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[slurpie]

I recently acquired some rabbit and need to cut it up.  Not quite sure how and which way to cut it up for some zonker strips.  Anyone have experience with this?

[Sterling C]

Cut parallel to the grain for zonker strips. Cut perpendicular to the grain for cross cut strips.

[HOOK]

and make sure when cutting cross cut strips that you cut through the hide carefully because cutting through to much slices all the hairs off on the other side giving you useless strips. Zonkers are the easiest to cut because you cut with the hair 

[marmot]

do both.  they both come in handy.

[slurpie]

Ok...I looked at the pieces and there is definitely a perpendicular and a "with the grain" direction. 
What would be the best method of cutting these strips?  I was thinking of pinning the hide on a cutting board and use a sharp exacto on a straight edge.  I was wondering what your experience is with this.  Is keep a consistant thickness important when tying?
Compared to the commercial product, has anyone wished the strips were wider or thinner when tying your favorite fly?

[HOOK]

I try my very best to cut mine about an 1/8th or 3/16 of an inch widths. It's harder than it looks to do the cross cut ones, sinkers are pretty easy. I do exactly what you thought of with pinning it down. If you can use a metal ruler inside the hair side to cut it makes it easier but also a pain in the a** at the same time lol

[marmot]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxWSpL22RuA

do it like this guy does it but be careful only to cut through the hide.  You can also use a fabric cutting disc if you don't want to build a cutter. DONT use scissors.

[Fish Assassin]

Speaking of a double edged sword.

[HOOK]

i just use a metal ruler and a VERY sharp razor knife to cut mine. I also do it with the hide facing up which is what makes cross cut so tricky because if you cut through the hide you slice hair tips off  my trick is to cut mostly through the hide then just peel it free.

[slurpie]

Thanks for the input  I may have to try the youtube method.