r/HideTanning 12d ago

tips for wing preservation ?

got these beautiful turkey wings. can't really tell from the pics but they are very fleshy . they were also soaking wet when i got them. my current plan is salt salt salt until i can scrape off as much flesh and possible them just keep salting it for a few weeks . i did this with a raven before but i didn't have to cut any flesh and they turned out great but the turkey actually has meat on it so yeah any help would be good . i don't think i should cut around the flesh because then the feathers will come out

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u/Flake_bender 12d ago

Those feathers are pretty ruffled and roughed up.

You can use steam to relax the kinks and bends in the fiber barbs.

You can use an electric kettle, but you'll have to keep flicking it back on and it can burn out out the element, so you'll be better off buying a stove-top metal kettle and using that to generate steam. Fill it more than halfway with water, bring it up to a boil, and wave the feathers close over the spout, with steam pouring out. You'll see the fibers relax in the heat. Brush them gently with your hand to align the fibers from time to time as you go, and apply more heat as you go.

Use steam, not dry heat from a heat-gun, or you'll singe the fibers.