Well, I've been practicing skinning critters and fleshing. Mostly squirrels and my first coon. I will be keeping these for wall hangers as they are my first catches. If you sew up tears and holes, what type of thread do you use? I was thinking of fly tying thread since it comes in different sizes and color, and its easy to wax.

You can use dental floss it’s already waxed

I like good strong nylon upholstery thread and an s shaped needle

Dental floss I have. I will practice my sewing skills, thanks.

20lb spiderwire braided fishing line is great !!!!!!!!!! or even 30 lb.

I also use upholstery thread,and a No.5 or 7 glovers needle.

Waxed dental floss and a glovers needle.

Never had much good happen with dental floss, when the pelts came back most sutures were undone.

I went to upholstery thread and a half hitch in every other stitch. I also use the over lap stitch to keep the flesh even. Works better for flow and appearance.

Berkley Fireline in different sizes.30lb is what I use on lifesize brown bears.Thin skins,small thread.For squirrels,I wouldn't use bigger than 6-8 lb.Coons,maybe 10 lb.Don't sew them before they are tanned.

I use the same thread that they use for sewing wall tents but I'm sewing coyotes and larger animals.
Allan

My neighbors friend is a taxidermist and he gave me some needles and 6 lb spider wire to use this year.
J

Do you repair before or after they are tanned

If I screw up a pelt skinning or fleshing (it happens once in a while to all of us), or am putting up a rifle damaged pelt, or dog damaged pelt, I sew it before stretching and drying. Every auction house and local buyer I'm aware of prefers that.

If I get something tanned it is pretty much flawless when I send it.

Before they are tanned if they are tanned for you.

For selling,always before stretching,as Danny says.

For many years I sewed all the beasts in my shop with an "S" needle of various size, and a waxed nylon thread/cord called "Lacing Tape". It is flat like a ribbon and when you pull the stitches tight it sort of locks into place with very little opening back up when you quit pulling. The stuff is sold by Gudebrod and came in either a tan color or black. I always had two sizes on hand, the largest suitable for heavy stuff like moose capes, the smaller stuff suitable for stuff as small as fox or even squirrel. It comes in 500 yd spools.

Thanks to all. I have a few glovers needles and upholstery thread in my sewing stuff, as well as various mono. Yes I sew, no my wife does not. I have a collection of about 7 sewing machines, including a working treadle that my mom learned on from her grandmother. If this trapping hobby works out I may purchase an old furriers machine. I've seen a few for around $300.

Artificial sinew and a small glovers needle for huge holes. Beading needle and beading thread for small holes in thin furs or in buckskin.

I went and looked at the spools I have out in my shop. The lacing tape I currently have was made by Breyden Products, Columbia City, Indiana. I use size 4 for deer capes, bear, even moose, etc. The size 5 (bigger number--smaller sized tape)is what I used for sewing up coyote/fox/bobcat type stuff. Even on mounts as small as grey squirrel. It comes in two colors, black or "natural", which is a tan color.

Dental floss works about the best

Be careful going after Fur machines, lots of them out there for cheap and usually cause there are no more parts available for them.

If your serious about producing fur products a fur machine is needed. Get a modern one with parts still around or made. Cause your going to break the looper right off due to no experience, getting them for older machines is next to impossible. Needles not so much.

Try and get the manual for it as well. I went to a regular industrial sewing retailer looking for them and found a newer used one right off for 2,100.00 best investment I made for sewing my fur, it's paid for it's self many times over now. It's at least 20 years old now and considered older, but I was able at the time to by loopers for it for hardly nothing when I go it and lots of needles. They are real work horses if taken care of and kept oiled !

If you learn how to sew the pelts up good and clean and your the end user it won't take you very long to learn the right materials to use for when they come back from the tannery.

I learned a long time ago, most trappers and hunters never really care about put up and sewing pelts correctly as long as they get some gas money for harvesting them. And no one I know lets the buyer know they have sewn up pelts to sell, buyers are on their own to learn about them being offered.

I have always used #4 mono for fox, never had a problem with it.

If using thread, is there really a need to wax it? Is that just to make it slide thru easier when sewing?

Heavy duty white cotton thread

Krisp, no need to justify. Knowing how to sew is a valuable skill.

Mike