Using a wire wheel.

[Tom k]

I am trying to use a double stacked fine wire wheels. It looks like all its doing is making lines in the hide, not really removing anything. Ive tried both raw and pickled skins. what am I doing wrong. Also is there a video to show how to use a skive knife.

[jessicaj]

I to have been frustrated with the wire wheel but did manage to do some things with it. First it's a little better to salt the hide and let it dry a little first, makes getting the stuff off a little easier. It's probably not going to do what your thinking (least that's how it was for me) but it does an excellent job of removing all the fat and the membrane. For meat and what not it will eventually remove some of it but your better to remove the big chuncks and than go to the wire wheel and you will get better results. It does work to an extent but it's not going to completly flesh you hide. Hope that helps some!

[oldterryr]

wire wheel works fine for me - i mostly use it on face - i also use knive sharpening blade and just touch it on skin - will remove verything but i use fleshing machine and then touch up with both wheels - remove big chunks with hael scalpel pathologist blacde and then use wire wheel - i have been using it for years

[oldterryr]

duh!!!   havel scalpel pathologist blade

[fishwork]

There is an article on the Taxidermy in Focus website ...  www.taxidermyinfocus.com on wire wheeling. There is also a short video download. If you need more info, I can hook you up with Brian via email. I personally use a skife and a Dakota but Brian loves the wire wheel. There is a technique and he seems to have it down pretty well.

[hambone]

Thanks for the tip on that website I found it very informative

[Cory W]

I use a wire wheel for all of my fleshing (not thinning).  I use the stiffest wire wheel I can get.  You don't want to use a fine wheel.  I can flesh the entire cape and even turn lips, eyes and nose almost completely with the wheel.  I have used it to thin before, but find my Dakota V does a much better job.  The wheel is really great for thinning the muzzle and chin area since it does not cut the whisker roots.  But like anything it takes a little time to master the technique.

[Tom k]

Thanks to all that helped me, Thanks Tom K