I finished skinning and fleshing my first Groundhog last week. It took alot of cutting to get rid of the fat! I used a knife, but mostly a pair of sharp scissors. The next morning, my middle and ring fingers were swollen, bruised feeling and kinda numb. The selling and bruising has gone away, but they are still numb and tingly. Has anyone had this happen? Does anyone have suggestions for preventing this from happening (other than NOT doing taxidermy work)?
Lesley
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Lesley;
LOL...sorry, I don't mean to laugh at you. But it's like lifting weighs, or excersizing. Your hands aren't use to all the work involved in what you did. My hands get cramped up also, but I guess it's just old age catching up with me. People that don't do taxidermy,just don't realize just how much work is involved in scraping a hide down, especially if you don't have the proper tools. you'll be better off, if you purchase a fleshing knife and a fleshing beam. Or if you have the money buy a rotory fleshing machine. Like the Dakota, Or Quebec. Good Luck with furture fleshing.
Coyote
K I know Im probably not spellin callous right - but y'all know I mean the hard skin that develops on your hands from repeated use. Lesley - keep up at it and you'll develope tougher skin in those areas.
you don't even know how to spell gym and you're comparing Lesley's pain with working out? LMAO. Ah Yote when was the last time you lifted anything besides the 16 ounce curls? You are funny.
Yes, Lesley, it happens. It comes from the pressure on that particular nerve in that finger being short circuited temporarily. Neuropathy is a more serious form of the problem. It will go away as the swelling subsides and the neural tissue becomes less inflamed. The answer is as Coyote stated or if you must use scissors, Van Dykes sells a large pair of stainless steel curved bladed scissors that relieve this tension from your fingers. New folks seldom get to share that experience with us old farts, however. The take a much easier way out and you'll just have to be proud of the notch you just put in you pistol grip. LOL
Thanks George for letting me know that it is NOT just me who has endured this Taxi Affliction. I would much rather have this than TENNIS ELBOW! I wonder if taping my fingers would help? The scissors did a much more efficient job than the fleshing knife. What is the name of the scissors that you suggested? My crippled fingers are making me feel old and my friends tell me that's what I get for putting them where they don't belong, LOL.
Lesley
Barber's supply shops have little rubber grommets that insert into scissor holes that would help more than tape. Look in the Van Dykes catalog under their tools. These scissors look like fabric cutting scissors except they are stainless and have curved blades. They allow for an oversized thumb hole and for 4 fingers (3 if you've got mitts like mine) in the other side. They work well.