Does anyone know if there are any references online that show the splitting of eyes and lips in detail? I have the breakthruogh manual and a couple videos but it didn't show it good enough and I cut my tucking skin off. I want to avoid this on the next deer I do. Any help is appericated. Thanks
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It's like playing pinochle. You're going to have to hold the cards before you will know how to play. As you have the skin in your hand, remember, if you can feel it "roll" between your thumb and index finger, it has to be thinned more. We're hoping to have a beginners seminar at the NTA show this summer. So if you're in Louisville, come visit and we'll supply the hide and the tools with over the shoulder instruction on just how it's done. I can tell, I can show you, but until you do it, it still won't mean anything.
when I turn lips and eyes, I leave about 3/8" to 1/2 inch on the lips. and 1/8 to 1/4 on the eyes. I remove all flesh. leaving only the skin. Most times You can darn near see theough them.
I found that most Beginners have trouble turning eyes or lips or noses , because they YET don't have the hand dexterity required to handle a scalpel or knife, so I teach my students to use a single edge disposable Razor ,that seems to work better as their hand is in charge of the razor because he gets real close to the eyelids or mouth ,he gets better control, as he gets confident then he moves up to a small Vitorinox knife.