How to prepare Fan, Beard, Wings and Claws to mount?

[returnofsid]

I just got my first Turkey, Saturday morning, and need advice on preserving the Fan and Beard, for mounting.  I added Wings and Claws to the post title, for future reference or for those who also need that information.  In fact, I do still have the wings and may attempt them as well.

A friend of mine says it's as easy as mixing up a bring and injecting it into any remaining flesh, injecting it into the wing bones, and pinning the fan and wings to a board to spread them, and let them dry for a few weeks.  I've read a few tutorials that weren't quite that simple at all...lol.

[returnofsid]

I've always just trimmed as much meat as I could off, then salted the hell out of them and pinned them to a piece of plywood.
Let'em dry for a few weeks.

Do you bother opening the skin of the wings, to remove flesh from around the wing bones?  I guess I'd be a bit concerned about the salt not penetrating the skin, to get to the flesh around the bones.

[270Shooter]

Cut off the little knob of meat/skin that holds the tail feathers together, always better to cut more and trim layer, cut away as much of the meat from the skin as possible and you'll have to cut the v-shaped bone out of there as well. Then spread it out on cardboard or plywood and salt the crap out of it

[returnofsid]

Cut off the little knob of meat/skin that holds the tail feathers together, always better to cut more and trim layer, cut away as much of the meat from the skin as possible and you'll have to cut the v-shaped bone out of there as well. Then spread it out on cardboard or plywood and salt the crap out of it

I did cut that knob off (popes nose) the body.  So right now, I've got the van with the knob of flesh attached.  I'd planned to remove as much of that flesh as possible but had wondered about those bones.  That helps! 

Oh, Another Question!

How many layers of feathers, in front of the fan, should I leave intact!?  I'll probably have to post a photo to make this question more understandable?

[washingtonmuley]

I would use Borax over salt.

[returnofsid]

I would use Borax over salt.

I've read that it helps to dissolve the remaining flesh?  Where would borax be purchased?

[92xj]

Cut off the little knob of meat/skin that holds the tail feathers together, always better to cut more and trim layer, cut away as much of the meat from the skin as possible and you'll have to cut the v-shaped bone out of there as well. Then spread it out only cardboard or plywood and salt the crap out of it

I did cut that knob off (popes nose) the body.  So right now, I've got the van with the knob of flesh attached.  I'd planned to remove as much of that flesh as possible but had wondered about those bones.  That helps! 

Oh, Another Question!

How many layers of feathers, in front of the fan, should I leave intact!?  I'll probably have to post a photo to make this question more understandable?

I like one layer myself. Makes for a very clean look. I also wash all my fans in hot water and soap then dry with hair dryer before pinning or hot gluing.

[92xj]

Borax for me as well.

[92xj]

Hot glue method. About an hour after a kill you can have a display fan complete. I wash the fan, dry it. Pull each feather and lay it in place then glue. Looks like this once done.

[returnofsid]

Cut off the little knob of meat/skin that holds the tail feathers together, always better to cut more and trim layer, cut away as much of the meat from the skin as possible and you'll have to cut the v-shaped bone out of there as well. Then spread it out only cardboard or plywood and salt the crap out of it

I did cut that knob off (popes nose) the body.  So right now, I've got the van with the knob of flesh attached.  I'd planned to remove as much of that flesh as possible but had wondered about those bones.  That helps! 

Oh, Another Question!

How many layers of feathers, in front of the fan, should I leave intact!?  I'll probably have to post a photo to make this question more understandable?

I like one layer myself. Makes for a very clean look. I also wash all my fans in hot water and soap then dry with hair dryer before pinning or hot gluing.

Those look great!  So, I'll remove as much flesh as possible, remove the bone from the "Pope's nose," sprinkle liberally and often, with borax.  Oh and yes, I do also plan to clean it up some, straightening some feathers that separated at the ends. Hot water and dish soap?

[returnofsid]

Hot glue method. About an hour after a kill you can have a display fan complete. I wash the fan, dry it. Pull each feather and lay it in place then glue. Looks like this once done.

That looks like a very good way to do it!  Might try that, as apposed to pinning!

[92xj]

Absolutely. In my experience the hot water with dawn soap brushed with my hands from base to feather tip puts a lot of the feathers back together and evens them all out as you see in my picture. I then blow dry aiming the dryer at the base blowing the air towards the tips.  Hope that makes sense.

[returnofsid]

Absolutely. In my experience the hot water with dawn soap brushed with my hands from base to feather tip buys slot of the feathers back together and evens them all out as you see in my picture. I then blow dry aiming the dryer at the base blowing the air towards the tips.  Hope that makes sense.

Yes, perfect sense. Thanks!

[92xj]

Absolutely. In my experience the hot water with dawn soap brushed with my hands from base to feather tip buys slot of the feathers back together and evens them all out as you see in my picture. I then blow dry aiming the dryer at the base blowing the air towards the tips.  Hope that makes sense.

Yes, perfect sense. Thanks!

Cool.
If you do the hot glue method, use your thumb as a guide.  Have the quills touching and just make a U shape like you see in my picture. 
I have been searching for 30 minutes for a past thread that had a lot of discussion about mounting fans doing both ways but I cant seem to find it.
If you have any questions let me know and I will help where I can.

[270Shooter]

That hot glue method is interesting, may have to try it next time. I usually leave 2-3 rows of feathers in front of the fan but that's just my preference.