fleshing machine set up good but!

[BOWFISH]

i have my fleshing machine setup to shave a little more on the top of the guard
and less in the middle and never use the bottom.
but i do find myself worrying about the hide on the table or ears hitting this area by mistake
i put a piece of cardboard around this lower area and am thinking of something more permanent.
maybe building out the guard with some epoxy
any suggestions?

[Dakota Hills]

Might want to leave the temporary one on for a while. See if it causes you shaving scraps to hang up there. Then decide if you want something more permanent. With some practice you will learn to keep the hide away from the blade. But every once in a while,,you'll still get a nick.

[J Brown II]

You are actually only supposed to use the bottom third of the blade between 7 and 9.

[BOWFISH]

You are actually only supposed to use the bottom third of the blade between 7 and 9.

I didn't know that.
I do have a video somewhere maybe i should watch it again.
it just seemed easier to work where i could see

[George Roof]

Bowfish, John is correct. That's the angle that when you're standing behind your machine, you can see what you've shaved quickly.  Any higher, you're blocked out by the arch of the wheel. Reposition your guards.

[J Brown II]

I have also learned from a very experienced shaver to stand to the right side of the machine at a height where you can hug the hood with your left arm. With practice you do not need to even see the blade. I used to stand behind the machine and look over the top to see the blade cut. Killed my back and shoulders after an hour or so of shaving.

[George Roof]

I do just the opposite.  I stand with the hood cradled in my right arm pit.  That allows me to watch that blade.  I don't need any more surprise cuts.

[J Brown II]

I actually do both George. Stand to the right for most shaving and the left side for detailing. I can see between the guards on the left side. I also put my fingers behind the skin and detail with that finger gently across the blade. Kevlar gloved of course. I watched Patton do that at my place last spring.

[GregC424]

I'm new to the shaving thing also. I got the Keith Daniels Tanning and Shaving DVD. Helped me allot. I can shave like a amateur now
All joking aside it helped like night and day. Well worth it.