I've got two fur working question. What causes hair slippage from a pelts tail, and what's the best way to avoid it?

Okay, I guess it's three questions. After fleshing a pelt, what do you do with the fur on the edge of the pelt and on the tail that may have collected some grease and oil. Should the this be washed off with soap and water before stretching? Thanks.

I like to wipe the whole pelt down with paper towels.

How far down should the tail be split? I try to go at least 1/3, and then pull the bone out. Should the tail be split further after the bone is out?

That is your problem split all the way and make sure there in no puddle/pocket in the tip

Split the tail all the way to the tip. Just like this, so when they are stretched the tail looks like a triangle.

Flesh the bottom few inches of the pelt (and tail) 1st, then start back at the top. Then the "mass" of the fat & grease isn't hanging on the bottom edge of the fur, it'll drop-off inches above it.

Hang the stretcher nose down to dry, wipe daily. This way the oil won't run to the bottom.

Great tips everyone. Nice looking coon pelts CRT. Do you need a special tool to slit down that far, like where the tail gets real thin?

It's not hard to split

sometimes hard to keep the cut straight so a tail splitting guide is used.

It can be done without.

An old umbrella has metal U channel that can be used for this as well.

Yes, a Tail Splitter . Some say if you have a knife with a gut hook that will work, but these are cheap, sharp, and they work.

i never use a splitter. just run your knife right down after the bone is out. it'll go right to the tip.

cedarrivrtrappr on some of them coons there is a line on them. is that a snare mark?

i was gonna ask the same Q harley.

that looks like hip snared coon.

I've got one on those "umbrella" type splitting guides but have no clue how to use it. Do you debone the tail first or after?

I use a tail splitter and have been for years. I split foxes, mink, coyotes, coons, and otter with mine. I have never pulled a tail into. And my splitter has done well over a thousand pieces of fur, technique is important in all aspects of fur handling. I insert the splitter in the tail and pull the splitter up a little higher before i zip it into. But I have seen novices pull em into.

Still hoping for suggestions... thanks...

Yep those are hip snared coons. It was my fault for them bering hip snared, they got into Coyote snares.

ANYWAYS...

I use a tail splitter to go as far as I can, and sometimes there is a little pocket still, so when I go back to skinning with the knife I just use the tip to go to the end. Its a thin blade so it fits.

Thanx Tex, I think I've got it now.