Ok,working on my first big bird a Canada goose.I have done smaller birds such as crows and grouse and was happy with the results so I figure I'd tackle the goose.I built myself a bird flesher with a 1/10 hp motor running a fine wire wheel and it seems to clean the fat great.My question is, is the purpose of the wheel to just "break"the tissue that holds the fat in or to actually try and remove all the fat off with the wheel.
any tips or the proper way would be greatly appreciated.
thanks P.C
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the wire wheel will flesh off the fat but you must get between the quills with a scalpel to "free" the feather tracts. This will give you a much fluffier and natural look. The tracts run in patterns be sure to free them by cutting around each quill. It is time consuming but will pay off. Don't cut through the skin, that is the trick!
Joe
May take a bit longer but I rough flesh the skin with a pair of scissors.Then I go in and whell everything after that and it works great.Always be sure to dull a new wheel before you use it though.A new wheel will have stray wires and be quite harsh on your skins.Take a sharpening stone on the coarse side or a file and run it against your running flesher for a time or to and that helps out tremendously.
I agree with ryan. rub borax or dp on skin and flesh with scissors carefully but be careful. If you are not satified with the fat removal with the scissors then you can use a dull wheel. I use a dull wheel now on my battery operated drill. I usually prefer just the scissors because I have torn more skin with the wheel