Does anybody make them. I have searched the site if theres a post on it I cant find it. Thanks

Give 2sox a shout I know he has some he sells, I bet there are a dozen other people on this site who also make quality wood stretchers.

Thanks but I am looking for some instructions on making my own. Never stretched anything before. I just get a kick out of doing it the hard way. I have found alot of pictures but cant seem to find any patterns or dimensions.

I think both of the canadian auction houses have the sizes listed somewhere, as for what they want each stretched at. If you can get a hold of basswood lumber that seems to be what most are made out of. I have some made out of pine but they are kinda hard to put push pins in.

I made up some out of white pine cause I had it. They work just fine.

dblmainbeam,
Try this link:
http://www.nafa.ca/trapper/Resources/NAFA_PeltHandlingManual_2009.pdf

ya to the nafa site,
also where I trap we can get patterns from our local DNR office

I use cedar or pine for stretchers

you will need to have the boards planned to thickness

Merv

Thank you. Thats exactly what I was looking for.

Whats the reason for tapering the thickness of the board. Is it for easier removal after it dries?

dont forget the belly wedges

A lot of info you are seeking in the furhandling archives....this link will put you there.


http://www.trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/forums/14/2/Fur_Handling_Archive.html

yes the belly wedge makes it easier to get off the board....ALOT easier for marten that is for sure!

This is why I'm loving this site. You all are great help. Thank you!!

1/16" - did I read that right? Doesn't it get kind of fragile at that thickness? I'm making a second weasel stretcher out of 1x4, although 2 wide would be easier, it's what I had in the garage.

I went to menards and dug through the 1 by's, and found the straight, knot free boards from 1x4 for weasel and female mink, 1x6 for male mink, and 1x8 for muskrats and other larger stuff. If you dig through the boards you can find some good ones, and they are cheap. If you want really good wood, get select grade. it costs much more, but it is straight, and knot free.

SDo you taper the board thickness from top to bottom?

i "came into" a bunch of 1x4's
this is how i made boards with the free wood.

layed out the dowel pins

made a center jig. 1/2 key stock with 1/4 dowels. drill three holes, even space. weld the pins in. the center hole is always center of the board


fluted dowels. mark your bit with tape to control depth of hole

then clamp up

i then cut to lenght, ran in the planer, shaped, sanded and routed. i made about 50 boards last summer. coon, rat, fox. coyote needs three boards.
not sure what kind of wood it is. it was a huge crate from italy. i'm guessing some type of fur or spruce.

Free wood, the best kind. That is why I use particle board, with melamine laminate, and plywood.