Fleshing beam question...
 

Hello all;
I plan in getting some lumber next week to make a fleshing beam (and some wood stretchers as well). My question is: is it best to leave the wood 'natural', or do you put some type of varnish on it to keep the grease/oils/blood from seeping into the wood?
Thanks in advance.............

I used boiled linseed oil. Use several good coats on it, retreat it about once a year.

GoodOlBoy

GOB;
How long after using the linseed oil did it take before the wood was 'dry' enough to use?

Outside with low humidity with dry wood a day or two at most. I have had it take as long as a week indoors, particularly once the second or third coat is added.

GoodOlBoy

I made my fleshing beam out of a 2X8 available at any lumber yard.
I just took a wood coon stretcher and cut the top of the beam to match the coutour.
Round the edges with a rasp and smooth with sandpaper.
The first few coom will grease the beam well enough you won't need any other coating.
Best of luck
have a good 1
just

I bought my fleshing beam out of one of the trapping catalogs. I've never treated it either, as the fat and oils from some of the animals seem to "condition" it well enough. I do rub down my wooden stretcher boards with linseed oil to keep them from warping.