Drying Out Fan and Beard

[ChasinTails27]

I have used borax to dry out the beard and fan in the past, just wondering what some others may be using.

[Tom Foolery]

I use salt but I think borax is faster and better.

[stinkpickle]

borax

[Gooserbat]

My fan method is cut away as much meat and fat as possible.  Staple it upside down to a large piece of cardboard with electrical staples.  Dump borax on the fleshy area and allow it to dry for a couple months.

[TRG3]

Using a very sharp knife, remove as much fat and meat from the fan as possible without damaging the integrity of it. I usually remove the fan just below the pygostyle (oil) gland. On a piece of cardboard at least a couple of feet wide, spread out the fan after a liberal dousing of both sides of the fat/meat section in powdered borax. Using a roofing nail (because of the nail's wide head), shove one through the cardboard against which the fan/meat section will rest against, placing the pretty side up. Then, place a roofing nail on each of the outside tail feathers in order to keep the fan spread out. Use your own judgement as to what looks natural. Take some time to arrange all of the tail's feathers since they will all take a "set" in a couple of weeks or less, making future re-arrangement difficult if not impossible. Check on it in a few days to make sure there is sufficient borax. Set the fan in an area where it can dry and in a few weeks just dust off the excess borax, saving such for future fans, wings, beards, etc. and now it is ready for display. I've done several dozen fans this way and it pays to take the extra time to make sure you have it like you want it to look.

[kyturkeyhunter4]

Borax is the only way to go.

[Swenny]

I use borax.  Seems like it's pretty effective and easy.

[MK M GOBL]

Here is my method, as mentioned cleaning as much meat as you can from the back side of the fan (I use a filet knife), I also use Borax. I have made my own drying boards by using (Home Foam Board Insulation 1-in x 4-ft x 8-ft, This cuts to 3 fan boards) I have a 'Square Line", a 90° and (2) 30° lines from the bottom horizontal. I have a small block of wood attached below the base line and have T-Pins and some regular pins. Once the fan is clean, I Borax the fan base and it is turned down on the board and butted to the wood "Stop" if all 18 feathers are present I spread fan out to the horizontal line, I split the center 90° between the 2 center feathers, if odd number it is centered. If you do not have all 18 feathers that is where I use the 30° lines by either centering a quill or aligning the feather edge. From there I start at the bottom of the fan on each side and set each feather and it is overlapping the previous feather evenly back to center, each feather is pinned in place with 2 pins crossing each quill. From there I set the upper tail coverts, first my covering the face of tail base with more Borax, the first layer of feather are again spread out evenly, and each layer after. Keep in mind you want to get every feather placed as you will not be able to move once dried. Once all of the upper covert feathers are set I "weight" them in place (I use some 1lb lead ingots) the weight flattens the fan down. Beard end is covered in Borax as well, Spurs are a process as well and I have a few way I do Wings depending on final use...

MK M GOBL

[Dr Juice]

Great job.

[Swenny]

Looks really sharp mk.

[Planner]

Those look pretty awesome. On the beard, I just pull it off the bird instead of cutting it. This way it comes off clean without anything to cut off. Made me a bit nervous the first time I did it, but it works.


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[RemingtonRules]

I cut the feathers out and use hot glue to set them.


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[Greg Massey]

I'm old fashion i just use salt...it doesn't great for me...

[nitro]

Salt is a preservative and will never completely dry out the oils and fat.

Borax is a drying agent. Use borax. It's cheap and effective. I have some 30+ year old fans that are still intact.

[Bigeclipse]

I have used borax to dry out the beard and fan in the past, just wondering what some others may be using.

Just my two cents...I also use borax or salt but what I do as a final touch is add some quick dry epoxy. If there does happen to be any bio material left, the epoxy will harden around it and prevent any bugs from growing in your home. Also seems to help hold the fan in perfect position. For the low cost of quick dry epoxy I figured what the heck...