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To buy or to build??? #6505289
03/30/19 08:50 AM
03/30/19 08:50 AM
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 92
Alabama
T
Tsouth87 Offline OP
trapper
Tsouth87  Offline OP
trapper
T

Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 92
Alabama
Is it better to buy wooden stretchers or to build your own? If I do build them what are the do’s and don’ts Of the process? What kind of wood should be used? Thanks guys!

Re: To buy or to build??? [Re: Tsouth87] #6505306
03/30/19 09:11 AM
03/30/19 09:11 AM
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 2,871
NNY
0
080808 Offline
trapper
080808  Offline
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0

Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 2,871
NNY
I have used basswood as it is abundant in this area. Important to use a softwood for ease of pinning.

Re: To buy or to build??? [Re: Tsouth87] #6505506
03/30/19 12:07 PM
03/30/19 12:07 PM
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,593
KY
A
AnthonyT Offline
trapper
AnthonyT  Offline
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Posts: 1,593
KY
I buy mine because there is no basswood (or not much) in my area. I have tried making them from yellow poplar but they are just too much of a pain to get push pins into. If I bought basswood I would have to go quite a ways to pick it up so it is just cheaper for me to buy them already made.

Re: To buy or to build??? [Re: Tsouth87] #6505540
03/30/19 12:43 PM
03/30/19 12:43 PM
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
bctomcat Offline
trapper
bctomcat  Offline
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
I made my own boards out of cedar and mostly pine with generally no problems getting push pins into them. Just watch the knot placement with none on board edges.


The only constant in trapping is change so keep learning.






Re: To buy or to build??? [Re: Tsouth87] #6505571
03/30/19 01:38 PM
03/30/19 01:38 PM
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,098
NC
T
Tailhunter Offline
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Tailhunter  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,098
NC
Basswood in this area is too expensive. I can buy them cheaper already made.

Re: To buy or to build??? [Re: bctomcat] #6505988
03/30/19 08:40 PM
03/30/19 08:40 PM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 491
Adirondacks NY
F
Forest Offline
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Forest  Offline
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F

Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 491
Adirondacks NY
Eastern white pine is actually softer than basswood. Hemlock is a little harder.


Paul Smiths Forestry ‘22
Re: To buy or to build??? [Re: Tsouth87] #6505996
03/30/19 08:45 PM
03/30/19 08:45 PM
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 19
ohio union
isaac yoder Offline
trapper
isaac yoder  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 19
ohio union
pine works just fine i made my coyote strechers out of it


a hunt based on the trophy's taken falls far short of what
the real goal should be

fred Bear
Re: To buy or to build??? [Re: Tsouth87] #6506972
03/31/19 08:23 PM
03/31/19 08:23 PM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,930
E central Il
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Golf ball Offline
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Golf ball  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,930
E central Il
In case you folks didn’t know bass wood comes from the linden tree .

Re: To buy or to build??? [Re: Tsouth87] #6507360
04/01/19 09:57 AM
04/01/19 09:57 AM
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 695
Ontario
S
Saskfly Offline
trapper
Saskfly  Offline
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S

Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 695
Ontario
Hardest part is getting the first one made correctly for a template. The Fur handling archive has some great threads on it. Another way is to buy one as a template and make your own from that....

Re: To buy or to build??? [Re: Tsouth87] #6508636
04/02/19 09:21 PM
04/02/19 09:21 PM
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,820
Frazee, MN
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backroadsarcher Offline
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Posts: 4,820
Frazee, MN
get yourself the template or get the fur handling books from FHA or NAFA. I have stretchers made from plywood and basswood. I am lucky though I have a lot of Basswood in this area and a lot of Amish with saw mills. So it is not that bad of a price to get it cut to what I need.

Re: To buy or to build??? [Re: Tsouth87] #6508671
04/02/19 10:01 PM
04/02/19 10:01 PM
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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E

Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,581
sometimes PA sometimes ME
[Linked Image]

Re: To buy or to build??? [Re: Tsouth87] #6508818
04/03/19 06:48 AM
04/03/19 06:48 AM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 11,833
MT (Big Sky Country)
A
Allan Minear Offline
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Allan Minear  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 11,833
MT (Big Sky Country)
Mine are a mixed bag of stretchers most are pine . My suggestion to keep them in good condition is to sand down any rough edges then wipe down with good old fashioned turtle wax car polish out of the can.
It helps the water run off as well as for pelt flipping and removal when it's time.
Allan


Re: To buy or to build??? [Re: Tsouth87] #6512156
04/07/19 11:55 AM
04/07/19 11:55 AM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 491
Adirondacks NY
F
Forest Offline
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Forest  Offline
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F

Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 491
Adirondacks NY
I don't know what your time is worth but you can get stretchers pretty cheap at conventions.
I just picked up 40 stretchers of various sizes plus belly boards the other day from someone who was selling out for $100. That about $2 a piece.

If you don't want to buy them all I recommend just buying one of each that you want and using it as a template. It's a lot easier than trying to make your own just right.


Paul Smiths Forestry ‘22
Re: To buy or to build??? [Re: Tsouth87] #6514397
04/10/19 06:42 AM
04/10/19 06:42 AM
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 2,162
N.E. Nebr
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LDW Offline
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LDW  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 2,162
N.E. Nebr
I buy all of my stretchers from Top Lot. I don't have the time or the basswood to do them myself.

Re: To buy or to build??? [Re: Tsouth87] #6515049
04/10/19 08:48 PM
04/10/19 08:48 PM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,930
E central Il
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Golf ball Offline
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Golf ball  Offline
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Posts: 2,930
E central Il
^^^^^ that’s a good choice right there ^^^^^

Re: To buy or to build??? [Re: Tsouth87] #6587140
08/03/19 03:52 PM
08/03/19 03:52 PM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,239
SW WI
trapper20 Offline
trapper
trapper20  Offline
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Posts: 2,239
SW WI
I bought a few then used them as templates to build my own out of pine

Re: To buy or to build??? [Re: Tsouth87] #6587407
08/03/19 10:13 PM
08/03/19 10:13 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,271
james bay frontierOnt.
B
Boco Offline
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Boco  Offline
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james bay frontierOnt.
I made my own fur forming boards since I started trapping.They are not hard to make.
There are a few old retired trappers around here that make nice cedar boards.I support them by having them make me some boards to my own specifications.


Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: To buy or to build??? [Re: Tsouth87] #6587476
08/03/19 11:32 PM
08/03/19 11:32 PM
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 6,190
Kansas
Pawnee Online content
trapper
Pawnee  Online Content
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Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 6,190
Kansas
I would like to make mine, but I buy them do to time restrictions. Top lot for coons and coloradocat dolphin for my coyotes. I also have top lot coyote nice stretcher.


Everything the left touches it destroys
Re: To buy or to build??? [Re: Tsouth87] #6597970
08/19/19 01:10 PM
08/19/19 01:10 PM
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 677
northern indiana
K
kenny k Offline
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kenny k  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 677
northern indiana
I did like Trapper20 said. Got 3 top lot coon stretchers but the coyote stretcher was too much from top lot, I did fined that Cumberland's trapping supply has them a lot less. Got one and it is not a true 5/8 , It's less ,witch is ok with me. I use the white pine to make mine.

Re: To buy or to build??? [Re: Tsouth87] #6598925
08/20/19 06:10 PM
08/20/19 06:10 PM
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 264
Winona MN
B
Birdman382 Offline
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Birdman382  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 264
Winona MN
Top Lot does a great job. I made my own but then again I have a thickness planer as well as the other too use. I also found some basewood from a Amish guy. Best of Luck

Re: To buy or to build??? [Re: Tsouth87] #6604890
08/28/19 01:33 PM
08/28/19 01:33 PM
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 37
Freeman MO
A
asutcliffe Offline
trapper
asutcliffe  Offline
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A

Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 37
Freeman MO
First those of you making your own stretchers, where do you purchase the lumber to make them?

Re: To buy or to build??? [Re: asutcliffe] #6609709
09/04/19 07:45 PM
09/04/19 07:45 PM
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
bctomcat Offline
trapper
bctomcat  Offline
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
IMO all questions deserve answers and this one is obviously, the local lumber yard.

Last edited by bctomcat; 09/04/19 07:46 PM.

The only constant in trapping is change so keep learning.






Re: To buy or to build??? [Re: Tsouth87] #6609733
09/04/19 08:23 PM
09/04/19 08:23 PM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 17,458
Wheaton Ks
L
lee steinmeyer Offline
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lee steinmeyer  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 17,458
Wheaton Ks
Check with any local sawmills. Keep trying if you don't find what your looking for. Basswood (american linden) grows all through the mid section of this country. The wood from your and my area is not as pretty white as from farther north, but it is just as soft. My basswood is more yellow, but makes good stretchers. And don't be scared to cut out knots and glue up smaller pieces to build stretchers from. The strongest boards are built from glued assemblys, then planed and cut to shape.


YOU CAN IGNORE REALITY, BUT YOU CANNOT IGNORE THE CONSEQUENCES OF IGNORING REALITY.

http://www.lptraplinesupply.com
Re: To buy or to build??? [Re: Tsouth87] #6613810
09/10/19 08:48 PM
09/10/19 08:48 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
T
The Beav Offline
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The Beav  Offline
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T

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
If your talking about rat boards every board or wire form on the market is to wide In the neck and shoulder area and that will lose you length. A 1/4" here and there will lose you close to a Inch In length and that may put you Into a different size grade and that will lose you money.


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: To buy or to build??? [Re: Tsouth87] #6613863
09/10/19 09:31 PM
09/10/19 09:31 PM
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,446
Houghton Lake, MI
strike2x Offline
trapper
strike2x  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,446
Houghton Lake, MI
I use salvage pine. Old shipping crates to recycling old house lumber. I have used pine and cedar mostly. All the wood I made mine from was free. I have all the tools so making them is easy. I have over 50 now and I don't trap rats to hard. Once I started making them I put my wife's in a corner and they are.still there. Would give them to a kid if I knew anyone who trapped although it feel that would be a disservice to them because wood is so much nicer.


Wish I had more time to trap....
Re: To buy or to build??? [Re: Tsouth87] #6613865
09/10/19 09:32 PM
09/10/19 09:32 PM
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,446
Houghton Lake, MI
strike2x Offline
trapper
strike2x  Offline
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Posts: 3,446
Houghton Lake, MI
Maybe your rats are just to small Beav....


Wish I had more time to trap....
Re: To buy or to build??? [Re: Tsouth87] #6613965
09/10/19 11:21 PM
09/10/19 11:21 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
T
The Beav Offline
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The Beav  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
One size form will not work on rats. But that's what everyone uses. You might get away with that on some critters but not rats.


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: To buy or to build??? [Re: Tsouth87] #6613996
09/11/19 12:39 AM
09/11/19 12:39 AM
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
bctomcat Offline
trapper
bctomcat  Offline
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
If you desire excellent rat boards get some 24 inch cedar shakes to build them from.


The only constant in trapping is change so keep learning.






Re: To buy or to build??? [Re: asutcliffe] #6615717
09/13/19 02:26 AM
09/13/19 02:26 AM
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 37
NW Wisc.
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BlueLineTrapper Offline
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NW Wisc.
Just bought 1X8x8 pine boards from menards and planed them down to 1/2 inch. Found the coon specs from Nafa and drew it all out then used a jigsaw to cut them out. Found the roughest grit sandpaper I could for my orbital sander and rounded the edges off along with any other rough edges. I work nightshift and on my nights off the wife goes to bed and I really got nothing else to do so I made a bunch of stretchers. Worked great. $4.75/8 ft board and I can get 2 coon boards from each one.

Re: To buy or to build??? [Re: The Beav] #6616364
09/13/19 10:01 PM
09/13/19 10:01 PM
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10,007
WI - Wisconsin
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AJE Offline
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AJE  Offline
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WI - Wisconsin
Originally Posted by The Beav
One size form will not work on rats. But that's what everyone uses. You might get away with that on some critters but not rats.

I picked up some cheap used wire rat stretchers at the convention. They might be the kind that can be bent or flexed to meet all rat needs (like those flexible [essentually adjustable] Duke stretchers that I think you once mentioned Beav).

Re: To buy or to build??? [Re: Tsouth87] #6616378
09/13/19 10:21 PM
09/13/19 10:21 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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Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
Right you are. Those Duke forms are pure junk( sorry Bill). I have some of those just for those kit rats.


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: To buy or to build??? [Re: Allan Minear] #6649516
10/26/19 01:27 PM
10/26/19 01:27 PM
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,099
New York
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nyhuntfish Offline
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Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,099
New York
Originally Posted by Allan Minear
Mine are a mixed bag of stretchers most are pine . My suggestion to keep them in good condition is to sand down any rough edges then wipe down with good old fashioned turtle wax car polish out of the can.
It helps the water run off as well as for pelt flipping and removal when it's time.
Allan


Turtle wax! Thank you for that tip. I'm going to try it.


Re: To buy or to build??? [Re: Tsouth87] #6663545
11/12/19 11:06 AM
11/12/19 11:06 AM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 18
Northern Ontario
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dapa Offline
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dapa  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 18
Northern Ontario
Try to get the book, Pelt Handling For Profit from Fha, all the size are in that book for all the animals.Very good book ,it shows how to remove cartilage to.I use cedar and bass wood for my drying boards.

Re: To buy or to build??? [Re: dapa] #6663706
11/12/19 01:48 PM
11/12/19 01:48 PM
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
bctomcat Offline
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bctomcat  Offline
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
Originally Posted by dapa
Try to get the book, Pelt Handling For Profit from Fha, all the size are in that book for all the animals.
That book is on line at: http://furharvesters.com/pdf/pelthandling.pdf

Also NAFA's book at : https://www.nafa.ca/webcenter/wccproxy/d?dDocName=nafa_012139

Last edited by bctomcat; 11/12/19 01:51 PM.

The only constant in trapping is change so keep learning.






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