Fur Handling Forum


No Profanity *** No Flaming *** No Advertising *** No Anti Trappers *** No Politics
No Non-Target Catches *** No Links to Anti-trapping Sites *** No Avoiding Profanity Filter


Home~Trap Talk~ADC Forum~Trap Shed~Wilderness Trapping~International Trappers~Fur Handling

Auction Forum~Trapper Tips~Links~Gallery~Basic Sets~Convention Calendar~Chat~ Trap Collecting Forum

Trapper's Humor~Strictly Trapping~Fur Buyers Directory~Mugshots~Fur Sale Directory~Wildcrafting

Trapper's Tales~Words From The Past~Legends~Archives~Kids Forum~Lure Formulators Forum


~Dobbins' Catalog~

>
pcsoutdoors
(Please support PCS Outdoors, our sponsor for the Fur Handling Forum Page)


Print Thread
Hop To
skinning device #6723265
01/10/20 10:14 AM
01/10/20 10:14 AM
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 25
Kansas
B
Barredowl Offline OP
trapper
Barredowl  Offline OP
trapper
B

Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 25
Kansas
I am hoping someone will recognize what I'm going to try to describe and be able to tell me what its called or where I can find or how to build one. I was watching youtube videos the other night about a variety of trapping/fur handling related topics. I stumbled across a video of a guy demonstrating a device that was designed to help pull on hides with your foot/body weight instead of pulling with your hands. It basically consisted of a chain that connected to one end of a board approximately 2 feet in length which I suppose could be longer or shorter depending on preference. The other end of the chain passed through a hole in a piece of steel that allowed the chain slack to be pulled through one way but grab and hold when you stepped down on the board. It used a vise grip welded to the chain latch to grab the skin. So basically it allows you to pull the hide using your body weight by stepping on the board and leaving your hands free to use your knife as needed then when you need to pull the hide further you pull the chain up lifting the end of the board the chain is attached to and then stepping back down on the board to pull the hide further. If anyone recognizes what Im trying to describe Id like to pick one up or find instructions on how to build one. It basically does what a skinning machine does but is body weight powered and pulls down on the hide instead of up on the carcass. Might be handy to have when I double on coyotes way back off the road so I can just skin them instead of carrying out the carcasses and all. Thanks for any help anyone can provide.

Re: skinning device [Re: Barredowl] #6723589
01/10/20 03:27 PM
01/10/20 03:27 PM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 162
Southern, New Jersey
Bill from NJ Offline
trapper
Bill from NJ  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 162
Southern, New Jersey
my wife bought me one. I have not used it yet.

Info can be found here: https://traptags.com/product/skinners-friend/

Re: skinning device [Re: Bill from NJ] #6723643
01/10/20 04:04 PM
01/10/20 04:04 PM
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,064
NY
R
rendezvous Offline
trapper
rendezvous  Offline
trapper
R

Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,064
NY
Interesting...


Let's go Brandon!
Re: skinning device [Re: Barredowl] #6723665
01/10/20 04:26 PM
01/10/20 04:26 PM
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,655
Iowa
C
CTRAPS Offline
trapper
CTRAPS  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,655
Iowa
I know what you are talking about. I bought an extra "Skinners Friend" last year at the NTA Nationals. I'm willing to let one of them go. If you're interested, PM me. Thanks.


Life Member: ITA, IBA & NRA. Member of SA, FTA & NTA
Re: skinning device [Re: Barredowl] #6743647
01/25/20 10:17 AM
01/25/20 10:17 AM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 11,831
MT (Big Sky Country)
A
Allan Minear Offline
trapper
Allan Minear  Offline
trapper
A

Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 11,831
MT (Big Sky Country)
It looks like a wonderful way to get rid of some hard earned money for something that will slow down your skinning .
Even when I helped out at two different fur buyer's shops I was a proud member of the grip it and rip it club where upper body and hand strength ruled the day and a sharp knife .
Allan


Re: skinning device [Re: Barredowl] #6743787
01/25/20 12:13 PM
01/25/20 12:13 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
SNIPERBBB Offline
trapper
SNIPERBBB  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
Not everyone has the mass, strength or agility to do it that way unfortunately.

Re: skinning device [Re: Barredowl] #6744933
01/26/20 09:54 AM
01/26/20 09:54 AM
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 530
southwest Alberta .Canada
RKH Offline
trapper
RKH  Offline
trapper

Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 530
southwest Alberta .Canada
When you cant make a fist after pulling and ripping a few yotes with your worn out hands i think this would be a great alternative

Re: skinning device [Re: Barredowl] #6748750
01/29/20 12:56 AM
01/29/20 12:56 AM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,256
Iowa
~ADC~ Offline
The Count
~ADC~  Offline
The Count

Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,256
Iowa
I much prefer an electric hoist, but I am probably biased.




Re: skinning device [Re: Barredowl] #6766614
02/11/20 05:17 PM
02/11/20 05:17 PM
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 140
Belair MD
V
VictorD Offline
trapper
VictorD  Offline
trapper
V

Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 140
Belair MD
Bought the skinners friend, used it on a few coons and otters. Works pretty good for my needs. I skin in a shed with limited height.

Re: skinning device [Re: VictorD] #6777138
02/20/20 11:23 AM
02/20/20 11:23 AM
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,256
Iowa
~ADC~ Offline
The Count
~ADC~  Offline
The Count

Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,256
Iowa
Quote
I skin in a shed with limited height.


There are electric options for that as well. Sort of a "Where there's a will, there's a way." type thing...





... of course if you wanted to go horizontal you could have a really low ceiling....

[Linked Image]

More than one way to skin a cat ,,, well darn near everything. lol

Re: skinning device [Re: Barredowl] #6803181
03/15/20 04:27 PM
03/15/20 04:27 PM
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 815
Nebraska
1crazytrapper Offline
trapper
1crazytrapper  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 815
Nebraska
If you do not want to use a machine or the device, get yourself some burlap. You can use the burlap to help pull down the hide. Once you get the hide part way down wrap the burlap around it and drop on the hide with one knee. This will pull the hide off down to the front shoulders. After you reach the front shoulders, pull the front legs out. Now wrap the burlap around the hide and stick it between your legs. Now by gripping the wrapped hide with your legs and leaning back you can apply all the pressure that you need while skinning with free hands. Keep backing up and putting more pressure as needed.This is how we skinned all coyote and coon before there were any skinning machines.


Member of NFH and NRA
Re: skinning device [Re: Barredowl] #7465785
01/19/22 11:16 AM
01/19/22 11:16 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,324
Hancock Co., Indiana
Kart29 Offline
trapper
Kart29  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,324
Hancock Co., Indiana
I got one of these Skinner's Friend devices recently and finally tried it out on a raccoon last night. Worked fantastic! Wish I would have had it years ago. It make skinning so much easier and faster for me.

The tail stripper feature did not work for me - it pulled the tailbone right off the carcass. I'll need to use it some more to figure out the technique for the tail stripper.

For the amount of skinning I do, an electric hoist would be too much expense and too much setup. The Skinner's Friend is the perfect compromise for me. Love it!


What from Christ that soul can sever,
Bound by everlasting bands?
None shall take thee
From the Strength of Israel's hands.

Re: skinning device [Re: ~ADC~] #7465796
01/19/22 11:31 AM
01/19/22 11:31 AM
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 4,925
Aliceville, Kansas 43
Yukon John Offline
trapper
Yukon John  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 4,925
Aliceville, Kansas 43
Originally Posted by ~ADC~
Quote
I skin in a shed with limited height.


There are electric options for that as well. Sort of a "Where there's a will, there's a way." type thing...





... of course if you wanted to go horizontal you could have a really low ceiling....

[Linked Image]

More than one way to skin a cat ,,, well darn near everything. lol

That for skinnin mice? Lol


Act like a blank, get treated like a blank. Insert your own blank!
Re: skinning device [Re: Barredowl] #7465943
01/19/22 02:04 PM
01/19/22 02:04 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,261
james bay frontierOnt.
B
Boco Offline
trapper
Boco  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,261
james bay frontierOnt.
The speed skinning coyote kings in Alberta use their knee.


Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: skinning device [Re: ~ADC~] #7466639
01/20/22 02:00 AM
01/20/22 02:00 AM
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 61
CO/KS
S
sevensixtwo Offline
trapper
sevensixtwo  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 61
CO/KS
Originally Posted by ~ADC~
I much prefer an electric hoist, but I am probably biased.





Dang you are good. I may have to go to harbor freight and get a winch here.

Re: skinning device [Re: Barredowl] #7467347
01/20/22 07:34 PM
01/20/22 07:34 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,261
james bay frontierOnt.
B
Boco Offline
trapper
Boco  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,261
james bay frontierOnt.
Those winch skinners are pretty neat.
Me and a buddy, Bob Desbiens from North Bay were at a state trapping convention in Upper Michigan quite a few years ago.There was a winch skinning machine there,so Bob said lets try skinning a beaver on that for a demo.Bob is a rough skin and beam guy so I said you put it up after and we'll give it a go.
Well this was in the summer and the old beaver supplied had been in the freezer for who knows how long,lol.Bob lopped off the legs,made an opening cut to case skin and hooked it up to the winch.Well he laid on the footpedal and that old beaver carcass ripped right in half spilling guts and goo all over the floor.Boy did we ever look like a couple of idiots,lol.
Wound up rough skinning what was left by hand and I fleshed it on the board with a sharp victorinox.It looked pretty good at the end after the demo,lol


Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: skinning device [Re: Barredowl] #7468261
01/21/22 04:58 PM
01/21/22 04:58 PM
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 61
CO/KS
S
sevensixtwo Offline
trapper
sevensixtwo  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 61
CO/KS
Haha thats pretty funny.

Anyone have a close up of the vice grips part. Seems like the jaws between the two vice grips are around 1ft apart or so. Might use nested angle iron for the clamping part unless anyone has recommendations.

Re: skinning device [Re: Kart29] #7468699
01/21/22 11:42 PM
01/21/22 11:42 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
SNIPERBBB Offline
trapper
SNIPERBBB  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
Originally Posted by Kart29
I got one of these Skinner's Friend devices recently and finally tried it out on a raccoon last night. Worked fantastic! Wish I would have had it years ago. It make skinning so much easier and faster for me.

The tail stripper feature did not work for me - it pulled the tailbone right off the carcass. I'll need to use it some more to figure out the technique for the tail stripper.

For the amount of skinning I do, an electric hoist would be too much expense and too much setup. The Skinner's Friend is the perfect compromise for me. Love it!



What i would do for the tail stripper thing is to keep pressure on the stripper but use your hands and pull the tail up. Anytime you you try to pull the stripper down the tail, all sorts of issues happens(tailbones rip off, tail rips, explosive diarrhea from the animal, etc). Always pull the tailbone up through the stripper .

Re: skinning device [Re: Barredowl] #7469257
01/22/22 06:24 PM
01/22/22 06:24 PM
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,655
Iowa
C
CTRAPS Offline
trapper
CTRAPS  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 1,655
Iowa
I bought a skinning machine from ADC, quite some time ago. That's probably one of the best trapping investments I've made. I'd hate to be without it now.


Life Member: ITA, IBA & NRA. Member of SA, FTA & NTA
Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1