where do you guys like to get coleman fuel for your birds at? i've looked around and only see the gallon containers for almost $5/gal. i have been using mineral spirits paint thinner from the hardware store with good results, however, i hear people raving about coleman fuel. i have a couple turkeys to do and wondered what was best, and if it was coleman fuel where the best place would be to get it at, thanks
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an outdoor sporting goods store. anywhere they sell camping gear.
wal-mart in the camping area
Wal-Mart carries an off brand that is slightly cheaper than actual Coleman brand fuel. As of right now with the increase in fuel prices it is around $3.50 a gallon in middle Ga. I like the off brand better anyway because it is clear and doesn't have a green tint to it like Coleman fuel does. As far as mineral spirits go the coleman fuel has much less of an odor than the paint thinner or regular gas. If you are in a really big hurry try laquer thinner or acetone, just be carfull and be ready to mount your bird fast, as laquer thinner and acetone dry the skin out.
IMHO using gas is simply pissing in the wind anyway, HOWEVER, why don't you guys just go to the filling stations and buy gas in your plastic containers? Today's gas is unleaded, so there's no artificial color anyway and at $2.20 a GALLON, it doesn't seem too smart to pay that extra $3 just for the tin can with red letters painted on it.
George, I respect your opinion and I have used regular unleaded gasoline before but it has a rather strong smell that gives me a head ache. I have mounted probably 4000 birds in my rather short taxidermy career of 19 yrs, and as of right now the generic brand of Coleman fuel works for me. I have tried most every kind of petroleum product available and have also used nothing at all after washing, the man asked a question and I gave him my opinion. Good luck with the pres. position with the N.T.A..
OK. I'm getting back into taxidermy after a 15 year break (waterfowl only, as a hobby - I've done about 30 birds) . I've spent the last couple days researching the archived forums trying to answer my questions and update my methodologie as I know there are tons of new products and methods out there. I got a lot of good info, especially concerning new products which is helpful as I've seen in the past that a lot of products recieved from Taxidemy companies come with NO instuctions.
I am about ready to order supplies, but my unanswered question I need answered concerns solvents and compatable tumbling media. I haven't found sufficient talk in the archives. In the past I have used gasoline and then plaster of paris (PoP)to "tumble", although I didn't tumble - just worked it in the skin/feathers and blew it out. Whatever method I now use, I don't have a tumbler and will be "tumbling" manually or by MacGyvering something. (Sorry, I'm poor and probably won't but a tumbler at this point for the amount of birds I plan on doing).
MY QUESTIONS
1. Will PoP also work if I use Coleman fuel? I assume it may not with the commercial degreasers such as Bloodout/Degreaser? My impression from past posts is that hardly anyone uses PoP or thinks its crazy. I only saw one past post where someone successflly uses PoP and another one where someone says PoP causes feathers to look dull, although that has not been my experience. I'm leaning toward continuing using gasoline but I may try the Coleman fuel.
2. What tumbler mixes do others find best for use after what "solvents/degreasers"? And what solvents then tumbler media are incompatible? What tumbler mix should be used if a skin is only degreased/washed with soap (Dawn)? I'm thinking of trying the diatomaceous earth; are the Taxidermy company products better than what one can get from a pool store? Is this media less safe than others?
3. For those who use gas/fuel, how do you legally and/or safely (environmentally) dispose of it?
Where are you at in Central GA? I'm about 30 minutes south of Griffin.
I am located just south of Macon in Byron.
Cool. I bet you get a few hogs every year.