I bought a used dakota 4 and i dont know if the blade needs to be sharpened.I have had to use so much pressure to shave my hide that i have given myself a neckache.I was wondering how much pressure you actually need to use to flesh a hide.I thought that you only needed to use light pressure.I have tried tuning the blade to different angles and it seems to flesh the best when the blade is turned all the way down...can anyone please help?thanks
Return to Beginners Category Menu
My fleshing machine with a sharp blade shaves with little pressure,
I have noticed having to put more pressure now since i've done about 30 capes with out sharping, if your shave is kind of blotchy , with
deep cuts or you keep cutting holes consistanly it is probably dull
Use your tuning steels to adjust the pitch. If you are straining or have an aching back, your blade is not turned or just dull.
I have played with the tuning using very light pressure to tune the blade.Every time i do i still have to use alot of pressure to shave my hide.should i just get a new blade and have that one resharpened.thanks for the help!
I have a carborundum stone that I use to hone the blade in those situations. I guess I'm cheap and the "experts" tell me I shouldn't, but it's not unusual for me to use the same blade for nearly 2 years. When I get it resharpened, believe me, it NEEDS to be resharpened.
As you have stated, you just got it? that is the biggest problem right there. I remember when I got mine. Nothing seems ot go right, and you can never seem to get the blade sharp or at the right pitch and on and on.
Experiance is what is needed, you simply need ot play around with it more. Experiment with it, and practice sharpening with a veyr light presure fist on one side then the other in veyr short intervals. You may be sharpening it to much on one side and causing a bur to build and you will have it grabbing the skin and cutting deep splotchy looking capes instead of nice and evenly fleshed ones.
YOu may have the gaurds set to far out or in as well.
DO you have the video that came with it? If not, maybe you should find someone with it and watch it really close to make sure you have the gaurds set and have the right idea of sharpening.
I know it is hard ot start new on something, and spending the time learning sucks, it is just totally unavoidable. If you wish, email me and I can try and work with you over the phone or on line to help a bit. I am not a professional at it, but I have figured it out, mostly LOL, Anyway, time is the only factor you need, and you will get it with time for sure. Its funny, it all of a sudden just happens too.
when i first started i could shave easilly (all the way thru) - as i have become more experienced (6 months) i can shave coyote faces with ease - proactice makes perfect but something is definitely wrong with the sharpness of the blade - you should barely have to touch the hide to the blade - i sharpen mine with a masonry nail and just need to touch it lightly up and then on edge to smooth - if you have to strain something is wrong