I scored a few small pieces of bison hide that I want to bark-tan with the hair on.  Having a devil of a time fleshing them--this stuff is strongly put together.  I tried scraping with a knife at right angle, but when I put on enough pressure to remove the membrane, I score the hide.  Any tips?  The pieces aren't really big enough to use a fleshing beam, about one foot by eight inches or so.
Help me, PA oracle!