Tuning Your Fleshing Blade

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Tuning Your Fleshing Blade
Tuning Your Fleshing Blade

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HOW THE CUTTING EDGE WORKS

Tuning your fleshing blade is an art in itself, above and beyond running the machine. To understand this process you must first know how the cutting edge or wire works.

Tuning your Fleshing Blade
Tuning Your Fleshing Blade

First lets touch on how the wire is created to begin with. The blade is attached to a machine that grinds both sides of the edge at the same time. This process uses two different stones that create even bevels on both sides of the blade.

Tuning your Fleshing Blade
Tuning Your Fleshing Blade

Once the edge is razor sharp it is rolled to an angle slightly less than 90 degrees. This is done by using a mechanical device that has roller and a tension spring in it and a handle for controlling the pressure applied to the bevel.

Tuning your Fleshing Blade
Tuning Your Fleshing Blade

You can turn the edge in different sizes by controlling the bevel size and pressure applied when turning. The wider the wire the thinner the lip will be. This causes the edge not to last as long. For that reason I prefer a narrower, heavy edge. This will also allow you to control the cut better by tuning the edge.

Tuning your Fleshing Blade
Tuning Your Fleshing Blade

 HOW TO TUNE THE CUTTING EDGE

You want to lift or open the wire with your left hand. You do this by lightly placing the short bullet shaped steel under the wire and slowly lifting. This will manipulate the edge to where it will cut deeper.

You close or turn down the edge with your right hand By laying the longer steel on top of the blade. Now lightly lift your right hand to close off the cut size. This is a very delicate process, you do not want to be heavy handed with this.

Tuning your Fleshing Blade
Tuning Your Fleshing Blade

DO NOT cross your steels while tuning. This will cause friction and heat that will only prematurely end the life of the cutting edge.

Tuning your Fleshing Blade
Tuning Your Fleshing Blade

This is an art that can be learned with the right guidance and knowledge. I go into much deeper and live demonstrations in my online video series “Mastering The Fleshing Machine A-Z PLUS”. These videos show you how it is done in the commercial tanneries every day. They are a must have if you own a round knife or fleshing machine.

DP

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D. Price is owner and operator of Outback Taxidermy since 1993, a full time taxidermy studio in Youngsville, North Carolina. Over his many years of experience, dating back to 1986 as an apprentice at Carolina Fur Dressing Co. in Raleigh, North Carolina, D. has developed unique skills as well as techniques that he uses in his every day taxidermy projects. He specializes in mammal taxidermy, and with his 18 years of experience in the fur dressing side of the industry, he is well versed in the field of hair on tanning as well as skin preparation.