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Post by tryinhard on Feb 24, 2013 7:48:07 GMT -6
I am planning to build a beam and am curious what you guys think the best beam size should be to fit all animals from possum to coyote. I watched a youtube video of a guy that used his mink boards as a pattern. He said you only used a small strip down the middle so there was no need in making it any wider. I currently use a piece of PVC and it is ok but it is mounted horizontal and I don't like the way the fat doesn't fall off. I plan to mount it to the wall and hinge it so I can put it up and out of the way when I'm not using it.
Brian
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Post by bigjohn on Feb 24, 2013 11:10:05 GMT -6
How much of the beam you use,depends on how well it fits your knife.If your knife only contacts say 2 inches,then that's all it will use.Best to use your knife as a pattern after you get your beam roughed out.
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Post by Walleye Joe on Feb 24, 2013 15:26:39 GMT -6
I've never fleshed a hide but I'm planning to start. Is it that much more difficult to flesh with more knife contact? Say 4" vs. 2". Are mistakes more prone to happen with a larger scraping surface? What's best? Guys who take less for their pelts want to know!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2013 16:04:08 GMT -6
Its all up to you. I use a big wide 8 inch board and a draw knife. Sent from my DROID RAZR using proboards
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Post by tcrooks on Feb 24, 2013 16:26:29 GMT -6
I have differant beams for differant reasons. I mainly use a small 6" oak beam for most stuff. I have a 8" pine beam that I've had for years that is basically portable. I have a 12" Tree beam that is used mainly for beaver. However I have been known to use it for everything except Mink and Rat.
John is right make your beam fit your knife. If you want to use 2" make it contact 2" if you want 4" make it contact 4" It depends on whats comfortable to you. Little beaver I don't mind pushing 4" off at a time , but I sure don't want to on a big blanket beaver.
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Post by silverfox on Feb 24, 2013 20:56:51 GMT -6
I am planning to build a beam and am curious what you guys think the best beam size should be to fit all animals from possum to coyote. I watched a youtube video of a guy that used his mink boards as a pattern. He said you only used a small strip down the middle so there was no need in making it any wider. I currently use a piece of PVC and it is ok but it is mounted horizontal and I don't like the way the fat doesn't fall off. I plan to mount it to the wall and hinge it so I can put it up and out of the way when I'm not using it. Brian My wife is right! Men worry about the stupidest things!!! Haha Makes her shoes matching her miniskirt sound like an important problem! just get a beam for 20 bucks and use it the rest of your life on every critter from muskrats to beavers and even buffalo hides. The pelt is not aware of the beam that is is being scraped on! Trust me! Troy and I use the same beam and same scraping knive. He is one of the best scrapers north of the Jack's Fork River and I am definitely the best south of Buck Hollow!! Same darn knive same board and we were using them before we ever met! Like NIKE use to say: Just do it!! If you are gonna do a bunch, don't mess with the pvc pipe stuff. If you are a trapper doing a few a day, don't matter what the heck you use. But, getrdun!!
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Post by tcrooks on Feb 24, 2013 22:30:40 GMT -6
Great Minds think alike Marc.
Marc has really hit the nail on the head. If your just doing your own furs and your not catching 1,000's of pieces of fur a year. It really doesn't matter what you are using. The fur doesn't know a differance between one piece of wood or another or PVC.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2013 23:51:59 GMT -6
Yea it matters.
Sent from my DROID RAZR using proboards
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Post by resoman on Feb 25, 2013 8:35:37 GMT -6
Yea it matters. Im on my third upgrade. Finley got a good one and good fleshing knifes too--RESOMAN--
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Post by tcrooks on Feb 25, 2013 15:41:30 GMT -6
A good fleshing knife is actually more important than the beam.
Don't get me wrong when I say it doesn't matter, if your only doing a few furs a season a PVC beam will work and is fine. Heck I've actually used one. However I wouldn't use it with the amount of fur that I have to put up now. A good knife and beam combination is a must if your putting up alot of fur or you will work yourself to death.
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Post by tryinhard on Feb 25, 2013 18:40:51 GMT -6
I've got a Necker knife. The pvc works for me I just want something I can get up and out of the way. My shop is only 5 feet wide so when the beam is set up I've got about 2 and a half feet to get around it. I also do my skinning in the same area. Just want to be able to fold it up and work without breaking a rib when I walk by.
Marc, I've never seen a beam for $20. Where do you get one at? Lol!
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Post by tcrooks on Feb 25, 2013 22:39:21 GMT -6
You've got a good knife.
Not sure on the price of one anymore , but you can get them at any of the Rondies. If you order one the shipping will kill you because they are considered bulky item and have to be hand loaded on the trucks and not just sent down the convayor belt/rollers.
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Post by tcrooks on Feb 25, 2013 22:40:46 GMT -6
If you can find a 2x6 oak board you can always build your own.
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Post by tryinhard on Feb 26, 2013 20:39:29 GMT -6
I've got a 2X8 oak beam. That was the plan. Just didn't know if 8" width would work or if I should go down to 6". I want to be able to use it for possum through coyote/otter size animals. I built one for mink already.
Brian
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Post by tcrooks on Feb 27, 2013 0:52:57 GMT -6
I would go with 6" if you are going to slip the hide over the beam. If your going to just lay the hide on the beam then 8" will work for everything.
I just lay mine on top of the beam and start fleshing. I use to slip the hide over the beam and it just don't seem to work for me now. I use the log beam alot. I used it for doing Beaver and then did some coon on it and before you know it I was doing everything except Mink and Rats on the log and now I have a hard time doing it the old way. It takes some getting use to to do it this way but once I got the hang of it I really like it better. You just have to be really careful at first until you get to wear you can "FEEL" what the hide is doing on the bottom. If it bunches up and you keep pushing , you will tear or cut the hide.
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