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February 14, 2015
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I understand removing the tail, cleaning it and preparing it to be attached to the turkey later during the mounting process. I have watched several videos and see that once it is cleaned and fanned out, bondo is put on the quills along with wires to insert into the form.
What I don’t understand and the videos never really made it clear is that once the bondo is put on and sets up does that make the tail ready to attach to the form or does the tail still need to go through the drying process of a week or so?
Back in the old days (40 years ago, lol) the meat was cleaned off the quills, they were preserved as well as possible and the tail was then fanned out, taped down and took a good while to dry before the tail could be used as a wall mount.
Since I am planning on doing my first turkey this year I am trying to figure out a system of working on it in various stages knowing that I am not going to do it from start to finish in one day.
Moderators
February 22, 2015
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I still clean the quills, wash, tumble, and dry my tails. I then fan out and tape. I Bondi one side, then the other. After the bondo sets you are good to go.
Dead End Game Calls Prostaff
Jeb’s Chokes Pro Staff
Turkey Killing Machine
February 14, 2015
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So does that mean your tail is ready to go on the forum in one day because of the bondo or does the tail still have to sit around for a week or so drying? I guess the question is does the bondo permanently set the feathers the same day you put the bondo on?
September 27, 2012
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It probably will but I still let mine completely dry before I mount my birds . That way I don’t have no worries on messing it up.
Tommy
April 7, 2013
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The bondo permanently sets the tail once the bondo cures. I would give it 24 hours. I bondo mine and pin and tape it down for a week or two just to let the small amount of skin that was holding everything together before I bondoed it dry out. It’s not necessary, but I usually am not going to mount the tail for a while anyway so, it doesn’t hurt to leave it to dry. If you strip the quills and reconstruct them, there is no drying of anything and the curing of the bondo is all you need. I would still give it 24 hrs.
