Has anyone heard of Taxidermy magic. It is available through McKenzie Supply. I purchased a bottle last week. It is designed to be a dust preventative and a finishing agent to help your mounts shine like a wax. It sucks. I sprayed it on a very nice pheasant yesterday, and it ruined it. It turned my bird extremely dark in color and turned all the feathers back into the hair state and I am unable to get them fluffed again. Has anyone used this product and can give me some advice, maybe I am doing something wrong.
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I haven't used the product, but we all "know" never to spray anything directly on feathers regardless of what it is. There used to be a product called "Feather Duster" for birds. It was trichlorethane tech 1,1,1 or just common drum brake cleaner. It did clean the dirt off but most times it stuck feathers together as well. I tell all my customers never to spray anything on birds and that wiping them with a piece of fresh bread will do a much better job if they want "something" put on feathers to make them shine. I suspect this product was designed for haired animals and to be used like Hair Sheen.
This product was originally called "Cowboy Magic" and is used by horse "people" to give their animals a glossy coat. It also works on mounts for the same thing.George is right about using it for haired animals. I think it contains mostly some type of wax.
I use Taxidermy Magic on my shoulder mounts. It does create a shine on the hair, especially on black bear. It does have quite a greasy feel and I would not use it on my birds.
... heard too much stuff like this happening. A lot of people use it on bear, but in my opinion, it is just something else for the dust to stick to. I have talked to several judges at competitions who say they hate when people use that stuff, because when they rub their hand over the mount, (checking junctures, etc.) it'll get all over them and they have to run around with black, sticky hands until they can get away.
If I was you, I would try a bit of acetone and try to get it off, and re-fluff the feathers with a hair dryer. Don't know if that'll work, but maybe it's worth a try. Just don't let that crap (Taxidermist Nightmare-- I mean Magic) on there too long before you try something, or that'll make it that much harder to get off.
~Liz~
Is it specifically states on the bottle for fur or feathers, animal or birds. I am glad to see it is not only me that is not impressed with the product. Thanks for the imput.