I am just getting into taxidermy and just wondered if you use a standard fleshing beam for the necker knife or if it requires something a little different, it just seams that a curved beam would not work well with the sharp side. any response is accepted, i did check the archives.
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No problem with just about any board, or large pvc pipe. You will only be working with the first 6 inches of the hide or so at a time. If you run the knife down the length of you beam you probally will cut holes. Little at a time is bout the quickest and safest. After time you will be able to rough flesh them out in a few mins rather than hours. good luck to you.
I still use a beam and a knife, but I don't think a Necker is very useful for taxidermy cape work. I use a Dexter beaver skinner for the bulk of the cape and then switch to smaller knives when I get to work on the face. The face of the cape is what really matters and it takes lots of care to not slice it up yet get it nice an clean. I think a Necker would be too big and bulky for such delicate work. There is no way you could use it to flesh a chin.
Depends on your definition of CHIN.
> There is no way you could use it to flesh a chin.
I know a guy who does 3000 chinchilla a year on a Necker mounted vertically. Very thin skinned things! They are called chins to the trade.
Just bustin' your b*lls :)