Ok so i do taxidermy for myself as a hobby. Right now the way i flesh out any skins is on a table, using straight single edged razor blades. This takes alot of time, and finger cramps. Id like to find something to use for fleshing the main part of the body. I was thinking about a straight razor knife like old barbers use. Or possibly a fleshing knife. Id just like to get some ideas of what my options are, on quickest, easiest, and least likely to cut holes in any skins. Thanks for any help!

The topic comes up fairly often on here and there are a lot of good tools out there. For the $75 it takes to get one of Lee's parallel knives...I wish I had purchased one sooner than 3 years ago.

https://trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/6137938/Fleshing_knife#Post6137938

Buy yourself a fleshing machine and save yourself time and trouble.

I have the dakota iv fleshing machine and it does all I need. Definitely worth the investment. I still flesh some with a fleshing knife, but have no idea what my blade is.

Yeah I've read a few topics on it. Problem with a fleshing machine is I don't want to pay $250-650 for something I won't use alot. If it was my business, I'd definitely have one. But i only mount critters for myself. And I like the handheld fleshing tool. But I don't wanna pay $250 for a die grinder with a different head on it. Fleshing knives might be a way to go, but won't I need to make some fleshing boards? And how exactly would I use the boards? Hold em between my legs, bolt them to a table? Thanks for helping

I have a board bolted to a table. Also have a fleshing beam mounted to a sawhorse type frame. Hard to describe. Sometimes you can pick up a handheld flesher pretty decent used.

So maybe I should post a wanted as for a used handheld?

Knifes don't cut holes, people do. Lol

Since I'm one of the rookie cheapskates, what I've been using is an old spatula, the kind for taking cookies off the cookie sheet or brownies out of the pan. It's got rounded edges so it works pretty well for me, but even with it, you can poke holes in a hide. It's also my dog proof coon trap setting tool. (I've been putting hides on the stretcher, then fleshing.) I don't think it's as good as a fleshing knife and board, but it does do somewhat well, and once I get a hunk of stuff, I use my fingers to pry it off.

Yikes! You trap coyotes don't you? If you're fleshing them with a cookie flipper then you are in for one heck of a surprise if you ever try a real fleshing knife. They are absolutely worth whatever they cost and I mean the good ones like Post, Steinmeyer, Caribou and such. As for a fleshing beam you can easily make one out of a 2 x 6. Lots of info here on trapperman (check the archives) as well as youtube and other places.

Yes, I do coyotes. I've only done seven so far. I guess if I figure out how to trap better, I'll have to get myself a knife and board.

Ordered a Wiebe beaver knife off ebay, and received a Dexter. Thought that it might atleast make fleshing the large portions of the body quicker and easier

FnT freedom brand pro 10 inch fleshing knife you wont go back. and i would make a fleshing beam out of a 2 by 8 i did it works great

Ive been thinking about doing that.

I personally believe you need a some what flat surface on your beam.
Take a 2x6 shape It like a stretcher then round off the sharp edges. In my opinion a 2x8 or 2x10 Is way to wide. Your only using about 2" to 3" of your knife so the width Isn't all that important. And most fox and even otter won't fit over anything over 6" wide.