Submitted by mike on 1/16/1999. ( )
Mr Bellucci, will it hurt to soak bird skins in mineral spirits,to prime for tumbling, after tanning with lutan? I am fairly new to the game and have greatly benefitted from your info. Thanks for all the good bird stuff!!
This response submitted by alan dowdy on 1/17/1999. ( )
'not trying to cut in JOHN'
skip the lutan unless its a problem like goldeneye and your
trying to relax it .
flesh the skin real good,then wash it in a mild dish
detergent w/anti-bacterial.
then soak it in white gas or whatever you prefer'tumble it
and rub some powdered borax on the skin.
then just mount it right away.
This response submitted by mike on 1/17/1999. ( )
I didnt mean to shut others out, Alan. I was just trying to catch Johns attention. I wanted to try lutan after reading info from this forum. I have done many birds using the method you described and have had no problems. This will be my first tanned bird and I dont know how the mineral spirits will affect the tanned skin. Thanks for the input. Mike
This response submitted by John Bellucci on 1/18/1999. ( ArtistExpr@aol.com )
Believe me guys, I don't mind if anyone else out there wants to step up to the plate to help a fellow, or gal, out - espesially when it comes to birds.
My answer to your question is... I don't know if it would hurt the skin tanned with Lutan-F. After thoroughly hand-defatting the skin I would wash it thoroughly with dawn detergent, then "chemically" degrease the skin with Bollman's Grease-Buster as per the instructions on the bottle.
This is followed by a really good rinsing, and finally the skin goes into the Lutan-F solution. After the prescribed amount of time in the tan, the skin is again rinsed, damp-dried with paper towel, then tumbled in small-grit corn cob.
Drying of the skin, can be speeded along by sprinkling Borax on the skin-side and rubbing it well into the skin. As a dessicant, Borax is a good addition to promote a faster and even drying of the bird skin.
That's the only "post" Lutan-F treatment I think is needed, and even that comes after the skin is tumbled. Hope this helped. Good luck to all... John B.
This response submitted by Mike on 1/19/1999. ( )
no mineral spirits is needed. I like to use it before tumbling, but will go without it this time. Maybe I will give it a go next time (after the lutan) just to see what happens! Thanks guys. Mike
This response submitted by robert fry on 4/5/99. ( robert@emilys.swinternet.co.uk )
I am butchering Osterich for my restaurant, someone said I can sell festhers, skins for leather and unfertile eggs.
Can you give me any advice
many thanks
Robert