Hi people,
i was fleshing with my mini-flesher tonight. then it broke! (done for good) i am wondering how good do these big fleshing machines work and are they worth the kidney i have to sell to get one, do they work good to thin tanned hides? i am looking to buy one and i want to know if it would be a good invesment, Also how good is the dakota machine that Van Dykes sell's. thanks all and go packers!
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Well I sold my two and I'm hooked up to a hose so I can go LOL. With the money I got I bought an Eager Beaver and I will say from experence there one of the best. Along with them would be the Raw Hide, Quebec, Fronteir and in dead last would be the Dakota.
Sorry but my advise would be get the best you can afford. I have seen and used each one. You can't go wrong with the Eager or the Raw but there pricey and I don't know what your willing to spend or how close do you want to shave a hide. These guys shave so close it's unreal what you'll get from them. There is no comparission to your mini-flesher. I have one and it's the first flesher I bought and knowing what I know now (which isn't much LOL) I would have got the bigger machine first.
This is just my advise and I know there are those that like Van Dykes stuff but I hate there fleshing machine. Sorry Grasshopper it's a personal thing and nothing against your company.
Just get the best you can buy plain and simple.
I own a Capemaster shaver By Arlington cape and by far has been the best one I have used. This machine is a self contained unit and can be mounted on any work surface. Blades can be changed out in less than 60 seconds. Belt is totally enclosed so no shavings can get caught in the belt while in operation nor will your clothing. Guards are adjustable giving you more control of your shaving depth making every detail of a cape workable on the machine instead of scissoring.This machine was designed and built by a commercial tanner to his specifications and the original prototype unit is still in operation in his tannery.These machines are sold directly through Keith Daniels at Arlington Cape in Arlington,Ohio or through Knoblochs tanning supplies.There are other good machines on the market but in my opinion this one is hard to beat. I believe they run 1300.00 as of now but are worth every penny, Mark
I have only used the Quebec since geting into taxidermy. It was so easy to learn on that I can not imagine doing things any other way. My capes get fleshed on the Quebec green, then they get shaved after the pickle and then if needed after I tan with liquia tan. After the capes are tanned they shave like you can't imagine. I can shave all the face and I can thin lips nose pad and around the eyes with this machine. Well worth the investment. Jack
If I can shave a hide without making holes it has to be a great machine... the capemaster is all that and more.
DaveT
The VERY BEST machine is the one that "I own" and the worst is the one "I just got rid of", with most of the others being "OK".
A fleshing machine is a round knife and motor...cannot see much differance between any of them...kinda like green beans at store. store brand string bean or green giant...both are canned in the same plant and both are green beans! its called marketing!
There is a big difference between machines! Most of the difference is in the craftsmanship of the machine, and materials used to make them. The question is, do you want a machine that lasts 5 years, or do you want a machine that will last 15 plus years?