Problem setting specimens

[exoticimports]

Well, after decades one would think I'd have setting specimens set to a science.

With the exception of my Lycaenidae board, all my boards are shallow, meaning after the specimen is dry I have to push it up to a proper height on the pin.

Recently, freshly capture specimens are giving me a heck of a time, in that the thorax dries solid on the pin before the wings are 100% dry; in trying to push the specimen up the pin, it's set like glue, yet the wing joints will flex. I could let the specimen dry longer, which probably won't impact the thorax dried to the pin, but may well induce breakage of the wing joints.

I believe I've identified the culprit. I'd always used the black (enameled) steel pins; now I'm using stainless. I believe the thorax dries stronger to the stainless than the enamel.

In that I of course bought thousands of stainless #3, I hate to not use them.

Any thoughts, other than the obvious buy enameled pins or deeper boards?


Thanks,

Chuck

[Paul K]

Aug 13, 2020 5:21:12 GMT -8 exoticimports said:

Well, after decades one would think I'd have setting specimens set to a science.

With the exception of my Lycaenidae board, all my boards are shallow, meaning after the specimen is dry I have to push it up to a proper height on the pin.

Recently, freshly capture specimens are giving me a heck of a time, in that the thorax dries solid on the pin before the wings are 100% dry; in trying to push the specimen up the pin, it's set like glue, yet the wing joints will flex. I could let the specimen dry longer, which probably won't impact the thorax dried to the pin, but may well induce breakage of the wing joints.

I believe I've identified the culprit. I'd always used the black (enameled) steel pins; now I'm using stainless. I believe the thorax dries stronger to the stainless than the enamel.

In that I of course bought thousands of stainless #3, I hate to not use them.

Any thoughts, other than the obvious buy enameled pins or deeper boards?


Thanks,

Chuck

100% deeper boards. Stainless steel pins are the best.

[mothman27]

You will save yourself so much trouble by using deeper boards. I personally prefer the enameled pins for their aesthetics and I seem to have more "spinners" on stainless steel pins. This is just my opinion, I think there are advantages to stainless as well.

[kevinkk]

Another interesting topic.
I like the black enamel pins for they way they look, and I would guess that stainless would have less of a tendency to stick to the body.
I do have stainless pins that I am beginning to use, so we'll see.
What struck me as unusual, was the practice of pinning the specimen at a height different than what ends up in the display case.
I use different size boards, and always pin the body at the height I want the specimen to remain. Is there a purpose to moving the body
after the wings are set?
While we're at it- I use flat boards, I know there are boards that are angled. Am I doing it wrong?