Sorry to beat this to death but IMHO if the hide is laid flat on a surface to stabilize it and you lay something like a ruler and push down you are going to cut too many hairs even though they are on the other side...so suspending the hide works....that can be done a number of ways....push pins, nails etc....I use a vise and pull taut with one hand and cut with the blade with the other...

Here are some other cutters....that I made


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/ ... G_0003.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/ ... 0002-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/ ... 0001-2.jpg