Does Coleman fuel or white gas hurt feathers? The reason I ask is that I had some Colman fuel around the house that I don't use anymore. I have read several posts about soaking skins in Coleman fuel, mineral spirits, Acetone.
Since I have only mounted a hand full of birds and am still trying new things to decide how I like to do things I tried this method after I defatted and washed initialy in Dawn.
After drying the bird I noticed that the feathers are hammered. Split, broken on the very ends. On the primary feathers on both wings the edges are worn and tattered. I didn't notice this before I started skinning the bird, doesn't mean it wasn't like this before, I just didn't notice.
The only thing I did different with this bird as apposed to others is the Coleman fuel, everything else is the same yet I have never had a bird turn out like this.
Any help?
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I've used coleman fuel before and never had it damage feathers.
The only time I get damaged feathers is when tumbling too long. The tumbling medium may have something to do with it also. White gas won't hurt feathers.
White gas does a great job of getting the water out but watch your hair dryer! It is very flammable. What I did was attached a long flexible tube to my hair dryer. I keep the drier about six feet from the gas soaked bird. Works great and had no accidents yet! A shop vac tube should work for this too.
Joe V.
flight feathers tend to get worn by the end of season/spring time. I notice it mostly on snow geese brought in during the spring season. Makes sense as they've flown several thousand miles by then.
Nobody tought you not to play with gas? It is FLAMMABLE.I have worked in shops that have used white gas.Never fails,somebody will catch one on fire! Been there to see it happen.
Hey,
I don't use ANY gas or mineral spirits after washing my birds and they turn out just great, nice and clean and fluffy and fat free too. First, I refuse to have anything flamable like that around my house, as I have to work indoors. When I learned to skin a bird, that was my main worry. Second, I hate the smell and slick residue that they leave on the feathers. I don't like to touch gas with my hands and they warp gloves. After I wash and rinse my birds really good, I hang them up to dry for about 30 minutes and then tumble them dry. Over tumbling WILL damage the feathers. Hey, try it, no gas! After you dry them with a hair dryer on cool, "tickle" the quills from the inside out with your fingernails to emulate the bird grooming itself. Or take the round end of a pair of sissors and gently run it along the underside skin of the bird. Watch the feathers on the outside stand back up and pop back into place. Amazing.