Making birds feet

icarve2003 · #1 04-11-2003, 07:17 AM

How many people make their own birds feet?

I've always made my own. My grandfather showed me how to do it and I've always just made them rather than buying them.

The last competition I entered, I noticed that everyone else in my class (novice) had pewter feet.

If you do make them, how do you do it?? ???

#2 04-27-2003, 12:19 AM

Hi,How do you make your birds feet?

icarve2003 · #3 05-01-2003, 07:17 AM

I use copper electrical wire. I strip off the insulation and cut it into small pieces. I use one piece for the leg and it extends beyond the bottom of the foot so I can stick it into a hole drilled into a piece of wood to hold it. I bend a second piece into a 'V' and use it as the outer toes and then a third piece with a bit of a bend is the middle and rear toes. (I hope you can visualize this.)

I solder them together and then using the dremel and a file, I sharpen the tips to make the claws.

Now, I am not completley satisfied with the way I cover the wire. I've been using that rubber stuff that you dip your tool handles in :-/ I apply enough coats to build it up. I have recently seen it done with a ribbon epoxy which allows you to add more detail.

Then I test them on the bird and the branch I'm mounting it on and make any necessary adjustments.

Chris.

#4 05-13-2003, 11:23 AM

I have a 8 page pamphlet published by The Breakthrough Wildlife Art ,HOWTO Library,titled Bob Guge:Constructing Bird Feet.Idon't know if this is still avaliable? The publishing date is 1985.It is very informative about constructing bird feet.I don't know if this publiher is the same as the supplier of taxidermy supplies?The address for their magazine is BREAKTHROUGH,P.O. Box 1330,Loganville,GA 30249.They give an 800 number 1-800-334-8012 I don't know how current that is.

icarve2003 · #5 05-13-2003, 12:28 PM

Thanks for that info. Dan. I checked the Breakthrough website and they seem to have a lot of good books. I will try getting in touch with them. I wouldn't mind getting a copy of that.

Chris

JimCee · #6 11-26-2005, 09:52 PM

I have always made my birds feet from copper wire. But alas, I was looking at a cardinal that I had made for my son about 10 years ago and noticed a touch of green along each leg. Upon further examination I found that the green was verdigree or the green patina that comes to copper after it has been in moisture for some time. Probably it would have not have happened if it was coated with laquer or some kind of sealer. Even though it had been prepared by priming with Gesso the green still came through. Now I am waiting to hear from all the people that I have sold birds to.

Has anyone else had this experience?????

Jim Cee

Donna_T · #7 11-26-2005, 11:06 PM

I use the copper wire (I just buy copper wire, not electrical wire that I must strip), solder, usiing needle-nose pliers I bend the toes and flatten the tips for toenails, use a file or dremel bit, grind the toenails to a point, then use ribbon epoxy to coat the wire. I have a large darning needle that I use to "roll" the epoxy smoothly to cover all the wire and seal it together--then I use the needle and some copper tubing that has a notch cut out of it, to put lines and texture in the leg to make it more life-like. I don't prime it once it's dry--just paint it with the acrylics that I use to paint the bird itself.

So, you see, I pretty much do it like you said. Depending on whether or not I'm in the mood to make bird feet, or can find exact pewter feet, determines which route I go to finish my carving.
Donna T

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #8 11-27-2005, 09:22 AM

jimcee.....I know that if you have a water stain on your drywall ceiling, you can spray with lacquer before you paint and the stain won't come thru, that might work on the birds feet, spray with Deft and repaint......wouldn't hurt to try it anyway!

Paul_Guraedy · #9 11-27-2005, 05:10 PM

Following Hi-Ho-Sliver's line of thought. You might try spraying it with Kilz. This covers water stain and leaves a nice white surface for painting. This works with acrylic house paint.

JimCee · #10 11-28-2005, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icarve2003

I use copper electrical wire. I strip off the insulation and cut it into small pieces. I use one piece for the leg and it extends beyond the bottom of the foot so I can stick it into a hole drilled into a piece of wood to hold it. I bend a second piece into a 'V' and use it as the outer toes and then a third piece with a bit of a bend is the middle and rear toes. (I hope you can visualize this.)

I solder them together and then using the dremel and a file, I sharpen the tips to make the claws.

Now, I am not completley satisfied with the way I cover the wire. I've been using that rubber stuff that you dip your tool handles in :-/ I apply enough coats to build it up. I have recently seen it done with a ribbon epoxy which allows you to add more detail.

Then I test them on the bird and the branch I'm mounting it on and make any necessary adjustments.

Chris.

I have had some sucess with using Liquidtex modeling paste over the copper wire. It works pretty good if the wire is already bent to the shape you want it. And it can be carved quite easy.

I have tried various ways of doing birds feet but none of them are very sucessful. Maybe it's because I don't enjoy doing the feet very much.