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how long should I stretch? #6401466
12/17/18 04:01 PM
12/17/18 04:01 PM
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 691
Saltlake city utah
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Steelflight Offline OP
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Steelflight  Offline OP
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Joined: Nov 2018
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Saltlake city utah
I got some musk rats on wire stretchers and some time before my associations sale comes in February. How long does it take for a green pelt to stabilize on the stretcher? A week, two weeks? I want catch more but can't get more wire frames for now.

A side note. I caught a particular musk rat that was filled with fat. I mean this guy was a pig!. He has been stretching for two weeks after fleshing and is still a greasy mess. Any thoughts?


You may think before you act. The question is did you listen to your own council?
Re: how long should I stretch? [Re: Steelflight] #6401477
12/17/18 04:18 PM
12/17/18 04:18 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
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The Beav Offline
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The Beav  Offline
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Wisconsin
I get my rats off the boards In about 2 days. And that's with very little heat In the shed.
The longer you leave a pelt dry the more moisture It loses and becomes very papery and that will cost you money. And In my opinion wire will thin a hid. As It dries the wire Is acting like a spring and working against the hide making It thinner. That will also cost you money.
I get my rat hides off the boards In 2 days then I pack them as tight as I can In card board boxes. This will keep them from drying out and I have never had any molding Issues. And If you do a little W-D 40 will remove It and you will be good to go.
I always cringe when I hear guys leaving rats on the forms for that long of a time.


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: how long should I stretch? [Re: Steelflight] #6401478
12/17/18 04:20 PM
12/17/18 04:20 PM
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 691
Saltlake city utah
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Steelflight Offline OP
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Steelflight  Offline OP
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Saltlake city utah
Thanks beav. I needed the info. Still learning


You may think before you act. The question is did you listen to your own council?
Re: how long should I stretch? [Re: Steelflight] #6401481
12/17/18 04:23 PM
12/17/18 04:23 PM
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
bctomcat Offline
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100 Mile House, BC Can
With a temperature between 50-60 degrees F and good air circulation your rat pelts should be ready to come off the stretchers within a week. Regarding the rat hanging for two weeks I suspect you did not flesh it thoroughly or your drying conditions are poor. You don't want your rats to dry as they are graded by feel and weight thus you want those rats hydrated so they don't get that nasty crinkly sound when they are graded.


The only constant in trapping is change so keep learning.






Re: how long should I stretch? [Re: Steelflight] #6401486
12/17/18 04:27 PM
12/17/18 04:27 PM
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 691
Saltlake city utah
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Steelflight Offline OP
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Steelflight  Offline OP
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Saltlake city utah
I see.


You may think before you act. The question is did you listen to your own council?
Re: how long should I stretch? [Re: Steelflight] #6401491
12/17/18 04:33 PM
12/17/18 04:33 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
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The Beav Offline
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The Beav  Offline
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WE all started out with little or no knowledge. Your on your way you have caught some fur.

Good luck


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: how long should I stretch? [Re: Steelflight] #6401502
12/17/18 04:52 PM
12/17/18 04:52 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,271
james bay frontierOnt.
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Boco Offline
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james bay frontierOnt.
When handling rats remove the fat and leave the saddle on.Rats are very easy to flesh,the fat is loose and mostly in the armpits and belly.This also makes them easy to overflesh,so go easy at first.A few beads of fat on a rat when its drying is OK,and can be wiped off with a rag.
Like other fur,the best results will be drying at cool temps with low humidity.5-7 days at 50f will give you a nice flexible dry skin with no rattly papery leather.
Drying with heat is bad news.


Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: how long should I stretch? [Re: Steelflight] #6401511
12/17/18 05:03 PM
12/17/18 05:03 PM
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 691
Saltlake city utah
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Steelflight Offline OP
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Steelflight  Offline OP
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Keep cool got it. I have noticed that removing a part of the saddle in any place garuntees paper rat as well. Heh talk about gentle touch.

Last edited by Steelflight; 12/17/18 05:04 PM. Reason: Spelling

You may think before you act. The question is did you listen to your own council?
Re: how long should I stretch? [Re: Steelflight] #6401678
12/17/18 09:12 PM
12/17/18 09:12 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
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The Beav Offline
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The Beav  Offline
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Wisconsin
We use to just run our rats through a one of those old washer wringers. I leave as much of the fat as I can It will be absorbed Into the leather Or just dry up.


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: how long should I stretch? [Re: Steelflight] #6401811
12/17/18 11:08 PM
12/17/18 11:08 PM
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 691
Saltlake city utah
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Steelflight Offline OP
trapper
Steelflight  Offline OP
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Saltlake city utah
All good to know.


You may think before you act. The question is did you listen to your own council?
Re: how long should I stretch? [Re: Steelflight] #6402107
12/18/18 11:53 AM
12/18/18 11:53 AM
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,581
sometimes PA sometimes ME
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ebsurveyor Offline
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ebsurveyor  Offline
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sometimes PA sometimes ME
Back when we had 'rats in PA (1970's) I always took off everything saddles included & they always brought a top price at our trappers' association fur sale. My furs were never in a heated building FWIW.

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