I was just reading in the archives about stretching beaver and they say that they should be stretched oval. That is fine and dandy if you are using boards and can draw the ovals on the board, but I just bought beaver hoops and they come round.

QUESTION: Should I try and disform the hoops to an oval shape or use them as they are???????

Garry-

Every bodyI know does it round and they look fine, some friends of mine cut a bunch of willows and made a hoop outta those. thay look fine

Garry I haven't never used hoops as I use boards but on those hoops can't you just hook them at different distance from the edge?

As the top and bottom closer to the hoop and the sides a little narrower.

Like I said though I haven't used a hoop before.

The larger beaver should not not be a problem ,they pretty much oval anyway but you can always bend the hoop after they are stretched . The smaller beaver i would shape the hoop before stretching.
I always put the tail end of the beaver on the adjustable end of the stretcher.

there find round
people using boards usualy go oval im not shure why just what they prefer to do.
im not shure of one brinds more mony than the other

nafa and fha want oval, so i stretch oval. simple as that. they make a metal tension bar meant to bend the hoop into an oval shape, but I used a string tied across the center of the hoop to give it an oval shape the few times I used hoops, works just as well

The oval gives you more fur density down the back of the pelt. Round stretched pelts will have a weaker looker density down the back.

That's why buyers like it oval.

I thought you also got more sq inches of fur oval and that is how they pay at NAFA from what I'm told.

I thought they had a bar that they put over those hoopw to make them oval as well?

Y do you but the tail end on the adjustable end. I use hoops and always did it the other way. Just didnt know if I was missing sumthing?

A lot of the time you can just press the hooped beaver into an oval without the tension bar and it will stay that way. On the real big ones I hoop them and then use a few fence staples to tack the hoop to the board in an oval shape to keep it from flexing like a Pringles potato chip. Either way, my hoops have not become deformed. I do like the hoops because I can adjust the size a bit with the hide partiallly installed on the hoop. With the boards it can amount to a lot of renailing. Scott

The preferred method is oval.
http://www.furharvesters.com/publications.htm
It has been the proven method for over 30 years.
Both auction companies give away free patterns and promote this method.
Jim

Call Minnesota Trapline Supply...I think they sell tensioner bars for the hoops

Well I don't have room for boards. I have to do all of my fur handling in a very small basement. Can anyone tell me if the shape (Oval) they want is an actual oval, i.e., like 48 X 36, 60 x 45, 30 x 22.5 etc. or is it some abritrary dimensions?

Garry-

I use hoops on my beaver. When they dry, they twist the hoops a little and end up in an ovel shape. I don't have to do anything.

Gary,

If you look at the beaver I stretched on the OSTA site - I did kind of bend the hoop a little - I opened it up and then with both hands equally spaced I pushed down a little bit to give it a slight bend. You will notice the oval shape of the beaver in the picture.

42" beaver = 25" x 17"
47" = 27.5 x 19.5
51" = 29.5 x 21.5
55" = 31.5 x 23.5
60" = 34 x 26
65" = 36.5 x 28.5
72" = 40 x 32
80" = 44 x 36

Thanks Nathan ... that is what I was wondering ... they are "Oval" shaped, but not a "True" oval .... Garry-