Yes I've reverted back to using Coleman Fuel as my last step before blow drying the bird. Pshaw on me. I've gone almost a year without using it and it just seems something was lacking. Luster? Fluff? Cleaner bird? An extra step? So for reckless fun, I tried gassing my birds again. I snip, defat, wire wheel the bird. Wash thoroughly many times. Rinse till clear water, but. After I put the white gas step back into my procedure, it showed me the nasty bit of "sloop" on the bottom of the container of gas. This is the water displacement as WELL as more oil, grease and various fluids from the bird. After settling it becomes layered. Now if I am getting that in my used gas, then if I don't use the gas, that junk is staying in my bird.
I'm aware of the dangers of using white gas. I use ventilation and gloves. I stay away from fire at this time. I do not ingest it. I've used MANY degreasers and some work better then others, but there is still sloop in the bottom of the gas.
I do not believe the gas is a degreaser, but it obviously aids in removal of oils in a skin, and I see a nicer looking and "feeling" bird.
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I use it to. Don't get it near the hot coil on a hair dryer or you will be sorry!
God Bless
Good post Leanna. However, about ten years ago I switched to acetone in place of Coleman fuel. Same results--but it only takes about 1 minute of soaking and about a third of the drying time as Coleman fuel.
You'll find that acetone evaporates very quickly leaving no fumes and no residual odors on your bird like the Coleman will. My shop (and house) used to stink like gas for three days after I did a turkey with Coleman. I tend to think you get "more birds per gallon" with acetone too. Just be sure to filter through a paper towel as you put the acetone back.
Using gas or not is a "to each his own" kind of thing but I wholeheartedly agree with you--gasing does a lot to help a bird look like it should (and much quicker, too).
Its not a degreaser, and you have to use it safely. But when folks say they use it to degrease or in the basement, Ill beg to differ...well, I used to, before the archives!
I think its a little irresponsible to promote such a dangerous practice on an open forum.
Endolan U was great after they banned arsenic too. Then went Durasban and now goes Sevin and Diazanon. Wonder why it took the government to step in to keep us from killing ourselves. Paul, acetone is just plain deadly and it evaporates as quickly as it absorbs into your body tissues and mucous membranes. Leanna, we've already discussed white gas at length, and I'm sorry folks, but I lived through generations of taxidermists walking around with oxygen bottles. Damned if I plan on killing myself over any stupid bird. I can think of better ways to die and even more that should've already killed me. That "sloop" in the bucket is the least of my concerns.
It's the way i learned in school years ago and just like anything else without the proper saftey precautions anything can be dangerous. I too think it adds something to the bird that's lacking without it.
I am going to have to make a convert out of you yet.
Check this article out:
http://www.TaxidermyReference.com/WDSTurkeyTax.html
Glen
Is it dangerous to promote the usage of lacquer based paints? How about apoxy sculpt that can also be absorbed into your skin? Possibly cause rashes. When I mix up molding plaster or paper mache pulp, that forms dust, I turn my face and lungs away promptly. Carving a fish from that nasty grey foam? How about injecting those duck feet with Master Cast? I'll bet that would go up in flames if I so tested it. Bondo fumes? Pickling solutions? Tannins? Fleshing machines and scalpel blades? Deerticks? How about driving that wire into a birds leg, through the mannikin and then into the meaty part of your thumb? Maybe a green bellied fox spreading bacteria in the air to breathe. Ever have a fish eye squirt its juice into your own eye? And mouth for that matter. Have we even deciphered what health hazard that may cause? And George, if precautions are taken as they are with everything else we do in the shop, where is the harm? Why does white gas cause panties to crawl up ones crack? If I didn't wear my respirator when I use my lacquer paints (and gloves) I'd be snorting that oxygen you talked about, as well as possibly blowing my shop up if some nimrod perchance came in the shop smoking something or other. God only knows I still love you George!
Really, what I am getting at here is EVERYthing has its down side. But responsibility as well as common sense and respect of the product you are using should well condone the side effects. Those guys you speak of on oxygen George, obviously did not wear respirators or gloves, OR supply adequate ventilation in the area they worked day after day. White gas does something to a birds plumage in my experience and it works for me and I like it. I will be trying the acetone Paul, because ten years of experience tells me something.
Glen, I am open to suggestions and I will look into the article you suggested, after all, I "hear" your Stop Rot is un-negotiable...lol, and if ever there was a skeptic, I'm it.
Kids, just be careful out there.
But remember, there are only so many ends of a candle one can burn before the wax runs out. Soap does just fine, thank you and chemically, I know it breaks down fat and grease where gasoline simply dilutes it. And ask Jeff how UPS handles shipping of acetone. You won't like what he tells you. LOL
Leanna , I'm sorry you have every writ to use less then good judgment but
to lend an otherwise good name to a less then an, up to date way of cleaning birds.
Many of us taxidermists do things that aren't safe as we'd like but don't blurt them out for every novus homo to try.
Your logic is flawed; because one part of our job has some danger in it, your indicating that we should ignore all the dangers.
For all others, I remember more than a few shop fires in the last few years mentioned on here, Maybe they were not started with gas but why take that chance.
I don't think if a person uses white gas properly their is anything wrong with it. Like others said there are about 50 things in our shop that could blow us up or harm us. I too use white gas on my birds although I only do a half dozen to a dozen a year. They just have a better appearance and shine. I also use it in my degreaser for bears as the directions call for it. Someone told me to try waterbased paints once and the smell was a little less nasty but had to still wear a respirator so I went back to lacquer.If gas fumes are linguring in your house for 3 days you obviously have no ventilation and better do the gasing outdoors. Im not trying to be a smartass but fireworks have warning labels on them also but someone seems to get burned or lose fingers every 4th of July from them. I think common sense and their is no problems. Go ahead rip away, MarkV.
Leanna, 360 works as well as gas and is safe to use. If you try it I don't think you would regret it.
Wilson, where exactly did I indicate " because one part of our job has some danger in it, that we should ignore all the dangers."? Just the opposite, I perfunctorily stated that "responsibility as well as common sense and respect of the product you are using should well condone the side effects". That meant precautions, excersizing good judgement and common sense in practical matters.
Yes there are updated versions of cleaning birds, but I havn't found one I like yet, ENOUGH to omitting the gas step, thus "regressing" to Coleman Fuel.
George, those are the boxes the UPS guys DON'T kick or toss 30 yards to a front porch....again precautionary responsibility! LOL
Hey Leanna;
I quit using coleman. What I am using is STOP-ROT! Ducks and birds, give it a try.
Bonnie
It all works and one is just as fine as the other..I spent a bit of time study'n both ways..I looked at several shops that did birds both ways..Personally the soap and degreaser works just fine..I try to have rubber gloves on and use the resperator as much as I can..
I look at it this way I need to use certain things and if I can i will choose the less hazardous method..Just because I use laquer paints dont meen I need to bathe in gas or eat apoxie sculpt.I also take into consideration the effects hunidity have a certain things..And the possible evap/venting in my clients homes..I don't understand how anyone could use or suggestuseing formldyhide even
after its dryed up the crystaline form it take's continues to release wonderfull things into the home after a himidty or temp change..
Fume control has become the next issue for a next upgrade in our shop..A spark free fan and several runs of ducting to a couple areas in the shop...
Besides what happens the day our services need to come with a label listing all the chemicals used in this prosses'.. Is that very far off?