. I have an old pair of neoprene waders hanging at camp. Now I know what I’ve been saving them for.

Wear hand protection when skinning(surgical gloves, etc)

If your hands get dry and cracked, check a product called "blue goo"

I have tried several different gambrels. What I have found that works best for me is snare cable run through a fender washer. The loop holds itself open, stick a foot in the loop and a bit of downward pressure it will "slam" shut. Works great on the bigger dogs, no fumbling with choker chain trying to hold the loop open with one hand and the dog with the other. Also if it hasn't been mentioned before, tree lopping shears work great for foot removal, I just leave them hanging right above my head by the winch hand control.

EDIT: Not my ideas, just passing on what I have seen here and other places.

Nice set up petey.

Dd says- Really hope this goes in the archives! Lots of tricks and experience in this thread.

FHf says- This is archive worthy

I hope a moderator hears you guys. Good stuff above.
Now some joker will use this info in a trapping article or video...lol

Hern, my book is already at the publisher getting edited.

What I use when I scrape my skins on a beam.I use some old t shirts that is worn out and use that between my apron and the skin and also use it to wipe down the skin.It is some thing I am use to.Also use a fence stretcher for when I hang my animals to skin. I have a limited space to do it all and make it all work. Also use a dog choker to hold the hind feet of the animals and the tail of a beaver after I get it skin around the tail, the skin with its weight help to skin it easy also and when you do the head too.

I make Rags for the trapping season out of my old work shirts my wife gives them the last wash and I take and I cut them up for usable rags I use this Fiskars round cutting wheel that is made for cutting cloth works like a dream and makes quick work out of shirts and I throw them in a bucket with a lid

I have several extra Mink drags I use for double hooks.
They come in handy from time to time...

TTT keep the tips coming.

dustytinner, I have always been rough on t-shirts and reuse them as rags... I'll have to try that Fiskars round cutting wheel, thanks for the tip!

rendezvous, I took dustytinner's advice when he posted. I bought Fiskars round cutter at Walmart's sewing section. It's the Cat's Meow.
It made short work of 6 old T-shirts. Better than scissors or knife for sure. Thanks for the tip Dusty.

I thought a wood racoon stretcher that you could mount or screw down like an ironing board would be great for putting the shirts on to cut them up. Please just be careful it wouldn't take much to lose a finger!

I use Johnson's paste wax made for use on wood floors and wood furniture on my stretcher boards and fleshing beam. Keeps blood and grease from soaking in the wood and pelts won't get stuck on the board even if you forget the wedge.

great idea!

when you store you're boards overhead,don't put a fox board on top of the coyote boards.it will slide down and hit you between the eyes.

I skin outside at camp and don't have a place to sit my knives and etc. I got a pair of microphone stands at an auction for a dollar and made this



Sorry, I can't get the pic to rotate. It is adjustable to about 3 feet.

On the side I inlay some magnets to hold knives if I want to free up table top

I am an absolute novice in the fur shed; planning on getting started there this season. This thread has really got my wheels turning and I appreciate all the input that people are putting into it. Thanks a bunch!

I echo the fact that this is a great thread and I shamelessly borrowed a ton of ideas from what I saw. About the only thing I could add is portability- I made a universal table that I can utilize as my Beaver Table, Fur Boarding Station or a work surface for my chop saw when I’m doing projects at the kids houses. When I trap in Southern Wisconsin I utilize my workshop as an ad hoc Fur Shed, this thread helped me consider some different options for functionality. Everything condenses and I can store all my Beaver boards under the table when not in use or for transporting.


I added a dog choker on a dowel pin for my Money Cuts

I also added a vise for fur boarding that can adjust to any position

I got a lot of design inspiration from the thread for my beam

I mounted Uni-Strut in my workshop and in my fur shed





The saw horses are rated for 1,400 lbs so bring on the Super Blanket Beavers. lol

oneoldboot, good idea on the portable table. Nice job.

Eagleye, Great workmanship. Great use of space. Nice job.

Here's a visual for ya. That's all the Beav wears when he's fleshing, the cut off waders and a pair of galoshes.