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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: Roy from Pa on February 17, 2011, 07:26:00 PM

Title: So I got a Beaver Hide, Now What I do?
Post by: Roy from Pa on February 17, 2011, 07:26:00 PM
Fixen to make Beaver Balls out of it, and other trad things. Do I need to cut it a certain direction? How do I keep from cutting the hair too much? Thanks, Roy

 (http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f165/ROY-CHRIS/IMG_6397.jpg)
Title: Re: So I got a Beaver Hide, Now What I do?
Post by: Razorbak on February 17, 2011, 07:53:00 PM
good deal..cut with grain/hair..you will lose some hair after cutting but real minimal..I use a electric clippers to take hair down for arrow rest about 1/8" of hair and about 1/2" for beaver balls..need to cut against the hair when trimming hair down..alot easier that way
Title: Re: So I got a Beaver Hide, Now What I do?
Post by: Roy from Pa on February 17, 2011, 08:01:00 PM
Would wetting the hair a little help before cutting? It seems it would be easier to part the hair if wet. I dunno, never tried this before, thanks.
Title: Re: So I got a Beaver Hide, Now What I do?
Post by: Art B on February 17, 2011, 08:18:00 PM
You want to cut just the hide from it's backside with a razor blade Roy. This way you don't cut into the hair. Any where from 1/4" to 3/8" wide strips is what I like myself. Or cut to liking........Art
Title: Re: So I got a Beaver Hide, Now What I do?
Post by: Roy from Pa on February 17, 2011, 08:22:00 PM
Ok thanks Art.
Title: Re: So I got a Beaver Hide, Now What I do?
Post by: vanillabear? on February 17, 2011, 08:44:00 PM
Title: Re: So I got a Beaver Hide, Now What I do?
Post by: Osagetree on February 17, 2011, 09:09:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by vanillabear?:
I've wanted to pull the electric clippers out on a beaver or two myself.
:thumbsup:
Title: Re: So I got a Beaver Hide, Now What I do?
Post by: Roy from Pa on February 17, 2011, 09:16:00 PM
:archer:
Title: Re: So I got a Beaver Hide, Now What I do?
Post by: Mike Yancey on February 17, 2011, 09:58:00 PM
I use a razor blade from the hide side and start cutting in a circle all the way around the hide. You get as long a piece as you want then cut the lengths as you like.
Title: Re: So I got a Beaver Hide, Now What I do?
Post by: Ricky Wallace on February 17, 2011, 10:18:00 PM
Yall aint right,,,,,,,,,,,,,   :bigsmyl:    :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: So I got a Beaver Hide, Now What I do?
Post by: Pat B on February 17, 2011, 10:37:00 PM
Mike, I used to make leather lace like that but never thought about string silencers. Live and learn!
Title: Re: So I got a Beaver Hide, Now What I do?
Post by: TroutGuide on February 18, 2011, 10:41:00 AM
All thread rod, razor blodes, thin nuts, cheese slicer frame, some inginuity, and you have perfect even strips at whatever width you want. Cut from the bottom and you wont loose much hair.
Title: Re: So I got a Beaver Hide, Now What I do?
Post by: Roy from Pa on February 18, 2011, 11:55:00 AM
Ricky, please define right:) LOL
Title: Re: So I got a Beaver Hide, Now What I do?
Post by: John Cooper on February 18, 2011, 03:26:00 PM
If you cut in a spiral, the direction of the hair won't lay right as you're going across the pelt.  I'd cut strips going with the grain.  Oh, and I second the "ya'll ain't right!"
Title: Re: So I got a Beaver Hide, Now What I do?
Post by: b.glass on February 18, 2011, 04:48:00 PM
I use a stanley knife on the hide side too but also never thought to cut in a spiral. But the hide I got was of very poor quality with very good quality fur. It was cheap that way and I've got a load of silencers off it already with lots left.
Title: Re: So I got a Beaver Hide, Now What I do?
Post by: b.glass on February 18, 2011, 04:50:00 PM
TroutGuide, you need to be more specific for us uningenuital.
Title: Re: So I got a Beaver Hide, Now What I do?
Post by: Ricky Wallace on February 18, 2011, 06:39:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by Roy from Pa:
Ricky, please define right:) LOL
:biglaugh:
Title: Re: So I got a Beaver Hide, Now What I do?
Post by: SEMO_HUNTER on February 18, 2011, 07:16:00 PM
I use power scissors on mine, the razor blade trick didn't work. Skill makes a power shear with a rotary blade for cutting leather and that's what I use. Cut the sides first in about 1/4" strips working from the outside edge toward the center of the back. You will reach a point where the hide will get super thick and extremely hard to cut, that's usually where I stop with it. I have used that thicker part for silencers, but you have to thin the hide down on a belt sander until it's thin enough to be pliable so you can wrap it around the string.

I've been selling my own beaver silencers for over a year now. I'm out of tanned beaver at the moment. You will find out that those silencers are tough as nails. I get alot of repeat customers for these silencers, but not because they wear them out. Normally it's when they buy a new bow.

Good luck with it and if you need help just shoot me a PM.