Fish scaler for small scales

[Danzo]

Hello everyone. Was wondering what everyone likes to use for scaling fish. Like actual tools not your knife. Specifically for fish with small scales like pompano, not big scaled fish like snappers and such.

 

[wabi]

After I broke our old and very useless generic american fish scaler, I bought this. I can kick myself for waiting so long to buy this.

https://www.korin.com/Fine-Fish-Sca...2%7D&custcol_sca_line_id=mainItem%3A90r4gva8i

 

[Michi]

I have the same one. Works very well.

 

[Carl Kotte]

Interesting, I’ll watch this with excitement. I hate scaling.
The best tool I’ve used was a pressure washer, but I assume that’s not the answer @Danzo is after.

 

[Michi]

Interesting, I’ll watch this with excitement. I hate scaling.
The best tool I’ve used was a pressure washer, but I assume that’s not the answer @Danzo is after.

I've seen that scaler used in quite a fish shops around Brisbane. Seeing that the pros use them, I'd say there is nothing wrong with the tool

 

[Greasylake]

After I broke our old and very useless generic american fish scaler, I bought this. I can kick myself for waiting so long to buy this.

https://www.korin.com/Fine-Fish-Sca...2%7D&custcol_sca_line_id=mainItem%3A90r4gva8i

I also use this scaler for fish with regular sized scales, and it's great. For stuff with really fine scales you can also use steel wool.

 

[M1k3]

After I broke our old and very useless generic american fish scaler, I bought this. I can kick myself for waiting so long to buy this.

https://www.korin.com/Fine-Fish-Sca...2%7D&custcol_sca_line_id=mainItem%3A90r4gva8i

I have some generic Amazon version (it was supposedly made in Japan) and like it.

 

[Carl Kotte]

this is mine. Cheap and gets the job done, kind of. My kids call it ’the evil comb’

 

[refcast]

Maybe a stiff nylon brush might work for fine scales... I need to try

 

[Jovidah]

I have one I bought at a local oriental store for like 3 bucks that looks like this:

Works well enough for me on anything I've used it on - definitly better than the spine of a knife.

 

[@ftermath]

I bought the Tojiro. It's overkill but I like over engineered things and I wanted to be able to throw it in the dishwasher. Works well. Is handle heavy - not that it matters but for some reason it stands out to me every time I pick it up.

https://www.tojiro-japan.com/products/tojiro-pro-18-8-stainless-steel-fish-scaler/

 

[stringer]

I've tried lots of stuff over the years. What I have settled on is the edge side (not the spine) of a Forgecraft 8" slicer (this is just a random one from an eBay image, I am out and about). I'm usually scaling salmon but I have used it on smaller scaled fish too. I pretty much only use this knife for scaling fish and it works better than any dedicated tool I have tried.

 

[daveb]

I've never been able to find anything my Forgie slicer does well. I'll try this.

 

[Ochazuke]

Also probably not the answer you're looking for, but sukibiki. Once you get good at it, it's fairly clean and quick (though granted not nearly as fast as a scaler).

 

[sansho]

not sure about small scales, but i use a bottle cap screwed to a stick.

same idea:

 

[DitmasPork]

Hello everyone. Was wondering what everyone likes to use for scaling fish. Like actual tools not your knife. Specifically for fish with small scales like pompano, not big scaled fish like snappers and such.

Pretty much everyone on KFF is (or aspire to be) an avid knife collector—many buy/collect knives way beyond their kitchen requirements. That said, why not go overboard with this electric fish scaler?
https://www.autofishscalers.com/KT-S-Electric-Fish-Scaler
In my kitchen, I use the Japanese wood and brass model that others have mentioned above.

 

[Danzo]

This works? lol

not sure about small scales, but i use a bottle cap screwed to a stick.

same idea:

View attachment 176691

 

[Danzo]

this looks like it will be good for small fish. the brass ones seem like it wont work well for the micro scales on pompano

I have one I bought at a local oriental store for like 3 bucks that looks like this:

Works well enough for me on anything I've used it on - definitly better than the spine of a knife.

 

[DitmasPork]

Of course the unicorn of all fish scalers is this custom, TF denka fish scaler. TFTFTFTFTFTF!!!!!!!!

 

[DitmasPork]

My mom's fish scaler I use when visiting the islands.

 

[M1k3]

this looks like it will be good for small fish. the brass ones seem like it wont work well for the micro scales on pompano

I have no problem using it on Sea Bream. I've also stopped using it because we just skin the fillets anyway and the scales aren't very annoying.

 

[Knife.Knut]

My mom's fish scaler I use when visiting the islands.
View attachment 176780

I just use my paring or petty for fish like these. Lol!

 

[DitmasPork]

I just use my paring or petty for fish like these. Lol!

Hahaha. Nah, the scaler is more efficient than a petty or paring knife on big eyed scad in my experience—many paths to the same destination.

 

[boomchakabowwow]

The tines of a garden variety dinner fork is an awesome fish scaler. I don’t usually use a knife to scale. you need “fingers”. A serrated blade blows a straight edge into the weeds.