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Fleshing Wheel Sharpness

Discussion in 'Deer and Gameheads' started by drwalleye, Dec 1, 2022.

  1. Dec 1, 2022 #1
    drwalleye

    drwalleye Active Member

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    33
    Hi all, I got my S,S machine 6 or 7 years ago. I still can't get it constantly sharp. I've watched videos and talked to people and the most common response I get is practice and it will come. I watched another video last night and the guy was doing a dance while tuning,and barely touching the wheel. And taking off large amounts of material without any effort. Seemed like he was making fun of me lol. So frustrating I get it so sharp it cuts through then 5 minutes later I'm reefing on the cape to get it to cut. Constantly trying to lift lip lower lip . Is it really this hard or am I just a dandy lol. Any other advice??. I just put on a new wheel yesterday and don't want to wreck it thanks again
     
  3. Dec 1, 2022 #2
    D.Price

    D.Price Well-Known Member

    3,406
    233
    Youngsville, North Carolina
    Yes there is a learning curve involved. It is more of a hear and feel thing rather than just going through the motions. Here is an article I wrote several years back that may help you out. Don't give up it will click like a light switch one day.

    https://fleshingmachines.com/tuning-fleshing-blade/

    DP
     
    Frank E. Kotula, BigER and John C like this.

  5. Dec 1, 2022 #3
    drwalleye

    drwalleye Active Member

    410
    33
    Thanks, I must be slow LOL
     
    D.Price likes this.
  6. Dec 1, 2022 #4
    drwalleye

    drwalleye Active Member

    410
    33
    I have looked at this a few times. So when I put on a new blade it is sharp. So now all I want to do is tune it up or down, correct? When it gets dull how then do I actually sharpen it. I want to get your video, but I don't have internet by me and can't download it. Do you happen to have it on a DVD so I can watch it on my TV? Thanks for the help
     
  7. Dec 2, 2022 #5
    John C

    John C Well-Known Member

    16,753
    759
    Between South Africa and America.
    use the tapered sharpener on the inside of the wheel lip. while the blunt wire onthe top. oil the wires. twist the under lip to the outside a little. I dont have any luck lifting the edge for a deeper cut.
     
    drwalleye likes this.
  8. Dec 5, 2022 #6
    D.Price

    D.Price Well-Known Member

    3,406
    233
    Youngsville, North Carolina
    Sorry the video series is only streamed online, no DVD.

    To sharpen it you need to send it off and have it reground and a new edge turned on it. The tuning is just to do exactly that, tune the lip to cut smooth and deep or shallow. The tuning steels will not sharpen the blade.

    DP
     
  9. Dec 8, 2022 #7
    tazzymoto

    tazzymoto Well-Known Member

    3,156
    179
    hastings michigan
    I use a very fine stone, it's used in a dremmel tool. Make sure you use a good oil and touch it up carefully. I started doing this years ago. I can usually make a blade last a year this way.
     
  10. Dec 8, 2022 #8
    drwalleye

    drwalleye Active Member

    410
    33
    Ok, so at no time then am I ever trying to actually sharpen the wheel. Just raise or lower it?? Why then when I watch videos are guys tuning it 3 or 4 times during one cape? Does it move as we shave? Thanks again!
     
  11. Dec 9, 2022 #9
    drwalleye

    drwalleye Active Member

    410
    33
    I put on a new blade, I shaved 2 deer and a coyote. It seems like it's getting a little harder to cut. What would be my next move, I don't want to wreck this one already. Thanks for your help
     
  12. Dec 12, 2022 #10
    D.Price

    D.Price Well-Known Member

    3,406
    233
    Youngsville, North Carolina
  13. Dec 12, 2022 #11
    drwalleye

    drwalleye Active Member

    410
    33
    Thank you very much. I'm going to be shaving today. I'll check these out before I get at it. I never thought it would take this long to get the hang of it. You make it look so simple. My wheels are from S&S I would think they are good. It's gotta be me. Thanks again!!
     
  14. Dec 15, 2022 #12
    Bruledrift

    Bruledrift Active Member

    479
    158
    Sorry for sabotaging this, but I hit lead shot on a bear and a piece of copper on a deer. Will this do enough damage to have to get sharpened? Seem to cut alright, but am getting lines.
     
  15. Dec 15, 2022 #13
    drwalleye

    drwalleye Active Member

    410
    33
    I wish I could answer. I've hit things in the past and didn't seem to effect it. But then again I'm having such trouble with shaving that it's possible that I was working with a bad blade. If you get lines I would try tuning it with your steels. I've had them and that's how I got rid of them. Do everything lightly, so you don't make things worse
     
  16. Dec 20, 2022 #14
    Frank E. Kotula

    Frank E. Kotula master, judge, instructor

    3,485
    1,574
    wilkes barre
    I will add this as you’re asking how to sharpen it after it gets dull. That’s your problem as you’re waiting till then. we don’t wait till it gets that dull, the blade may get tuned once or twice during the process to keep that fine edge on the blade.
     
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  17. Dec 20, 2022 #15
    joeym

    joeym Old Murphey

    13,758
    8,295
    Chunky, Mississippi
    I tune every 5 minutes or so. This also also allows me to ease my back and forearms a little from leaning over the machine!
     
    drwalleye and tem like this.
  18. Dec 21, 2022 #16
    drwalleye

    drwalleye Active Member

    410
    33
    Ok, iv been waiting till it got all because I didn't want to screw it up. So by lightly doing this more often is actually keeping the edge sharp and not degrading the blade by actually making it work better correct? Thank you very much maybe with everyone's help I will finally get this down to a science
     
    Frank E. Kotula likes this.
  19. Dec 21, 2022 #17
    joeym

    joeym Old Murphey

    13,758
    8,295
    Chunky, Mississippi
    Fleshing machines will test your patience well past what an airbrush is capable of doing!!!
     
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  20. Dec 22, 2022 #18
    Frank E. Kotula

    Frank E. Kotula master, judge, instructor

    3,485
    1,574
    wilkes barre
    Lol you’re so right but once you learn it’s ways it’s like working a beautiful lady as it’ll treat you right but mess with it and she’ll eat you up to total frustration!!
     
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  21. Dec 22, 2022 #19
    Bruledrift

    Bruledrift Active Member

    479
    158
    At least with the airbrush you can remove and start again. Oh it is frustrating when you about complete and it spits on you, but it does not grab an eye and rip it like a fleshing wheel can do. Now, how do I know that?
     
    joeym likes this.