Trappers rely on fleshing beams as a key tool in their arsenal when preparing fur pelts. Constructed of wood or PVC and specially designed to hold hides securely while you “flesh” (remove fat and meat from) them using a knife, fleshing beams provide trappers with essential assistance in processing fur pelts for sale.
Wood
A fleshing beam is a crucial tool for trappers. Made of wood or PVC in an ideal size and shape, its purpose is to hold fur pelts while trappers use knives to remove fat and meat from skin pelts. Flesh beams come in various sizes; most commonly seen ones measure 7 inches wide by 4 feet long and used on larger animals like coyote, raccoons or badgers. Wood fleshing beams may require hours to carve while polyvinyl chloride (PVC) fleshing beams can be made in less than an hour – these tools play key roles when dealing with fur pelts.
PVC
Fleshing beams are essential tools for trappers when handling furs. A fleshing beam consists of either wood or PVC in a specific shape designed to support animal skin as you use a fleshing knife to remove fat and connective tissue from it. There are numerous factors to keep in mind when selecting the proper fleshing beam, including desired angle for comfortably working pelt and style of fleshing knife available to you.
Trapper Joe discusses three types of fleshing beams available on the market in this video. Starting off with pine log fleshing beam, which simply involves holding up a log with a frame to provide an ergonomic working angle, then moving onto wooden board fleshing beams which most trappers prefer; usually consisting of flat boards made of hardwood that have their top and bottom edges rounded off, or simply rounded-off edges to ensure maximum efficiency for working.
After that, he employs what he refers to as “the Cadillac of fleshing beams”, the PVC fleshing beam. This piece of PVC pipe has been cut down to fit snugly over the body of even the smallest animal possible when skinning it; then its end has been tapered for use with two-handed fleshing knives; making this type of fleshing beam suitable for skinning raccoon, beaver, otter, coyote badgers etc.
Metal
A fleshing beam is an integral component of fur processing. Made from wood or PVC, its purpose is to hold hides while “fleshing” them (removing fat, connective membranes etc). A good fleshing beam will save both time and money over time!
A traditional fleshing beam is typically constructed of wood to ensure its sturdy construction and easy operation, yet narrow enough for comfortable working conditions. A good fleshing beam should also provide stability for the hide while relieving pressure from fingers while decreasing friction.
There are also fleshing beams made of metal that may be lighter and more durable than wooden versions, although they may need regular maintenance due to being susceptible to rusting. For the ultimate fleshing experience, however, fleshing machines may be necessary.
If you want an easily cleanable and more robust fleshing beam than wood, consider investing in a floor mounted fleshing beam mount. They offer the strongest and sturdiest mounting solution on the market with pre-drilled holes to accommodate any beam width up to 5″ wide.
Rubber
A fleshing beam is a reliable and long-term tool designed to make fleshing hides easy and avoid skin damage. Many types of fleshing beams are available from trapping or taxidermy suppliers or can be made at home from various materials; more expensive wooden versions typically offer superior performance while needing less maintenance; alternatively barrels or other hollow containers can serve as cheap DIY alternatives that still provide smooth results but won’t last as long or have the same durability.
Plastic
A fleshing beam is a hard, smooth surface on which trappers can place hides (hair side down), then use scrapers to uniformly scrape away fat, meat, and connective membranes from them. Although trappers use different kinds of fleshing beams and tools to flesh their hides more quickly and uniformly, their basic principle remains consistent: compressing hair while stretching skin taught makes removing fat meat connective membranes easier.
A fleshing beam can be made of either wood or PVC. Polyvinyl chloride fleshing beams are lighter, more durable, and require little maintenance than their wooden counterparts; plus they’re much simpler to work with; carving one out can take less than an hour! Be sure to ask local water companies if they have any 8″ or 10″ PVC lying around!