I’m looking for rabbit strips, not cross cut, just regular. Am I correct that they come in just two sizes, 1/8" and 1/4"?
Bruce,
1/8" and 1/4" are standard sizes but you can also get them in 1/12" and 3/8".
Regards,
Scott
Or, you can cut your own. It’s easy to “build” a cutter that works great. Here’s a list of what you’ll need.
1 package of double-edged razor blades
20 1/2 inch washers to use as spacers between the blades
1 Three inch bolt and nut.
Thread a washer onto the bolt, followed by a razor blade. Then thread washers onto the bolt to the thickness that you want the strip to be (usually 3 to 5 washers). Add another razor blade and more washers until you have 5 or 6 razor blades with washers spacing them out and bolt it together. Secure one end of the rabbit skin side up. (I put one end in my desk drawer and close it) Stretch the pelt tightly and draw the razor blades down the pelt in one smooth motion. Be very careful when using these razor blades. (DAMHIK) It usually takes me about 5 minutes to reduce a complete rabbit pelt into zonker strips. The scraps I have left over get saved to use as tail material or dubbing material. Just a thought…
Jim Smith
What Jim is talking about and yes double edge are best…
Very cool. I as wondering how you would hold them as to not suffer cuts.
Is it cheaper to cut your own rabbit skin? Just wondering.
If you will notice the three shown can be held without exposure of your fingers…good question and a definite consideration.
Cheaper depends on how many you do… and back in the “old” days I could buy pelts on the cheap…but mainly I did it because I could control the width I wanted…you do get a lot more strips for the buck
I think I’m going to look for some pelts an give it a try, provided I can get dyed whole pelts.
I used to get mine at a place called “Craftware House”
Here’s what I made mine with - the blades are carpet cutting blades - I did add another mid size washer on the front on each side.
Couple of days later I finally found the double edge blades and made another one
I also made two smaller ones as I get bags of assorted pieces from Hairline and the smaller ones are easier
This is how I hold mine for cutting
I made my cutters because my daughter got paid to help clean a house and found a bunch of old furs in a drawer. The laldy told her to throw them out and she asked if she could have them and she brought them to me. Full length mink coat, a sable shoulder wrap and a rabbit vest which when I started tearing it down was nothing more than long rabbit strips and I still haven’t finished breaking it down.
Here’s the straight cut mink
Fatman,
On the blue cutter, what is the blue insert that is there? I would like to try making one, but I need to thin it all the way through first! That is way there is a lot of noise on the other side the wall and a bathroom is getting gutted and redone, not by me!!!
Thanks,
Mike
When I made the smaller ones I got some mini box cutting blades at Home Depot and that’s the case the blades came out of. You have to pull the pegs out that hold the blades in when you buy em, and then drill a hole for the screw but it works good.
Fatman, Great series of photos on the entire process of making zonker strips! I’ve made a couple of different cutters, but I like the one that uses the large fender washers as designed and shown by ducksterman the best so far.
Jim Smith
Thanks - I like the one by ducksterman too but using just those limits you to the thickness of the washers. If you need other sizes that are smaller you have to make a different style.
One that I really like but don’t have the tools to make it is this one shown on a saltwater fly tying site
http://blog.saltyflytying.com/zonker-strip-cutters-try-this-at-home/