I read where it was advisable to use Coleman fuel on turkey skin to remove additional fat and moisture prior to tumbling. How should this be applied--rubbed on, submerged, or what? If submerged, for how long?
Thanks...
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...that you can stick your head underneath a gillotine blade, but I'm not much up to that one either. I'd advise you read some other book.
...you don't approve of using Coleman fuel?
Coleman fuel is simply a solvent at best, but an extreme fire hazard by any scale. Petroleum distillates and other extremely flammable solvents have been used(and sadly continue to be recommended) by outstanding taxidermists. Their ONLY purpose is to dissipate water from the feathers. Loose grease, oil, and fat WILL be removed, but residuals of the gas itself remain. Soap will dissolve grease, oil, and fat safely without the BOOM method, but you'll likely use a little more sawdust in the drying stages.
Still, many are going to claim white gas to be the vehicle that carries their quality and if you eventually get to that point, ALL gas is now white (it was only red when they added lead years back) and at the inflated prices of $2 a gallon in some places, it's still better than the $5 a can for Coleman.
Yes,you can use Coleman fuel. When I took a class taught by Cally
Morris,a guy with a lot of class, a few years back this is what he used.Use about 2 to 3 gallons
in a five gallon bucket,submerge the whole bird and let it soak for
about a half hour. Hang the bird,over the bucket and let it drain
for a good hour. Wait until some of the down feathers are almost
fluffy before tumbling. Do this in an open air enviroment.
On another note,George its easy to see why some people think you are
a self centered person. "My way or the highway". What if the person
that asked the question was a 13 year old boy,or a 30 year old
"beginner". Does that person deserve such a answer from somebody
that other taxidermist are supposed to look up to? So, please, think
before you type.
You can use gsoline in the same way as it was explained to use coleman fuel above.
There was nothing abit out of line with Georges answer. All facts, and to the point.
He was trying to inform the possible "13 year old boy or 30 year old beginner" of the proper safe methods of degreasing so they could live to reach the age of 14 or 31 and not have their face burned off.
I didnt see that,in his first reply.
I don't care if Carl Ackley used Coleman fuel, acetone, MEK, Toluene, or Exxon Super, it is still taking your life in your hands to be dipping anything into a vat of 3 gallons of extremely flammable liquid. I know Calley and I know others whose work is beyond reproach who use that method, but it doesn't change my mind, the local fire departments, and OSHA. It's NOT my way. As I said in the second post, if you were HALF smart, you'd buy the cheap gas at the pumps instead of the fancy shiny can in Wal-Mart. But you probably missed that part too. Taxidermy is an evolving industry and that evolution has led us to use better and safer products. We no longer use arsenic soap, DDT, or Endolin U and there's nothing that replaced any of them, but we've learned to persevere. Those of you who intend to live as long as I have might be wise to look forward instead of backwards.
As a part time taxidermist,full time mechanic,I can tell you using 3to5 gallons of gas in an open bucket, in any type of enclosed room is just plain stupid. Even in a ventilated room enough fumes can build up to be ignited by your incandesant ceiling light. If you don't believe me you can ask my bald neighbor with no eye brows.
Once again I see our leader is showing his "wonder" personality. Why don't You,Yox, and all the other jeek offs get a life and some dignity and [expletive deleted]!
Then jerks like you who couldn't find their butts with both hands started giving information that took people back to the stone age. That's when dozens of people who wanted answers from someone who'd actually done something asked us to come back. We just stayed and I'd be willing to bet, we'll be here while you're back watching Sesame Street reruns.
I used coleman fuel for over 20 years and the birds always came out fine. About a year ago I stopped using it ... and the birds STILL come out fine. ALL of them - including extra oily waterfowl.
It is totally unecessary if the birds are defatted and washed properly, and if they AREN'T cleaned properly it won't save them.
I appreciate all who took the time to respond. (I sure didn't intend to stir up any animosities.)
and Nancy said it all. read both their post until you get it...
Whatever you choose, just be careful. My father used Coleman fuel up until the end of 2001 when he attempted to burn our shop down (and remove all facial and arm hair). Flaming turkey is no longer a pose we offer. Good Luck
Do you mean 2 to 3 gallons of just plain fuel or are you mixing it with something else?
I have mounted pheasants and all I did was skinned the bird, clean as much fat as possible, put borax on skin and mounted it - and still hanging 15 years later - what is the proper why to do a bird?
John
Please be sure to give your parents the website of this Forum...so they can post your Obituary about the amateur taxidermist who got a blast in the ass.
JOHN...Me too...have Pheasants and Squirrels mounted 60-years ago using Borax...still looking great with no bugs or feather, hair or fur fallout.
I also use Leon L Pray's Borax-Pickle since he introduced it back in the mid-1950's.