I like wood stretchers. I also enjoy making them, it just adds another dimension to Trapping.

When is comes to muskrats at least GFW had a video about wood causing over stretching on rats, but with that said every has their own preference and what their use to using. I like wood for certain animals and wire for others.

I use wire for rats and possum . Coon I use wire many years ago and then seen the different in use of wood and do them on that now and all other furs on wood. I use my coon wires now for possum and if I am out of boards for skunks I put them on the coon wire and also if I have a rats that dose not fit on the regular wire I put them on the wire coon .

The way I have heard it as of late, the fur buyers are wanting wood even for muskrats. The edges of the pelt are very narrow and tend to break when dry. The wood stretchers are thicker and have a more rounder shape, or so I have heard. I am going to buy some wood boards for rats, and use them. If I run out, I`ll use wire. Just remember it is all about appearance, and what the major fur buyers want, just like beaver, they want oval, not round. Anything that will add to the fur check, within reason.

The fur buyer doesn't like wood for rats because he has to pay more money for a wood formed rat. LOL

I can get about an extra 2" In most cases when I do a rat On wood. And that rat Isn't over stretched. It's just formed to It's maximum shape. And 2 Inches doesn't sound like much but It can and will put you In another size grade and that my friends will get you more money.

Over drying and over fleshing Is what gets you those thin skinned rats It has nothing to do with what you put that rat on. Every time I hear someone say they leave their rats on the forms for weeks at a time just makes me shudder. When the nose and face are dry get them off the forms.
Leave lots of fat behind just get the red meat off the skin. In time that fat will be absorbed Into the leather. That will get you a nice supple rat.

When you get those rats off the boards or wire put them In a cardboard box and pack In the vertical position and pack them as tight as you can. That way they won't continue to dry put. I don't think I have ever had to deal with any mold when I've done that. But If you do a little bleach or WD-40 will solve the problem.

The wire vs wood debate seems to be 1 of those that people can't agree on. I know Groenewold wants me to use wire. But many prefer wood.

Maybe it’s just me. The fur I sent to nafa the past year averaged a slightly higher price than the past couple of years. The only difference is I started using wood stretchers.

Use to use wire on this deep south fur. Started using wood several years ago. Wire seemed to make a flat pelt even flatter looking. It is a big difference how the fur stands up when dried on wood. This southern fur needs all the help it can get.

100 percent wood. Nice work Hern! Wood costs more initially but it will pay for itself over and over. Northof50 , That's interesting, where can one get some of the plastic you use? Please and thanks

I'm going to try the plastic cardboard in the bottom of wire. Hold it on with hog rings .Just it see how it goes .I know pins hold good in that plastic.

That will work.

You can put garden hose on wire and it will help. I know a guy that does it on all his badgers. They look great. I’m a wood guy but just started putting up my own fur again after a 15 year break. Back then I used wire. Forgot how much I enjoyed it.