Fleshing knife and salt table

[silverman]

I bought one of the fleshing knifes and there is not much of an edge on it.I know this is going to sound stupid but how do you put an edge on it.I just got it for rough fleshing.
The other question is,when a person salts a hide is it better to hang and let dry or elevate one side of my table and let dry.

[Tanglewood Taxidermy]

If you're talking about a double handled knife, I sent mine to a tool sharpening co. and they put a good sharp edge on it. I keep it sharp by running it over a steel. Some will say to keep the edge dull and use it to scrape, but I find it easier to flesh with a sharp edge.

[theguyyouknowtaxidermy Daniel Elkins]

There is nothing wrong with having it really sharp, but the sharper it is the easier for you to mess up. I ended up putting a little more edge on mine with sharpening stone and oil just like a pocket knife. but the key to using it is to move the blade down at an angle and draw the knife across the hide. it is a two part movement. You are going down and moving the drawing the knife. It also helps if you are using an contour surface for a fleshing beam

[theguyyouknowtaxidermy Daniel Elkins]

Another thing is that you want to keep tension on the hide, so in some cases your chest/belly will hold the hide with pressure to the beam as you flesh away from you.

[John Helm]

I agree with all of the above. Try to buy or make a fleshing beam with the same contour as the knife and you'll save yourself many problems.  Using a flat beam with only rounded edges is asking for trouble. But try using a 3000 psi pressure washer for fleshing and you'll be spoiled.  Check out Brian Harness' DVD on pressure washer fleshing: https://www.taxidermytrainingunlimited.com/BH-Pressure_Washing.html

[tem]

you can do eather for salting. but the salt will stay on the hide better if its not hung up.

[silverman]

Thanks for the replys everyone,this is a wonderful site !!!!!

[duxdown]

Well I run a small shop so i have limited room.  I made some wire stretchers and insert them into my hide and lay them on a tarp and salt both sides then hang 24 hours before going to the pickle. I find that it works well.