Limbering up a fan

[Gooserbat]

Any pointers for a fan that needs spread but it's 3 1/2 weeks dead and pretty stir?

[Southerngobbler]

Rehydrate it.

[falltoms]

I agree on rehydrate. I have never rehydrated a fan, but I have done dried pelts many times, (I trap), take a wet towel and hold on the meaty part, it may take awhile but it should limber up if you keep at it

[Meleagris gallopavo]

I keep mine in the freezer, folded, till I feel like preparing them to be mounted.  I get a solo cup and fill it halfway with hot water and stick the base in there for a bit.  I get it out and it's flexible enough to spread out and dry.  I do dry the base as best I can with paper towels before I treat with borax and spread it.  Been doing this for several years with no issues.


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[Howie g]

I'll only tell you if you promise to put it on wall and not use it for fanning!?!!?
Sorry , sometimes I just can't help it ?

[Gooserbat]

I'll only tell you if you promise to put it on wall and not use it for fanning!?!!?
Sorry , sometimes I just can't help it ?

Maybe both.

[Hobbes]

How much flesh is left on it?  You can take a scalpel or sharp knife and remove all the flesh even if it's dried some.  You'll need to skin back any skin with back feathers that you want attached then remove flesh down to feather butts/quills.  You'll also want to work your knife between the pygostyle bone and quills and remove the bone.  At that point you'll have a strip of skin and fat holding everything together.  Cut between each quill up to the skin.  Don't cut the skin.  You can then scrape fat from each quill and the fan can be freely positioned.  It's at this point that I use Bondo to hold in position.

[Hobbes]

I put up a tutorial back in 2011 but it looks like the photos no longer work.  I don't think it was specific to a fan dried in the closed position.