i'm pretty new to this so some help would be appreciated, i don't have a fleshing wheel but i do have a fleshing beam, after the pickle when i want to shave down the hide is it possible to use the beam and a knife or what is the best way to go about this with out a rotary fleshing wheel, thanks in advance
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take the fleshing beam and if it doesn't have a like a stand to prop it up put the base against the wall and the other end against your gut, put the hide on the beam and drap part of of it over the end (usually the face, until it is fleshed) hold it there with your belly. When i flesh, by hand and not a fleshing wheel, i use a draw knife it just a knife, with handles on both side, if you didn't know already, it is a pretty sharp blade. now what you are going to want to do is flesh down with the hair and just push down and make sure that your hands aren't parralel and that your hands are at a slant, one hand slightly in front of the other and that there aren't any bumbs on your beam. Don't push to hard or you will cut a whole in it. Just take it slow just go until you can either see greenish blue or the hair folucoles starting to show up, it usually takes practice to get good at it. hope this helps some what, i'm not the best at explaining and i can't spell worth a hoot but oh well.
ok, i understand the idea of fleshing on a beam but what is the best way to get a cape thinned out after pickling if you don't have a fleshing machine to do the job, sorry if i'm misunderstanding but i want to make sure i get it all
Use the same method as fleshing after the pickle. You are just trying to shave the skin a bit more.
ok, being a beginner and the deer season approaching, i appreciate all the help i can get here, thanks alot
I think fleshing on a fleshing machine is done after the hide has been nuteralized from the tan and washed and rinse and allowed to drip dry now the taxidermist can shave It a bit to get a little bit more stretch out of It and also on heavier capes to lighten them somewhat.Next sew up the holes and proceed to mount
PW, Thinning skins is one of the most important steps in tanning or mounting. To get the skin thin enough without a fleshing wheel I like the skife knives that use injector type razor blades. Now, the blades are pricey from most sorces but they do a good job and save lots of time. You can thin some with a sharp knife but to get it very thin the blades are my choice. Thinning of the skins should be done after about 3 days in the pickle for deer type skins and then returned to the pickle for 1 more day. After tanning only minimal thinning should be necessary just prior to mounting. Enjoy, Aaron H.