hide at an angle along the upper surfaces they can be driven flush and still hold very well. When you want to take the rug down you simply lift it off. You can drive the needles into the wall and paint over them without filling holes.

Next a well attached "glued" backing on a rug will help support the weight as the leather fibers weaken over time. They also privide a bit of stiffening for a flatter smoother look.

Borders can also similarly help with the support especially if needles are used as they can be driven thru the sewed border and better distribute the weight.

Best regards
Mike Ohlmann
Mike's Custom Taxidermy Inc.
4102 Cane Run Rd.
Louisville KY 40216
502-448-1309
Mike@mikescustomtaxidermy.com