Can i use a bench grinder with a wire whell on it for a flesher? I have an old one and was wondering if it would work as good as a real flesher? Thanx
Kyle
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Kyle, if you do use it please be very careful bench grinders have a lot of torque to them I tried it and almost ripped my freakin hand off,better to use a drill, or I even heard of using a fan motor on here I just clamp my drill in a box I built for that purpose,using a trick I learned here from John C I think,put a hose clamp over the trigger and just slowly tighten the clamp till you get to the speed your looking for,its not the best but till you can get a real one they work ok,I'm sure alot of these experienced taxidermists can give you a better answer,I just don't want you to hurt yourself in the meantime,take care Derek [croc]
Kyle,
If you have an old bench grinder, chances are you have used it on bolts or something. You remember how if you push too hard, it will grab what you have an snatch it. Or even better, have you ever got a shirt sleeve caught in it?
That is to say that if you touch a hide to it and are not EXTREMELY careful, the grinder will grab the hide and snatch it into the wheel. As Derek mentioned, the grinder is very high tok and it will twist the hide around the shaft and such until it is a big mess that may have to be cut out. I have done it with a shirt sleve so I know it is possible to do it.
I would probably try the drill in the vise method with the wire whell in it. It will do much better and lessen the chance of wasting a hide.
there is a flesher in my area (ga.) that fleshes for $30 a cape! You may want to check your area out. SAFTY FIRST
Not all bench grinders have the torgue the others speak off. Their advice is sound advice though. If you use a grinder you do indeed need to be careful. I use a Craftsmen 6 inch grinder that is a 1/10th horsepower with a fine wire wheel. I only mount my own stuff so it doesn't get a whole lot of use but I do birds, small mammals, and deer hides with it and have not damaged one with a wraparound.