The guy who puts the steel on my horse's feet is a mortician and I talked him into letting me try a suture(?) staple gun on a deer I just did. The freaking staples are so small and I did the whole seam in about 7 minutes and there is absolutely no hair that needs laid down at all. It is the most perfect seam I have ever seen. They are stainless steel, but I am watching them anyway in case some acid makes it's mark. Has anyone else ever tried this.
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PLease let me know how that came out...I would be afraid to try thast with a tight firring skin. Did any of the hair get cut off from the staples?
Just read my response and realized I can't spell this early in the morning!
The idea will work if the hide is properly thinned and you use an exceptionally good glue underneath. A thick hide will dry underneath and allow the top part of the seam to gape open after it's dried. The PROBLEM is one that is not mentioned here. That little surgical device is NOT CHEAP and the cost of one and the surgical grade staples will pale many faces.
George,what would be the cost of this surgical device and do you feel it is a time saver considering the cost factor and the shop time to sew a seam. I take a lot longer than most because my stictch is no more than an 1/8 inch apart. The seam is very hard to feel but not seen on any of my mounts. I can see how this would save a lot of time but is it worth the price.
Go do a Google search, and pre loaded disposable skin staplers run form $93 to $585 depending on the size of staple used. When the staples are gone, throw it away. The higher-grade refillable guns do not have a list price; you have to ask for a quote. I found four sites that will only quote the refillable guns. I can see the need for a high priced fleshing machine and tumbler, but not a skin stapler. You can buy allot of needles for the price of one of those.
Staples were pretty steep as well if I recall. I just couldn't justify the expenditure for what I already had available as close as a needle and thread. I chuckle at the ideas I see here. We get guys complaining of paying WASCO for fin backing cream when they can buy a substitute at WalMart for 99 cents. Paul expresses my sentiments completely.
I will have to pass on that idea...It take all the fun out of puncturing my finger every now and again. I look forward to at least one hole per day as it is. Not to mention the fun in sewing. Thanks for the response.
Those disposable ones that bear hunters often carry if a dog gets tore up? I think you can by them at fleet farm or any vetrinary supply. I don't know the cost of one but I can't imagine they would be that much. They are disposable, use it until the staples are gone and chuck it. I'll investigate this further!
the disposable ones hold 5 to 35 staples that you are talking about, I saw them for $39. You wouldn't get to far down the back and you would have to buy another one.
I trimmed the edge of my seam at an angle to make the edge thin. It worked great. The guns I used were disposable and he said he could get them for me for about $25.00 a piece. I will see how it dries, but it really is not cost effective unless you are doing something special, and if you are, you might want to sew anyway. Ebay has some right now. I swear though, it is perfect looking and I really don't see how it can open up when drying. I live in a dry place and I just drape a plastic bag of the head to keep it from instant-drying.