I have read all of the posts on defatting ducks and am still a bit confused. I need some help.
I put together a make shift bird flesher from a drill, a brass wire brush and a vise. When I had the driil clamped up tigh, I turned it on and worked the bristles over with a big screw driver to break them in. Very gently I then touched the skin to the wire brush and ta-da, I tore a big hole right through to the feathers. I couldn't believe my eyes so I tried it again... another hole. I think I finally stoped at a dozen or so. I am just not getting this process. How do I tell when the skin is thin enough? Should I get down to the "silver" part of the skin or is that too far, and yes I am sure the wheel is turning so that it brushes the skin from tail to head.
Any help would be appreciated as I am about to give up this taxidermy thing and take up interpretive dance.
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First off, your makeshift defatting tool. A drill is both too slow usually and to powerful. These are great combinations to burn a hole through. A fan motor is a better choice even though it's likely to burn up very quickly.
If there was ever a "secret" to bird defatting, it's in watching that wheel very closely. Watch it contact the fat and don't even entertain the idea of getting in a hurry. You'll see that the fat "melts" almost before the bristles touch the bird. Learn that feel and that sight so you can get better at it.
Interpetive dance could be fun but I personally like learning taxidermy better. I have 2 pheasants I was going to try on my wire wheel and I'm hoping that's not going to happen to me. I bought a bench grinder and put a wire wheel on that though. Works great for my racoon hide and my doe cape. Only cost me $20 so wasn't a bad investment. Are you using a fine wheel of a course wheel? I use the fine wheel. Tried the drill to and it wasn't fast enough to do anything. Grinder should work better.
Though Ray and I have our squabbles on this issue, the grinder is also a power tool intended on removing metal. A pheasant doesn't have a lot of fat, but where it does, it's quite tenderskinned. Be VERY careful.
...get a couple of small brass brushes and a good pair of sissors(ultimate scissors are nice)and hand flesh it ...it wont be as fast but you,ll have more control over it...good for a beginner...GL TD
after getting the fat off wash with dawn dish detergent then put in colman fuel for about 15 min then dry with hair dryer be careful and don't get the shin to hot