How do you pleat a coon tail? I want to pleat them next year but have no idea how to do it. Any pictures would help alot.

Thanks

Requires a wood stretcher. After you stretch and tack the base of the pelt, put 2 pins in the base of the tail, then stick 2 more pins thru the hide, say 1/4", and nudge it up till there's a little horizontal bulge in the tail then push the pins in. Repeat. Gives a washboard kind of effect.

don't need to. only done for personal satisfaction.

Waste of your time. You won't get a penny more for doing it.

I cant say I have ever done this to a coon but I do pleat my otter and mink tails. You can see the after result of the pleating on the otter in this pic. BigBob described the method well.

Thank you all for responding. I just want to pleat tails because it makes them look nicer(at least to me).

I pleat my coon tails only when the pelt is too long for the board. Most of the time I can get the whole tail on the board this way.

I pleat all my coon and mink on my coon when you pleat the tails it pushes the fur up into the window and it makes the coon look good to the grader,s this has work for me well and i would like to thank Greg,S from n.a.f.a for showing me the little trick,s to get top dollar out of my fur. p.s this my opion and this has alway,s work for me and my fur.

I use a piece of either galv hardware cloth or painted alumium gutter guard cut in sections......flare and push the tail up overlay metal mesh two staples .....done deal .....if it adds density to inspection window.....well..thats just a plus.

If you pleat the skirt correct, you have all the density you need in your window area...

Don here is a pic, not a close up but a pic anyway.

Cletis thatis the same way i put my coons up but i donot use anything on the tail exept push pins.When you pleat the back above the tail and pleat the tail it makes the fur look and feel heaver and anything above 28'coon i put on an 8'board this seems to give me a beeter grade.p.s your put up,s look great.

here is a few that brought a little.



Cletis.

Cletis your put up looks great and I do see the pleating on the skirt. I also like the looks of the pleated tail and have did some on coon, mink and otter.
Otter may gain some by pleating the tail. It actually gives the buyer more sq. inches of fur to use. Otter fur is just like mink fur, it is the same on the tail as it is on tghe back and belly.
By the way fellas, if you like pleating tails, then by all means do it. It don't hurt a darn thing unless you get it bunched up so bad it taints before drying.

Cletis
Nice job. It's hard for me to see but It does look like your windows are a bit large. But It could just be the picture.

No pleats for me.