Anybody use them? would like to make one, does anybody have a picture and size of pvc to use?

Sorry no pic..nothing beats real wood!!!

Might work but any time you run off the hide and onto the PVC you will be dulling your knife big time.

I was at fur buyer yesterday watching them flesh off of a pvc and they said the same about the pvc. they said the curve of it makes it easier also said that the wooden boards dont have enough curve to them and i am no carpenter. Thanks

Beav, didnt think of that. I did notice the knife marks in the PVC though.

I am not really good at building things and making them pretty, but here is my pvc beam. It works well for the limited number of times I use it. By the way last time I checked when I slipped off the pelt onto wood it also dulled my blade.





I used 6 inch pvc cut it in half and ran the nose in on an angle.

Thanks Kansas, think i am gonna try one.

Do a Google Search on Fleshing Beams. I made 3 last week just because I could. One out of 6" PVC & the others out of 8". They work fine. You can make one out of something larger if you have access to it. These 2 sizes was what I could get a hold of for free. If your cocerned about dulling you knife then glue some carpet onto the beam. This seems to work with boards or PVC. My knife has not seem to dull what so ever. Later J.J.

There is no doubt that a pvc beam will work but you are costing yourself time at the beam by using one. I have yet to see a pvc beam that will match the curviture of most knives on the market. If your beam doesnt match the curve of your knife you are taking more strokes than you would have to with a wood beam that matches the knife. It might be done with pvc I suppose if one used say a 24" or larger pvc pipe.

I made one out of 8" pvc and I have done about 100 pelts on it this year, mostly coon. I love it and plan to improve on it for next year. For me the most important thing is to get it anchored securely so it doesn't move at all when you are pushing hard. I have done beaver on mine and it worked great.

Thanks for the info guys, sounds like most like the wood better. Being a terrible carpenter can anyone suggest a good wooden beam to purchase? Again thanks for your input.

I just bought a wooden beam from F&T. I've been using a PVC one I built (pics below). Here is the link to their fleshing beam.

http://www.fntpost.com/Products/Hardwood+Fleshing+Beams







It works pretty good, but I'm looking forward to getting the new one.

Thanks Tom

we have used the pvc for many years and works great!!

2inch-3inch and also 6inch------

main thing we use is a wire wheel! messy but very fast!

bearden49

Wire wheel?????

Never heard of the wire wheel being used as the main fleshing tool. Most references to wire wheel and fleshing is when doing tanning.

I tried the wire wheel deal once on a beaver. What a mess and took twice as long as the traditional fleshing knife method. Had fat and flesh all over the wall of my fur shed and very hard to control the brush and drill. Also damaged the leather in several spots. Might have worked better with time but the mess just wasnt worth it. IMHO

I'm sure the PVC would work well If you can get the hide over the pipe. I just can't see fleshing a coon and just laying the hide on top of the pVC. A double layer of hide would make It more diffacult and trying to keep It on the slippery PVC would be a real chalange. The same with a beaver hide It's hard enough to keep one on wood let alone PVC.
One thing about PVC Is when you cut It the long ways the pipe will lose It's curvature and flaten out a bit.

A friend of mine brought me a Beaver beam made out of 36" pvc, it ia a 36" piece and he cut it into 3rds length ways so its about 20"+ wide and has a nice curve to it, its got an angle iron stand and its made for use with one of the Ulu type knives.
I tried a couple of beaver on it with a knife he made from a saw blade and it worked very well.
I was suprised how fast I picked up using the knife after all these years of a regular knife and my old beam.
It wasn't any faster, but I think it was a little easier, plus I think this setup is a little more forgiving....B....

Hey Brian
Bring It up to my place and show me how It's done I only have 100 beaver left to do, got 75 done.