My dad has had this old fleshing beam sitting out in the fur shed, and never used it as he always sold fur green while the market was hot. I was going to use it to put up some fur this season, but I noticed it had some nasty gouges in it. Would this mess up the fur (make it more easy for me to tear a hole)? Can I fix it, or just get a new beam?

…. Get yourself some sand paper and go to work

Tain’t nothing wrong with that beam that a quick sanding wouldn’t fix!

If that is a hole in the knot, I would fill it with platic wood and sand after it dried. It might not hurt anything the way it is, but it would be easy to fill.

It's all been said. I'd use it with a very light sanding. If you want it like new, just a little wood putty, a light sanding and your good to go. Just make sure you sand it lightly and don't make flat spots. Follow the curve of the wood with sand paper in your palm

Or fill that hole with jb weld then sand it smooth