When fleshing smaller animals (otter, mink, beaver), is it better to fleshing by hand or is it better to use a fleshing machine. Will a fleshing machine damage the hide because it is thin? Which is better? Thanks.
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On my small small mammals I just wire wheel them. What I mean by small is up to fox size maybe even coyote. I have fleshed coyote on my large flesher though.
Todd B
My machine has been used to flesh chipmunks (just to prove it could be) and weasels. It also does bears, boars, and even buffalo. It can be set to as delicate or as deep as you'd like the fleshing to be done. But that's the difference between the professional machines and the commercial ones. I can set depth and thickness with only a few adjustments. On the commercial machines, you'll likely need a sledge hammer.
what kind of fleshing machine do you have? i was just wondering, i have a quebec and it fleshes about anything that ive tried, would you call that a professional flesher? thanks
Quebec does make a very good professional machine, but they also make a commercial machine. I have a professional fur dressing model machine that's comparable to most of the other top end machines. The wars of brands has caused too much bloodletting on this site before, so for that, you'll have to rely on the archives.
BTW, most of the machines on the market will flesh 90% of game most taxidermists take in. Just that the LESS EXPENSIVE MODELS are less expensive for a reason.