Hi all,
I have completed my first turkey and loved the results. Wish there was a way to post photos here and get some real critical feedback but anyway . . .
I debated and debated over using mineral spirits, coleman fuel, etc. to clean and degrease my gobbler. I ended up using mineral spirits. It went fine. Didn't like the fumes but I did notice the skin was cleaner and the feathers shinier BUT there's a reason people debate the use of petro products. They're not real cheap. They stink. And they can be harmful.
So I was thinking about what else we maybe haven't thought of that would/could work. And what about this idea?
We've all seen those infomercials about "Orange Glo", Orange Clean, etc. You can now get those at any store. What about using a solution of one of those orange product? Probably the general-purpose orange oil cleanser. It's not real oily and you could mix it whatever potency you want based on the amount of water you add. I do know the stuff cuts grease like nothing else.
Anyone ever tried this? What do you think? It's not toxic. Smells good and will definitely clean and shine? But what about residue? Other ill effects? Just looking for thoughts.
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Order some from Steve Steinbring.Its great stuff,no threat of fumes or explosions .Petroleums don't degrease anyway.The Epo-Grip is an alkaline which breaks up grease and fats(proteins) faster and better than what you tried.Petros are used for displacing the water in the feathers,with a quicker evaporation rate, thus making the drying process quicker.I really don't notice any more or less sheen to the feathers.I DO know it smells a whole lot better without the gas.
My competition down the road used gas for degreasing, had a flash fire, owner and 3 others lucky to make it out with their lives, garage, skins and many trophy antlers burned up. I would go with one of the degreasing products sold by the supply companies, they work well! why re-invent the wheel.
... is good old-fashioned Dawn diswashing liquid and a proper washing/rinsing/drying procedure. No solvent at all.
I never would have believed it either, since I used Coleman fuel for over 20 years, but they come out just as sparkling clean and shiny-smooth without it.
No fumes, no shipping costs or delays, and no large containers of liquid sitting around taking up space. 'Wish I had figured this out a LOT sooner! Duh!
Nancy M.
In 1990 I had an artical published in Taxidermy Today which stated solvents were useless in degreasing ( and it was doubtful the first mention in the literature). I tried solvents once and only once, in 1981 and gave up then. I think these forums are doing wonders for educating beginning taxidermists. Old established taxidermists are reluctant to give up on something they have done for decades, but beginning taxidermists ask questions on this forum and hopefully get started with the correct methods. The fact Nancy that you changed you method does indeed show that "you can teach and old bird new tricks" (old in that you are 39 years old)
i applaud your experimentation. keep looking for new and better ways to do something. If people in the world never tried anything new, we would still be rubbing snow on frostbite victims! We would still be using those old, heavy, deer head mounting tecniques. 2x4's and plaster! They never did come out just right.-at least the ones i've ever seen in garage sale! watch, 30 years from now there will be a new way to degrease and mount birds. Probably a"laser" degreaser!
39, eh? I like that.
Thanks!
Greybird
Been awhile since I've checked so I'm not sure anyone is still reading this post but . . .
Thanks for the thoughts. I was wrong about the min. spirits as degreasing. I guess I knew it helped displace water but I also thought it helped shine the feathers which, in my inexperience, I took to mean as part of the degreasing process.
Thanks also Nancy for always helping with our questions. It means a lot.
I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel or cut corners. Just thought there might be someone out there who had tried the citrus products. Just for kicks, I'm going to use some on my next turkey and see what happens. Who knows. Maybe it will shine them feathers better than the sun and we'll have a new product to help in our craft. That's what it's about in my opinion.
Thanks again all.