I'm just getting started with birds. I've mounting a few dozen big game heads from elk to deer, antelope and bear, but never a bird. My big question is - I don't want to lay out the cash for a wire wheel flesher right now but I've got a swan to mount as one of my practice specimens, can I do it another way? Is their a hand tool(s) that will make the job a bit easier without the larger cash outlay for the electric flesher? Thanks in advance,
Nate
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They had to do it somehow before the wire wheel came along. Just use a good pair of scissors to trim off all of the flesh. Even with a wheel, you will have to use the scissors some anyway.
If it were me Id hold off on the swan and get some other birds to learn on. Mallards are probally one of the best and most forgiving of waterfowl to learn on. If your serious about doing birds and want them done right spend the money for a bird flesher or at the very least make one. You can use sissors and knives and different items to flesh with, but in my opinion the flesher is really an important tool for birds especially swans. Do yourself a favor and at least try to hold off on the swan until you get some pratice on birds and have a flesher, their kind of a bi__h to do (at least to me)but they make great mounts.
When removing the fat, you need to do a lot more than just remove the bigger hunks. You need to remove the fat from between the feather quills. If you don't do that the grease may leak out and destroy the nice white color. Make sure you remove the fat up in the nexk too. The first snow goose I did for myself leaked later in the neck and pretty much destoryed a nice mount. An important lesson learned the hard way. You can do it with scissors and a small wire brush but you really have to be careful so you don't cut the skin. It is tricky but was done for years. I made myu flesher for about $40 and it works great. Used a used electric motor, a 6" armature, and a clear plastic box.
Nate....before I had my wheel, I used wire brushes. I still use them to get into the touchy areas on Woodies. I buy the the 1/2 inch brass brushes....they are very forgiving on tender skin. Of course, it is more time consuming..but so is sewing up holes. Work the entire skin..don't forget the edges and the neck area. Go easy with the brush, but be sure to get into the deeper feather tracks. You will get the feel of things eventually. Most importantly...be patient!
Good Luck!
Jared is right.thats how they did it before the wheel. thats why older mounts look like c@#p. Some birds are easy to do with a wire brush(mostly upland birds) but if your doing waterfowl skins they need to be fleshed on some kind of wheel,(esp.a swan and even a mallard)you cant sissor the fat between the feather butts.also the skin has to be relaxed by opening up between feather butts.there is no short cut to quality taxidermy,if you dont care if it drips grease in a couple of years..by all means..sissor away.