I've read a couple of threads about people interested in skinning machines, so I thought I'd post a few of mine that I made. I tried to take some from beginning to end for folks to see how I did it.















I'm sure there are better ways to do it, but it's worked for me.

looks good

Thats pretty sweet i bet that makes it alot easier and quicker to skin dont it?

If you're close enough to it could you tell me the amperage on the winch? Between this and Blaine's nice posts I'm in planning mode. My skinning shed is remote and I'm thinking of converting dc to ac for lights and will be limited to wattage. Looks really really good. Well done.

Thanks guys. Big...it is 8.5 amps. I know the 1100 pound capcity is a little overkill, but I figured I'd use it for other things too if I needed to. It's ten foot tall, but I can lower the part that the hoist is mounted on down or I can move the part that the vice grips are on. I have a picture of my boy's deer hanging on it from last year. I'll see if I can find it and post it.

Found the pic...It makes skinning a deer pretty quick work.

That came out great. I noticed the adjustable parts before but forgot to ask if the T handled set screws ever slipped? Looks like ibilly jr. fed the family quite well last winter! I've seen people skinning deer with trucks and tractors online but I'm a bit old fashioned...

What sizes of tubing did you use??? And could you elaborate on the measurement's as far as the base and the top.

I like it good job

Haha...ibilly jr. is the luckiest little cuss you'll ever meet. He's ten and that's his second buck. Neither have been real big, but now he thinks it's easy. I've never had those T handles slip. The downward or upward pressure on them create a bit of a bind that holds it in place. I don't even really tighten them down too hard. I used 2 inch tubing except where the piece holding the clamps slides over the bigger section. It has to be a bit bigger.

The base is 3 feet by 3 feet and is made of 2 inch 3/16 angle. I just went out and measured the tubing...the bottom tubing is actually 2 1/2 with the 2 inch sliding into it and the piece that the clamps is on is 3 inch.

Great Job Billy ... really looks good ...... Garry-

nice project, you have some nice welds on there. Is that all arc/stick welding?

looks good, Looks like your top piece that you winch mounts too is starting to bow. Could probably stand a piece of 3/8" flat bar and weld across the tubing and stiffen it up.

Optical illusion Blaine...I saw that in the pic and had to check it to see if it was bowed. That pic was taken before I ever even used it. Thanks for the compliment.

Looks real nice. You got a small fortune in square tubing there. lol Did you use my idea of the 3 rebar in the vice grips?

How's that gambrel held up to use? I assume the j-hooks are welded shut on the swivel? I didn't know if them dog collar chains could handle the pull of them hoists. They really pull hard!

~ADC~

Thanks ADC. Suprisingly the tubing wasn't that much. I have it a little better than most due to a guy down the road from me selling steel dirt cheap. I think I had roughly $75 in the tubing and angle. I waited and got the hoist on sale at HF for $89. Heck yes I used your idea for the rebar;) You're a genuis. I luckily took the springs off before I welded those vice grips on. I haven't had any trouble with the gambel at all...however, I build another style that I've been using for coon. I'm sure you've seen them...they have a V cut in the steel which is bent roughly at a 45 degree angle. I still use the chain gambrel for K-9's and deer though.

That's a good looking machine. I've got something similar in mind except that I picked up some discarded iron pipe for the pole. I also picked up the same winch at HF, but I did you $10 cheaper using a coupon from FFG. I'm sure mine won't be as pretty as yours.

very sturdy I'll give ya that and you got a steal on your steel

Thanks guys. It sure saved some sweat last winter.