Does anyone use a wire brush instead of the wheel?

[sethlic]

Does anyone use a wire brush instead of the wheel? Im only 21 and still in college so funds are limited. Im just trying to cut corners to save a few dollars here and there. any money saving tips are greatly appreciated.

[duckfeathers]

                 Back in the old days they didn't sell motorized wire wheels. We manually cut off the fat with scissors and scraped it clean with hand brushes and home made scrapers. Took some hours to flesh a bird. Time and patience. Try it but make sure you get all visible fat and flesh off. The head and neck fleshes easier if soaked awhile.

[SteveP]

I wire wheel and then use a brass toothbrush style brush during the first soapy wash just to agitate the soap around the quills better. It's the only tool that is even half way effective at getting around pin feathers without tearing them up. Seems like all the local ducks around here are still pinned by the time they leave.

[Bald Rock]

I have used the same wire wheel set up for over 15 years. I made it myself using a vacuum motor and fixated a wire wheel to it. I mounted the unit to a wooden rectangular box that I varnished to protect from the grease. It has an on off switch and weighs less than 20 pounds.  I have degreased all kinds of birds from greater canada geese to great horned owls and  sea ducks. Whole lot cheaper and for me it has held up very well.  Knock on wood.

[sethlic]

sweet replies.. gives me a whole lot of idea's, and gives me a reason to build something. i gotta have an old electric motor somewheres.

[bw]

Make sure your electric motor is weak enough to stop with your hand.   Then when you wrap a bird up in it you can get it stopped quickly.

I got my motor from Grainger and built my own flesher.  I think the motor was less than $40.  I had less than $65 in the whole thing when I built it 8 years ago.

[Bald Rock]

exactly right bw,  I forgot to mention that. Insure the motor is weak enough to stop by hand. Do not get any motors that are gear reduced. they will twist your arm off. I also advise using one with some sort of fan setup for cooling the motor. You dont need this but if you are defatting a bigger bird and the motor is working to hard it will stop until it has time to cool down. Usually 5 miinutes or so. It happened to mine just the other night when I was working on a Ross's goose that was very fat.  Just turn the switch off and give a couple of minutes then you can go back to it.  It all depends on the kind of motor you get. good luck

[jeremy]

I had that problem with my home made flesher getting to hot, so now I put a house fan blowing on the motor while fleshing and it keeps it plenty cool to do geese and turkeys w/o stopping

[jerogers]

Something you might try is going down to your local electric motor repair shop and tell them what you are trying to build.  They might help you out.  I did that four years ago and they fixed me up with a used 1/12 hp motor (17525 rpm ) and an arbor for $30.  I bought a large clear plastic storage box and mounted the motor through the back.  I wired in a switch and it has worked great ever since.  Turns out the guys were hunters and told me I could bring some birds down to display if I wanted.  Give it a try.Being a poor student they might help you out.

[sethlic]

thanks jerogers ... ima definately  check that out .. my mom says she wishes i would put forth as much effort in school as i do with hunting , fishing, and now taxidermy..

[hunterzach]

Yeah i've heard of people doing that but the thought of it taking soo long with a wheel how long would it take with a brush???  I couldnt imagine doing that 13 pound goose with a brush seems it would take forever

[sethlic]

so pretty much everyone taxidermist uses the wheel.. i figure you didn't need it that much.. i skinned my first bird yesterday (spoonie) and i took me about two hours to flesh and wash.

[hunterray2002]

sethic. you can purchase a birdflesher if and only if you have the funds but another alternative and a little less expensive is find a 1/2hp variable speed benchgrinder and apply a soft brass wheel to it. The variable speed will allow you to oif corse slow down the speed for birdfleshing or run a higher speed for the furry critters.   and a simple plastic 20gallon totebox placed underneither the griner and behinde it works extremely well for catching any flung debri and is easy to whipe clean.      total for my entire set up was around 125$   Its all I use when it comes to fleshing,thinning, and turning

[sethlic]

Thanks hunterray2002 ... i think that was im gonna do.

[Steve B]

I use a wire brush, I have tryed the flesher and fes it a few ducks never got the hang of it so I tryed a wire brush and things go real good but it is slower.