I have seen alot of talk lately about thinning with a whire wheel. I have a black bear rug to do and will start tomorrow. Is it safe to thin the face area with a wire wheel? Thank You.
Return to Lifesize Mammal Taxidermy Category Menu
First off, I'd never tan a bear hide for a rug. I've done my share, but I prefer the professionals do it today.
Secondly, I'd never use a wire wheel on a bear face. It's going to generate heat that could possibly cause the hair to slip. As it's being used as a rug, I'm not sure why you'd want to shave it any thinner that you'd get it from normal fleshing. I'd simply mount it on a rugshell without thinning it any more.
Fleshing a bear with a wire wheel goes reall fast. If you try toi do it before you pickle, it will generate heat like George said, if you do it when it is pickled and still thick, the wire wheel fans the skin and you will not have heat. I have done lots of them.
I have ot agree with George about tanning those stupid bears though.
Slippage happens so much I do not even take them in anymore. I give the custome the tannery's address and have them send the skin right to them. When they get the skin back, they bring ti to me if it is not all slipped and furless.
If the customer wants me ot flesh and salt the skin, I offer up a tannery that does the whole process. I will not deal with them anymore after having three of them slip on me last time.
Yes, the skins were not taken care of by the guides or the hunters.
You just never know what the condition of the skins are in when they come in the door.