Submitted by Red on 8/30/99. ( redtkr@aol.com ) 152.163.232.25
Can any one tell me what a good tool is to use to shave a hide with,and can I get it from a hardware store etc.or do I have to order it???? thanx!
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This response submitted by Tony on 8/30/99. ( tholder85@yahoo.com ) 216.229.215.237
Red,
I am just a beginner, so I don't have all of the big money tools of the trade. All I have done so far are whitetails. As for shaving the skins, you can use a knife or razor blade. I have done it this way and it takes time, but it can be done. I just purchased a mini-flesher and it is wonderful compared to a knife or razor blade. I know it does not do as good a job and is not as fast as the larger machines, but for a beginner like myself, it does wonders. If I ever get to where I am doing enough mounts to justify a larger machine I will check into getting one then, but for now the mini-flesher does the job for me. I will also add that I am in the south(MS) so our deer skins are not as thick as the northern deer, therefore not requiring as much thinning. I say all of this to tell you that, if you are on a tight budget like me, you might try the mini-flesher. Some of the other guys on here may have some other suggestions for you, but that is mine.
Good Luck,
Tony
This response submitted by Tony on 8/30/99. ( ) 216.229.215.237
Red,
I meant to tell you that I have also used an air die grinder from Wal-Mart with a small wire wheel to thin capes. It takes time and it is messy, unless you have a guard on the grinder, but it can be done. I have not tried it on a green skin, only a pickled cape. I know the mini-flesher will work on either.
Tony
This response submitted by George Roof on 8/30/99. ( georoof@aol.com ) 205.188.209.41
Red,
I apologize if that title sounds patronizing, but the real truth it that your search may end far sooner than a satisfactory answer is reached. Thinning a hide is much MUCH different from fleshing a hide. Mini fleshers are just that, fleshers. There is no hardware tool available anywhere anytime that will allow you to shave an animal skin in a matter of minutes to the thinness of construction paper. It takes a precision tool with a razor sharp blade rotating at a relatively fast speed to do the job without gouging or ripping a hide. There are many such machines on the market and most start above $500. Then, as always, you get what you pay for. I had a $800 model that fell far behind my desires, so I invested the $1300 for a fur dressing machine that does chipmunks or elk with the same ease. Shaving a hide allows all the countours of the manniken become visible when the mount is completed. It is not "necessary" to produce a quality mount, but it sure enhances the chances.
This response submitted by Tony on 8/30/99. ( ) 216.229.200.3
you will see that I stated that the mini-flesher will not do the job of a high-dollar machine, however, it will shave a hide. That is a fact, not an opinion. Will you get a tannery-quality shaved hide? Definitely not, and that is what I stated in my origional post. Some people, like me, cannot justify purchasing a large shaving machine yet, so we work our way up to that. This is not meant as a flame to your post, just stating that, yes, you can shave a hide with a mini-flesher.
Tony
This response submitted by Dave Hammond on 8/30/99. ( the_hammonds@msn.com ) 208.250.232.197
Hey Red,
I as well as many part-time/beginner taxidermists who cannot
afford the expence of a fleshing machine, use a commercial
tannery. There is still plenty of work to be done on the hide
before it goes to the tannery, this is not a cheat. Although
I have never tried (to be honest), I doubt I could get the
same supple cape if I did it myself.
Bottom Line.......Don't let the fleshing machine slow you down.
You can get started with out one, just fine. See Preparing a
deer hide...9/24/98, fall archives of the tanning forum.
Good Luck,
Dave
This response submitted by Jim Tucker on 9/4/99. ( bigjims@wilkshire.net ) 206.68.132.250
I am a full time taxidermist and I have learned to let tanners be tanners and taxidermists be taxidermists. I feel that when you break down the cost and labor intensive job of home tanning to get an inferior job you can't beat a commercial tannery. Here is why:
Get your hides in,
flesh and salt them,
let them dry,
send them to a reliable tannery,
work on your fish, birds, etc.
get your hides back thin and ready to mount,
mount your deer etc.
collect $$$
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