Is using mineral spirits on a turkey important? I have heard some on here say must be done others say not to use makes flammable birds and unsafe working. If this step is important can Acetone be subsituted? I have access to lots of Acetone or M.E.K. or can just tumble and air dry with cool air do the same thing.
thanks
Bill
Return to Beginners Category Menu
Be careful, acetone and MEK are worse than mineral spirits...safety wise. These solvents are only used to displace the water from the washing process and make the feathers easier to dry. Some tumble the skins, some like to spin in the washer... I spin and then get out the old hair drier. It takes longer, but your health will thank you....
I've done hundreds of turkeys. Tried many things. Ended up washing bird, usually 3-4 times then rinsed 2-3 times, squeezed out as much water as possible then I would hang up the turkey and put a fan on the back of the bird using some clothes pins to close the incision keeping the skin moist. While preping the form, cutting wires etc... I would run my fingers through the feathers every once in a while. After an hour or so I'd move the fan to hit the breast feathers while folding the wings back to keep them from drying out. When the bird was semi dry I'd move to a reversed shop vac with a hair dryer set in the intake of the shop vac- gives good volume of hot air. Usually 10-20 minutes of fluffing and drying with the shop vac/hair dryer and you should be ready to borax and mount.