Grinding turkey feathers

[Ben M.]

#3214

I’m working on a batch of arrows and, for the first time, decided to sand the quill of my wild turkey feathers instead of just shaping them with a knife. The dust that comes off is (to me) very unpleasant-smelling and somewhat…caustic? It makes me cough. Anyone else have this experience?

[Troy Breeding]

#17716

Yes sir, know exactly what your talking about. I used to split and grind feathers for customers. If your doing it you need a super resperator and some sort of dust collection system at the sander.

Troy

[Ben M.]

#17897

Yah, I’m pretty uncomfortable right now. It’s been about four or five hours since I finished grinding feathers and it feels like a head cold. My sinuses are all plugged up, head feels full of pressure, throat scratchy when I swallow… As far a I know, feathers are made of keratin. That stuff must make some awesome glue.

Won’t forget this mistake anytime soon.

[Stephen Graf]

#18223

I guess some people are more sensitive than others. I usually wear a respirator, but have forgotten it from time to time.

After your story, I’ll endeavor to remember it every time!

[David Coulter]

#18229

Appreciate the tip. I watched a youtube (ibprimative) last night on making fletching from turkey feathers and he used a belt sander to grind them in one method. I saw a roadside turkey Friday that I might try to find. I probably would have had a turkey last spring, if I would have been carrying a shotgun. Had a blast though. dwc

[Etter1]

#18760

I hate the smell of cutting through their legs with a hacksaw too. Probably similar.

[Ben M.]

#18976

Ya’ know, I always separate cuts at the joint. Every animal, wild or domestic. (Of course sometimes shot placement will negate that.) A very detail-oriented buddy of mine (also one of the two town pharmacists) happens to be a hobby butcher and he has taught me a lot about processing meat. Keeping things neat & tidy all the way from the field to the table seems to add a little more value to the whole experience.

I woke up this morning pretty plugged up in the head but cleared out after an hour or so. Wear a mask!

[Etter1]

#19653

Prairie Prowler wrote: Ya’ know, I always separate cuts at the joint. Every animal, wild or domestic. (Of course sometimes shot placement will negate that.) A very detail-oriented buddy of mine (also one of the two town pharmacists) happens to be a hobby butcher and he has taught me a lot about processing meat. Keeping things neat & tidy all the way from the field to the table seems to add a little more value to the whole experience.

I woke up this morning pretty plugged up in the head but cleared out after an hour or so. Wear a mask!

I was referring to cutting the spurs off for display.

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