128 holes later and still not fleshed (par 3)

[rock hunter]

This is my first time with a flesher machine.  I used a dokota 2  I messed with the guards and the depth that it shaved.   My ? is how do you do it without putting the holes.  I know this cape is ruined.  I am still going to practice with this cape.  Is there a trick to setting the machine up. I was hopeing that this machine would save me from 6 to 8 hours of hand fleshing.  Is this just the learning curve that I have to pay for.  Do you pull the cape tight when shaving over the guard , do you allow the blade to take the material , do you hand flesh all the thick meat off before using the flesher. more than a hole in one. 

Thanks, Ray

[HOLMES]

Did you get a video with the machine? Im sure someone out there has an extra. I cant hardly use it on a green cape but some do. You should keep it tight and just pull across the blade. Ajust it where it doesnt take much off at a time. I keep 6" or so of hide between my hands. I have never cut that many holes. Stop and figure out what your doing wrong. Get the video and watch it learn how to adjust and sharpen the blades correctly.

[HOLMES]

Wear the GLOVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It will bite you if you dont.

[rock hunter]

I did not get a video with this,  bought used. I have looked all over  the net for directions to set it up.  I called Van dikes but the machine is old I cant even find a picture of this machine.  I have watched many videos on shaving with a machine they just made it look too easy my hat is off to those guys.  That finger looks nasty maybe I was trying to do such a large area that I bunched the skin and it sliced through the hide.

[HOLMES]

keep the skin tight and start off with a small area. Baby steps. Even now I dont take big long swipes. You will cut the heck out of it.

[rock hunter]

I laid an arrow across the blade and guard and the top three inches of the blade comes beyond the guard about 1/8 of an inch. the  hide is very green do you think I was trying to take off too much at one time.

[HOLMES]

I dont know and hope someone else with a little more experiance will chime in but I work inthe middle to the lower portion of the blade not on the top.

[rock hunter]

I am going to change to the bottom of the blade or middle to see if this will work,  let you know in about 15 min  It might just do it.

[rock hunter]

I now have about 150 holes it, did not seem to grind as bad, any help would be nice. directions?  what am I doing wrong, bad machine. bad newbie, bad attitude, bad me,

[HOLMES]

It just take a machine that is set right and experience. Go to bed and practice tomarrow.

[rock hunter]

Well people I did not follow all the steps required to use a machine.

1  I tried to shave a green cape.
2  I did not follow the directions on this form.
3  I did not have a pickled cape.
4  I did not have the Machine set up right
5  I did not have the correct instructions on shaving
6  The worst problem was the (I) Meaning (ME)  did not Know enough about it.
  THANKS FOR EVERYTHING PEOPLE  MY LEARNING CURVE IS GETTING SMALLER  (NOT)

[outwoods taxidermy]

 just have a play on the ajustments, should come good soon....

[David Patton]

Nobody caught it. LOL

[michaelf]

If you will contact Bruce Rittle, He has some good information on fleshing machine set-up and operation. Also he sells a video on how to set your machine up. I did the same as you. I bought a used machine from a friend years ago and tried to figure it out myself and believe me it's no fun. I bought Bruce's video and he sent me some printed material and saved me alot of headaches. I still had a learning curve but it made it alot easier. Hope this helps.

[David Patton]

If you will contact Bruce Rittle, He has some good information on fleshing machine set-up and operation. Also he sells a video on how to set your machine up. I did the same as you. I bought a used machine from a friend years ago and tried to figure it out myself and believe me it's no fun. I bought Bruce's video and he sent me some printed material and saved me alot of headaches. I still had a learning curve but it made it alot easier. Hope this helps.

Videos and printed material will put you in the ballpark like a bore sight will get you on paper, but you need to see a guy with a few years on the machine, work , to get the "fill-in" that videos leave out.