Ijust watched a McKenzie video (Turkey Mounting) with Joe Ferebee.
In it he washes the skin in Dawn det. and then in mineral spirits,then he mounts the bird. Except for rubbing the tail section and the wing tips with Borax he does't use any preservative.My questions are,shouldnt I rub borax on the complete inside of the skin?
Also is the mineral spirit bath pure or is it diluted in some way?
And what is the purpose of tumbling the skin in sawdust or corn cob?
Thanks for any help
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If you get all the meat and fat off of the skin, the only preservative needed is Borax. You can use an injectable preservative in the legs and toes, as well as the wing tips where the primaries attach. The mineral spirits or Coleman fuel or white gas is used as is. Nothing need be added. The mineral spirits is to get the water out of the feathers. It displaces water. Tumbling is done to absorb most of the mineral spirits and to begin fluffing the feathers. I like corncob grit best. Completely dry the bird before mounting.
Tony
I trap opossom armodilla coon's beaver squirels and other animals if interested in buying or trading e-mail me thanks,Bubba