Tools For Fleshing/scraping A Hide

[ljensen]

I got a cow hide over the weekend off the hoof and spent last night in the garage scraping/fleshing the hide. I quickly dulled the knife that I had so I ended up using a hacksaw blade that I flipped around in the frame. I would like to find out what is the preferred tools for fleshing and scraping the hides. I would appreciate pictures if you built your own homemade tools.

Thanks,

Logan

[Rod and Denise Nikkel]

Rod uses a draw knife. He touches it up pretty regularly as he works. He built himself a fleshing pole of curved plywood that he sets up on a couple of upended barrels. I'm not sure quite how wide it is but less than 3 feet. That is a set of vise grips he has tied to the pole with binder twine. Works well to hold the hide in place for working on those edges where the hide wants to fall off the other side. He hasn't modified the set up in a long time so he must be pleased enough with how it works.

[ljensen]

Thanks for taking the time to share that. I need to find me a draw knife.

[celticleather]

The proper tool is a fleshing knife . . . not very expensive to buy, but I'm sure a draw knife would work equally well!

[Lamplog]

Thanks Denise for showing a picture of the Beam. Here is a link to a number of different knives. I use a draw knife also. You have to sharpen pretty often. I do the same on the gettin the hair off. I dont lime the hides so it takes a pretty good effort. I took a a 8x8x8 beam and rounded the top side and just put it on a couple of saw horses. It works ok if youre on a budget. I like Rod's fleshing beam, might have to make one. Here is the link. http://www.fntpost.com/Categories/Fur+Handling/Fleshing/Fleshing+Knives/.

Tom

[seveneves]

I sharped the edge of a horseshoeing rasp, then welded another handle to the top. For me though it can do a better job of fleshing after it's been stretched and slightly dried out for a couple hours. I take a sharp rounded knife and use long stroked almost parallel with the hide. This does a pretty good job.

[Phatdaddy]

When I was trapping, I'd use fine dry sawdust on the fresh furs/hides when fleshing. It helps with some friction to pull off the flesh and also makes cleanup easier.

I also found the straight fleshing knife was better than the draw style.