I would like to begin starting taxidermy this Fall, but only mounting about 5-
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...10 deer. I was wondering is possible to thin a hide down with an electric sander as opposed to purchasing a fleshing machine and still get good results?
Thinning a deer hide allows for exceptional detail, but for a beginner, it's really unnecessary (for DEER). An electric sander will gum up on you and more likely electrocute your before it ever does any real hide thinning. Concentrate of proper fleshing and splitting and then on technique mounting before you worry about shaving a hide.
think about it this way too.
sanders are not meant to shave meat. thats why they dont use them in the deli. and why we dont use them on our faces.
start out with one, then worry about the others. Send it to a tannery, or contact a local taxidermist, tell him/her your intentions, see if they will do it for you. If you are dying to spend money, buy a mini-flesher. Join your state assoc. and go to the convention.