Just wondering if anybody uses wire stretchers for coon? i have a bunch of wire stretchers for coon and would like to see some pictures if anyone has some.

use wood only here my wire just sit on the nail.get bigger coon on wood .

yea thats what ive heard i just cant afford wood at the time so would i be better selling green?

we use wire don't have any pics though

I have some wire stretchers that I use when the boards are full.

I cut a piece of plywood about 12 or 15inches long and just wide enough to fit inside the bottom of the wire stretcher. Duct tape the plywood inside the bottom of the stretcher -- then you have a place to pin the bottom of the pelt and a place to pin open the tail. Also use clothes pins to hold the pelt on the bottom sides.

I believe that it is worth the time to stretch and dry your furs.

I wouldn't say that! Of course it looks better when its put up on wood but I would NOT take the gamble of selling green in this market!

Put up the coon on the wire stretchers. I use mainly wire with a few wood and I don't care what anyone says you don't get bigger coon on wood if you know how to use wire properly. And I have never seen a price or grade difference between the ones I put on wood or the wire.

I have sold to several differrent sources, from NAFA, Groeny, Zander. and a few others as well. Haven't sold local for years, except when Groeny comes around.
I have no desire to get into a wire/ wood arguement Everyone should use what they feel is best. Hctapper has no wood stretchers or money to buy them right now. So should he use the wire ones he has? Yes.

Ive nerer seen a fur buyer that put coon up on wood ..
Wire is just fine...........my 2 cents......

Jim, What do fur buyers know about about putting up fur? I feel the same about rats too.

Guess I might as well just throw all my coon out that were on wire. Nobody will want em' anyway and I'm prolly gonna get a terrible grade...

If all you have is wire, in NAFA's fur handling manual, it shows how to upgrade your wire to work better. If all I had was wire, I'd do the upgrade it's pretty simple and should be cheap.
After the season, look around for some rough cut white pine and plane it down and cut yourself out some boards. Call NAFA and ask for the free manual. Don't buy or make any boards that do not meet the spec's listed in the manual. Warning, there are a lot of guys claiming they have NAFA approved boards that do not meet the spec's listed in the manual. If I am either spending my time or money I want boards that are recommended to where my fur will get sold.

Putting up fur properly has everything to do with proper width and length. Wire stretchers aren't neccesarily bad if you use a wooden spacer on the bottom edge and tack the fur out properly to get the correct length and density, (which is done by proper nailing). Wire without a spacer is better than selling green. You loose square inches with wire and that is money. Selling green is also lost money. HP

Wood does make a nicer looking pelt .

This what happyplumber is refering to ...

Good info does it matter what size plywood to use as far as thickness?

Alright i went out and tried this out...does this look alright or i need to do some more work to it?

Pins work better. Nails tear up the wood more. I guess it doesn't matter though cause you could just tape another piece of wood in there. Looks good otherwise

I agree 100%

Yea im gonna get pins tomorrow for the next one i just didnt have them today and wanted to get this thing stretched