I'm going to make my own fleshing beam. Question is, Is maple ok to make a beam out of ? Can you use pine to make a beam out of ? Are these two woods to soft? Felled a large maple earlier this fall and cut a slab 5' long by 10" wide its drying in the basement as we speak was just wondering if it would make a good beam or would it better fire wood.

Soft/Silver Maple or Hard/Sugar Maple......big difference. Hard Maple will work great....its what I made my beam out of. Soft maple will gouge easily. Good Luck

Silver maple I beleave. Also have a bitter nut, I think its a beech type tree. How about Sassafrass, was wondering about this tree also its growing all over the place. The maple seems very hard the 24" husky didn't like cutting it. I know buying a board would be easier but I like making my own stuff. Right now trapping is a little slow and I'm laidoff so I got time.

Made mine out of a piece of Pine from a Pallet @ work...came out just fine and works well. 2x6 planed down to match Necker 600

butternut is Ok....its like walnut...medium open grain, but fairly durable.

Sassafrass is very hard and durable.....alot like locust.....would make a great beam that would outlast several generations of North Coast trappers.

I have one I made out of a pine 2x6. I will be dead and gone before it wares out. I have never heard of anyone wearing one out.

Both of mine, narrow and broad are out of 4/4 oak.

The species of wood used for a fleshing beam isn't very fussy, as one may think in similar terms when making homemade stretchers.

No matter what you have on hand to make a beam with, cut it out and shape it to fit the critter's noses that you intend to flesh on it. Just round off the corners of your outline cuts with a plane, router, or belt sander.

The main consideration is mounting it somehow to fit your mode of fleshing - push or pull. The more ergonomic, the better, so your back doesn't give out during a session.

This older discussion may give you some ideas on how to fit a beam to suit your needs:

Fleshing Beams In Review

Good luck. With a little advanced planning, the chiropractor will not be on your things-to-do list.

Jonathan

Just made mine ... used clear Poplar ... Garry-

White Oak. Won't absorb water or oil. Went to a saw mill and scrounged a first cut slab from the bole of the tree. 4" thick at the base and tapered to nothing. Chunked off the bark and smoothed it up with a belt sander. Bolted the base to a hinge then to a board for a base and added a folding support to make it easy to transport down to my cabin.