I did my first wt deer and here is my question.
When I went to sew up the y inscion I had a very hard time getting the needle
through the skin, am I using the wrong needle? It was in a kit from
vandykes. Is there something I need to do to the skin different?
Thanks,
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The needle may dull. Try and sharpen it with a dremel tool, grinder or file.
you have northern deer, or long haired deer. Pre-punch the y incision with a leather punch (plyer)... use smallest cutter. Comb incision before sewing to get loose or cut hair off and sew with dullest S needle.Mine last forever. Make holes 1/4 in. apart at top of Y and 1/2in after y. Good luck...
What I did was to use a set of pliers to start it through the hide. The deer up here in northern WI have some terribly thick hide. I have one thawing right now and I think that I will thin down the hide a tad with a skife knife to help me out this time.
as it cuts some hair and was a new thing some twenty years ago.
through the edge of the hide as opposed to both sides. I do that on all African game,the seam hides well and you are going through only half the thickness of the hide.
of needle are you using..round or three cornered? Some don't like the 3 corner needle as they say it allows the thread to cut through. I use the 3 sided (glovers needle) and rarely have the stitch pull out, but it does happen. I also sharpen them even more and use the smallest size I can. If you tend to stretch the cape over the form more than you should then you find yourself pulling on the stitches with too much pressure and stitch can pop..Round needles are tough to use on big game capes. However if you want to pre-punch, go ahead but use a leather needle punch(which is a 3 corner-glover type needle) and push it through, or make your own with a glovers needle and 1d" dowell.
Well Joe, I have the best answer. I used a leather punch for a long time but I always have to comb out the loose hair to make for a clean job. Now I use a sharpened round concrete nail. Lay your hide flesh side up on a two-by-four and tap, tap, tap your holes.WOW, fast and clean. For me there is no other way. I keep a bunch of leather punches on hand as they tend to rust up but they will be stocking stuffers this year.
if you use s needles, and keep them sharp you will be able to go through the toughest hides with ease. I mount hundreds of northern whitetail, and never pre punch anything. #3 0r #5 s needles with a 3 sided point go through like butter