one of those $1000.00 plus shavers to thin down a deer cape. I dont do that many deer a year. can i still do a good job shaving the face and cape without the big ticket item for now. what do you recommend i use. thanks
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John H.,if you don't have one,you can go to walmart,big lots or something like that and pick up a bench grinder for around 20-30 dollars.The wire wheel will cost about 5-8 dollars,but this will do a good job on a deer.Keep in mind,you still have to be careful because you can burn through the skin by applieing too much pressure.
thanks for the tip
I use a mini flesher. Some like them, some don't. It gets my jobs done - it takes some getting used to. I use a 2 hp compressor that someone gave me. So I've got $200 in it. I really would like one of those $1000 jobs but the budget can't afford it.
thanks
john,
i didnt have the budget for a good quality flesher either. i bought a flesh-all mini flesher from WASCO, and i love it. i would still like to have the better quality one. reason is this: 1) the mini is a little tough to get the hang of. 2) its very messy, throwing meat everyware. 3) its loud. 4) its so easy to make a really big hole if your not careful. that being said tho. i went from several hours fleshing by hand to maybe 1 hour total doing the eyes nose and lips by hand and the rest with the flesher. once again, as soon as i can afford a "real" flesher, thats the way i will go. either way tho you can do a good job. hope this helps.
bob
on the quanity of deer you receive. and you have to look at your cost vs. bottom line. trust me, you'll know when you need one! also check on here periodicaly, there are usually guys unloading one pretty reasonable, if he's on here much you can ask for references. if he isnt, do some research.
buy it direct for about $600.00 a wire wheel will remove fat and meat
it is not a fleshing machine.
I've had my Mini Flesher now for 6 years and it has never broke down. I am still on my first blade too and I've never had to mess with it ever. I just clean and lube it well after each use. I can flesh/thin a deer cape in about 1/2 hour with it including almost all of the facial detail. It works perfect for me. I would however recomend a large compressor with no less than 5 hp. I wear ear muffs and safty glasses when using it. All the meat gets thrown to the left when fleshing, so the mess can be controlled.
Generally if you mountover 20 deer per year you need a machine. I agree with the advice you got from Michael P. As for the other part of your question, No. You cannot flesh out a cape as good or as fast by hand. I'm just waiting now for someone to come back and insist that I am wrong, so think about it logically for a minute. If you had to dig a 50 foot long trench would you rather use a spade shovel or a backhoe? Also, you will have a hard time getting a cape as thin or even by hand as you can with a fleshing wheel. Someone else can explain to you why I am wrong about this when you see all the tanneries throw away their machinery and bring their old draw knives out of mothballs.
I used to think a miniflesher was "good enough" for what I did, but since I bought a wheel there simply is no comparison. I actually enjoy shaving skins with my wheel..no flesh flying all over the place and ALOT more control...it seriously takes the work out of it and does alot better job on the skin..a huge time saver also.
Is a cheap machine with enough power to handle even thick hides. Works great for getting close before you, break out the scapel for final thinning of the eyes, lips and nose. I would close up shop if I had to give it up. just my 2 cents good luck to you
I broke down years ago and bought an Eager Beaver fleshing machine when I thought that I realy coundn't afford it. I have never regreted it. Over the years it has paid for itself a hundred times. Luckly I bought at the time what was the finest machine on the market. I believe it still is. IF YOU plan on doing taxidermy into the future, the smartest thing you can do is to buy the best tools available. Do yourself a favor and don''t buy something cheap just to get by.