I built a skinning machine back in the summer. Well, i used the ole vice grips welded to chains to the bottom to clamp on the fur. Well, it seems like no matter how slow i go and how much cutting i do, i keep getting holes tore around where the vice grips attach. Anybody have this problem or possibly a remedy to it?

have mine set up with rebar and never have a problem. i fold the fur over on itself and clamp against the leather...

Maybe i should fold over like that. I also have rebar welded in mine. I'm talking coyotes, i don't know if it matters. How many clamps do you put on, 2 or 3?

You got anything welded in the jaws of the vice grips, or are they the welders type?



The best way to clamp is the fur just straight, not folded over and what I do is clamp just the skin that was on top the back foot, don't get up into the leg fur any further than you have to. It starts with properly cutting the fur off the foot after the opening cut.

~ADC~

I just skin coons with mine. Have rebar welded in and single clamp the hide with 2 pairs of vise grips. No problems here.

Later Longear

ADC, i have rebar weleded in them like your picture. I have been clamping them up on the body part, past the legs. Guess i need to move down to the leg/foot area.

I wonder how many folks use the rebar since I started using it and posted the pictures of the ones I make on here years ago? I never heard of it before I started using them. lol Everyone used the welding type vice grips before that.

~ADC~

I have 1 1/2 inch diameter washers welded on the jaws, have never had any problem. These have 1/2 inch holes in the center which really get a grip on the hide.

I don't use the vice grips with my skinning rig. I use a golf ball and rope attached to the floor. Works on any critter and doesn't damage the fur.

Try twisting the leg's a few times if you still have problems. Also, it helps if the tail has some presure (pulling) on it to.

i use like 2x1'' flat pieces welded on mine with corners rounded, works great on coons but sometimes rough on them yotes

I tried that method several years ago and had problems with leather stretching where I attached the rope around the ball. How are you avoiding that?

Thats how ADC has his set up in the pic. Hes just not using the wide bladed vice grips.

I have skinned 1000s of coon On my skinner and I just shove as much hide as I can through a slip noose pull It up tight and pull. No need for a ball. No matter how you hook up the hide It's going to be streached as It's pulled. But I haven't seen where the hide got any longer or where the hide was damaged In any way.

Beav is right your going to have stretching no matter what method, I just never worried about that and have not pulled any hides apart or seen any damage.

Take a grinder and round off the ends of the rebar. That is where you are cutting into the hide as you pull.

Just wanted to update yall. I moved the clamps down to the end of the legs and it is working great. Thanks for the help

Awesome! Glad to help!!!

~ADC~

Have anyone of you that use a skinning rig tryed useing the winch that you have mounted on your ATV?
Just wondering as I saw someone useing a winch at an angle because of lack of space.
It wasn't up and down or parallel with the floor.
Thinking or setting one up with a pulley attached to the 6x6 post in the frameing with a heave cable strung to pull the carcase toward the post with the cable form the winch attached.
There would be actually two pulleys one at the bottom of the post and one at the top.
Just thinking outside the box, any ideas from fellow trappers?
The vise gripps would be on the order of ADC's chain and plate set up.