Just read about useing a wire wheel to flesh a deer. Am wondering how well it would work on a boar. This is my first attempt at taxidermy and I got it pretty well fleshed with a knife and a scalpel but think it could still use some touch-up work. Hide is in the pickle bath right now and would like to touch it up before tanning. thought this sounded like a good solution. If so is this a wire wheel that is available in a hardware store/lumber yard or is it something from a taxidermy supply house. Thanks for any input. Ty
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I've been useing the wire wheel to shave my hides down with for a while and i can give you some advice on the procedure if ya like?
Ray....
But in this case, I THINK I'm safe in saying, "you gotta be kidding". A boar is just a tad bit short of impossible to flesh with a round knife and I don't think you're ever going to find a wire wheel to do the job. I know one guy uses one of those chainsaw carving tools to get the sheath off, so I don't think your wire wheel idea is going to even put a dent in it.
George if you read my original message I have already removed the shield. Took less than an hour with a sharp fleshing knife so what is the big deal.Just get under the shield and keep working at it. And before you say anything, no it was not a young hog (250-275 pounds). Am looking for a way to touch-up the fleshing before I tan it.
When you post a message or a question on this forum, you will not always get the answer or response you were hoping for. Opinons, just as techniques differ from one taxidermist to the next. Don't feel offended when George doesn't endorse your way of doing things. I think he is of a higher caliber taxidermist than you and I put together and what you are doing would not neccesarilly work in his shop because it is not effcient use of his time. I think that when anyone wants to get serious about taxidermy, they need to make certain commitments and also investments, mainly into equipment, namely fleshing machine. I personally will take George's advice any time.
If I had a hog as thin skinned as Ty's I wouldn't need to flesh it. LMAO
I did not mean to imply that george is not a good taxidermist. All I was getting at is that he failed to answer the question asked. All he gave was a smart assed remark about useing a chainsaw carver to remove the shield. So who sounded the less educated? I asked the question because I am new to this hobby and did not know if this was a viable option. But I quess there are some of you who are so talented that you have forgotten what it was like to be a beginner,and for those people my hat is off to you. And for those who give well thought out advice all I can say is "thank you", I have learned alot from what I have read on this forum. And it has recome obvious that there are many ways to get to end results. I just hope that someday I can become good enough to look down my nose at amateurs who ask questions but have the wisdom to remember that the only dumb question is the one not asked.
Ty I could not have replied better to George's smart a$$ reply. I dont know why he has to look down his nose at everyone on here. I guess that for some people they need to make others look bad or stupid to try and cover up for there own stupidity. Its for sure George didnt get to where he is without asking a few questions himself and if he thinks he knows it all he is only fooling himself. TY my Dad has always told me there is more than one way to skin a cat and what works for me wont always work for you. So the best advise I can offer you is to keep asking questions and Take from the answers what you may but never give up. Good Luck Dean
The LAST thing I ever do is forget what it was to be a beginner. You don't have a damned clue about what a "beginner" really is. Try it out before the internet and instant gratification of today's politically correct societies.
Ty, since you're so good at English, try reading your TITLE line again in your original post. Guess where that tidbit of jewelry will go when Ken sends it to the archives. And there we have some REAL beginner reading that it's possible to flesh a boar with a damned wire wheel and grinder. Well, it MIGHT work, but I'm telling everyone who has a few molecules of grey matter for brains that these two tools were DESIGNED for other functions and that they generate massive amounts of heat on green hides that CAN cause slippage of hair. On a boar, a grinder is going to load that wheel up anyway and on a wire brush, it's going to take lots of downward pressure to break those fat cells down to a liquid to remove them. You don't HAVE to listen to ANYTHING I say, but when it goes south on you and it invariably will if you continue to use outhouse methods, don't say the information wasn't posted for you.
You and Dean are typical of the few others who come on here just to get a case of the ass about something I say or what Yox or John C. will post. You walk around with a perpetual chip on your shoulder for those that don't blow roses up your butts. Why don't you show up at some of the conventions we attend and come up to us in person and say those things? Oh, the three of us know why...it's easier to be a raw ass on here while you hide behind the keyboard than to look someone in the eye. I assure you, we don't have that problem.
you get a hold of the forum administrator then perhaps he can put a little willy wonka picture next to your postings so people will know this requires candy coating when answering. George helps a LOT of people on this forum and asks for nothing in return. Why not invest in a fleshing machine and do the job right. And don't tell me about finances. I've made MANY sacrifices to get my initial set-up tools. I've had it with all the bashing of those who contribute unselfishly regularly only to take a bunch of flack for it. It's just not right. Truth- Jeff F.
When I first discovered the forums I thought George was a loud mouth,impatient, grumpy old sob and wanted nothing more than to beotch slap him. It's taken time but the man has taught me LOTS. Just sit back, listen to what he's really saying and learn. I'll feel accomplished if I learn even half of what he shares so freely. And this is no kiss up. I've taken more than one reaming from George but learned from it. He just has his own way of expressing things. Peace- Jeff F.
George its not always what you say its how you always say things you think your being cute by being a know it all smart a$$ but your stupidity is really the only point you are getting across. You catch more flies with honey. And you will teach these knew guys alot more without all the sarcasm. This site is for people to learn not listen to sart a$$ remarks. And as for being affraid to say it to your face I have not seen a man yet that I am affraid to speak my mind to and I doubt That you will be first on my list of scary men. But if it makes you feel better thinking I am then so be it but im sure I will see you at the shows and then we will see. LOL All I am saying is try not to be such a smart a$$ when asked a question or just keep your keyboard to your self. Dean
"This site is for people to learn and not listen to smart asses". Hmmm, I don't recall reading that on any of the opening pages. I doubt you've ever bothered to read them though, so I'm not surprised. And I'm not fishing for flies either. What I said wasn't intended to make you "scared" and from your remarks, you endorse exactly what I'm doing: speaking my mind. Did I miss something? Or is it you have to have it your way or it's wrong?
I don't consider myself a smartass, but I don't put "honey" on top of facts either. This "beginner" crap is just that. We are ALL beginners in one sense or another. When we stop learning, we're done anyway. There are thousands of new products out there and tens of thousands of old ones. Some people come on here like they've rediscovered the wheel. In 1950, don't you think we MIGHT have tried all those bird brained ideas and that led to the invention and marketing of a round knife? The wire bird wheel was a normal progression from curved blade scissors to a hand wire brush, to a rotating soft bristle wire brush. Sadly there is NO SCHOOL FOR BEGINNERS. Every school expects some modicum of experience before you begin and most taxidermists can't afford either the time or tuition at that early stage of their experience.
People like you are the first to whine when unvarnished answers are supplied. Their first comment is;" If you can't be sweet, don't answer at all." And that, dear Sir, leaves the forum open to the numbnuts who would recommend a grinder to flesh with or kerosene to tan with, or as one did, soaking your hides in boiling water before mounting them. I wonder what YOUR rebut to those postings would look like? Since you're proud of your fortitude, what would you say? If you're as you say you are, then you're no different than me. It just didn't apply to you on this particular posting is all.
God willing and the creek don't rise, I'll be in Huntsville in July with the NTA Convention and I hope to make Sioux Falls in 2005 and Billings in 2006. Look me up, I probably won't be that hard to find. You can hear my big mouth long before you see me. Then you can tell me what you think and you can make an informed statement to everyone else about how big a jerk I really am.
George seems to me the truth hurts you just as bad as everyone else. Sounds to me like you can dish it out but you have real hard time takeing it. Oh! God didnt die Jesus did and he didnt leave me in charge I just seen someone makeing a a$$ of themselves by talking down to people so I thought I would give you a little bit of what you have dishing out but it seems you are human and you get you feelings hurt just like the rest of us so maybe there is still hope for you. Try John 3:16 it worked for me. I asked Jesus in my heart and he helped me to be a better person and he will do the same for you. Its a good thing God isnt like you or there would be a whole lot more people going to Hell than already are. I dont say that to be mean I just think sometimes we all should take a look at ourselves to see what kind of people we really are. Im glade when I ask God questions in my prayers he dont give me smart a$$ answers if you know what I mean. Just something to think about Dean
Lot of so called experts that need their pants taken in a notch and there self blowing horns muted
You're no more literate than I in interpretation of what God actually meant. It might shock you to learn that I actually studied theology many moons ago. How would YOU know how many people are going to Hell? My religion is MINE and I take express umbrage in you trying to make yours mine. Putting dollar signs for "S's" doesn't excuse the intent either. My feelings are hardly hurt by anyone's words. I see you've already attracted one gutless wonder and I know I can't offend him. He doesn't even exist until he really wants to know something I might help him with. I'll sleep just fine tonight, thank you, and it certainly won't be because I've offended some gentle soul that couldn't handle the unvarnished truth.
Be silent and be thought of as a fool or open your mouth and remove all doubt. I have no questions as to weather or not your a fool you answered them all very clearly. God bless and Merry Christmas to all even George. Dean Gregg
Well my job has been well done,I offended one of the PERFECT FIVE,Big deal it's about time that it slapped george in the face instead of an innocent bystander,about one out of every ten questions that george answers is polite the rest are smart a$$ or plain outright not called for,By the way very few ask for george to answer he just buts in with a smart remark.Look at the original post question asked ray answered then george intrudes with that big horn of his blowing smart alleck remarks.Pretty much the norm out of him lately,See you in huntsville george
To get back to the question as posted, lets assume that this is a taxidermy forum and not a pissing contest ok guys, Thanks.
Ty,if all your trying to do is thin and clean up the lips,eyes, etc. try using a sanding drum in a dremal tool.Hold a finger under the skin to keep the wrinkles out of it,your finger will "feel the heat" of the drum if your getting to the point of putting a hole in the skin.Take your time,it will work great.
Some guys just dont quit! Hey, George can sound abrasive sometimes, but give me a break. I read his post and nothing was out of line. Shed the fragile egos guys, and toughen up before asking questions. The silly shots at the "perfect five" or the "self blowing horns" is so assinine, Id be embarrassed to have said it. Funny thing how folks in here admire someone in here or build them up, then knock them down with accusations that say the guy is self-proclaimed. Incredible! I will say one thing about this Dean Gregg, though. At least he has the balls to sign his name. Those cowards run out from behind Mommies skirt, throw a jab, and then hide again. Dean also offered an apology on another post too. BUT, he was wrong to claim that George wasnt man enough to do so too. Ive seen George apologize often when he was wrong...but he has nothing to apologize for in this post. ANYBODY that does this stuff knows that wire wheels are not the best choice for fatty greasy mammal hides, or for bears and boars with their deep rooted hairs. If you lean into them too long you will heat the cape too much. We see many beginners have slippage problems too so, in the big picture, the wire wheel isnt your best bet here in this case.