I have no trouble cutting zonker strips if I put one side of the skin (towards the top) in the vise and hold the other side in my left hand, skin side facing me and hair pointing down. With the left hand holding tension on the hide against the vise, I can easily cut strips on the side closest to me. It is a free-hand method and care has to be given to width, but after a little practice I got pretty good at cutting strips off of a variety of hides.
DonO ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, January 29, 2003 10:04 PM Subject: [VFB] zonker strips > Don't push too hard with the knife, or you'll cut the hair too. I use a clip > board to hold the hide sometimes, especially smaller pieces. > > Any reccommendations for making a home made zonker cutter? I've seen them > advertised for about $30. I have an idea to use a block of aluminum and drill > 4 or 6 holes to hold exacto knives and use set screws to hold the knives in > place. > > > > For those of you with your own rabbit pelts that are cutting thier own zonker > strips, I have found a really simple way to do it. Flip it over so the fur is > on the table(place a thick piece of cardboard under it so you dont cut the > table) and with a razor blade and a ruler, cut down the pelt to the size and > lenght that you want. Rabbit pelts around here are 3 bucks each at the craft > stores, so its alot cheaper then buying pre-cut zonkers. > Also, you can get exactly the size you want. Just a little advice I thought > i'd share. > > > > > -Eddie Dillon > Tidewater Fly Co. > >
