Looking to purchase a wire wheel to mount pheasants. Van Dykes offer several but any ideas on a good brand. Dan
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Authentic Taxidermy Supply has the best flesher and the best bruch on the market.
Theirs is not made from wood. The brushes James sells are far better than any I have found elsewhere.
I would buy another if I was going to buy another.
http://www.authentictaxidermy.com/
I just thought I would pass along an idea. I had someone that gave me a brand new dryer motor for (1725 RPM - 1/2HP) for free. You could probably get one from a recycle center in good working condition.
I took some 3/4" melamine coated plywood that I had left over from another project. It is made from 4 pieces, the first being the big piece that has the wire brush and shaft sticking through. It is approximately 32" long and 18" tall. I cut a 2" hole approximately 5" down. I made a platform to match the height of the hole for the motor. The platform is in the shape of an upside-down 'U' and permanently attached it to the bigger piece with screws. The only things that I had to buy was a shaft arbor from Grainger, part number 5S395 (alternate part number is 6L107) for $7, two soft wire wheels, lexan sheet, and a dimmer switch to vary the speed of the motor. The rest I scrounged from my electrical box (like a plug cord and miscellaneous wires to hook it up).
Cut the lexan to create a splatter shield and get creative about how to attach it. If its brittle just use a heat gun to bend. Mine is easily removed for cleaning. The melamine surface is also nice for cleaning. Place it on cardboard when operating and that's it. I maybe have 1-2 hours into making it and it works great. Total project cost was about $35.
If you would rather purchase one, I know another taxidermist very well and he uses the Adjustable Heavy Duty Bird Flesher from Van Dykes. The only modification was a long stainless steel sheet bent into the shape of the other splash guard but 3-4 times longer and twice as wide and held in place under the existing splash guard with simple binder clips. It catches nearly all of the grease and the rest goes on the cardboard that the unit sits on. To clean, he simply removes it from the clips and washes it in the sink.
Hope that helps.
H
Hey Bill, I held up my end of the bargain and submitted a helpful suggestion. I don't have as many great tips as many others might, so I have to make hay when the sun shines.
Give Stefan Savides at Avian Design a call. He makes the best flesher I have used plus he has all the components to build your own for sale.That's what I did and then I sold my Soft Touch and Van Dykes.
You won't find any better than what Stefan has. Its all what you get used to but this would be a great investment.
How can you get hold of the guy your talking about Tanks jim