I have been finishing coon on wooden boards. I was using push pins, but they kept pulling out as the coon dried. So I switched to staples out of a staple gun. I have been trying not to soak em in as far, but this staple gun is junk... lets not go there lol. I cant get pliers on some of these staples, and I tried to pry with a screw driver, but the hide ripped, and on another I lightly pulled on the hide and it ripped too. I am wondering how yall pull the staples for those who use a staple gun, or what you guys use to tack the hide down. Any suggestions on a staple gun too? I got an arrow one, and it only seems to shoot every 2nd or 3rd staple and only shoots when you squeeze fast. Thanks

I use longer staples and an adjustable gun so they are not set too deep. No problem using angled needle nose pliers to pull staples.

If you set the staple flush with the leather, they are going to be a pain to remove without damage to the pelt.

I use longer staples and an adjustable gun so they are not set too deep. No problem using angled needle nose pliers to pull staples.

If you set the staple flush with the leather, they are going to be a pain to remove without damage to the pelt.

IMO if the pins are pulling out while drying you have stretched the pelt to tight,

What do you have for an adjustable staple gun?

I use a electric staple gun on every thing but rats. I just shove the screw diver in between the board and the hide and pry up on the screw driver. The other thing you should do Is when you staple the hide down Is to turn the gun sideways so only one prong of the staple Is going through the hide. Then It's a lot easier to pull the staple.

When you do the tail just use some screen and 4 staples will hold It In place with out stapling the tail Itself.

If you want to keep the staple gun from driving In the staples to far do this. take a couple of tongue depressors and tape them together on the bottom of your staple gun. This will keep the staple gun up off the hide surface a bit so the staples won't go In as far. You will have to mess around with the thickness and your staple length to get It right.

Do not remember the brand of my gun right off but it is electric and has an adjustment. I use 9/16" staples and have plenty of room to grip them to pull out.

The method Bev described would work well also. I also use pieces of plastic gutter guard to hold the tail open and only staple down the gutter guard. No staples directly in the fail.

I only use the stapler on coons. Pins on everything else.

You are definitely stretching your hides to much. I prefer pins but have used Staples but use a hand gun not electric. Tension adjustment is a threaded thumb screw on top

Throw away the stapler and use push pins.Dont dry your fur with heat-50f is good,and dont pull the hide down trying to get extra size-mark your boards with size lines and pin your pelt in between the appropriate lines,not on the size line to allow for shrinkage when drying.
This will also give you the benefit of not overstretching your fur.

I can't imagine using push pins on coon. And Boco you can't over stretch a coon or for that matter any other type fur. To do that you would have to use some type of mechanical devise.

Sure you can-Thin the flanks-lose a grade.
Go back and read your pelt handling manuals.

These work very well. Gets under staple easily and pops it right up. Very fast.

I use staples for coon, fox, cats, and otters. On coon and otter tails I try to staple on edge with only one side of staple. Keeps drying skin edge from curling over staple.

I don't really care what the pelt handling manual says.


Boco there Is no way you can grab a coon buy the flanks and pull down with your hand and over stretch that hide.

Then why are the pins pulling out in the drying process, "Beav"?????

Right on the money there BC Tomcat.
Dont dry fur with heat,and mark sizes on boards so you dont overstretch.

What kind of boards Is the OP using? Are they home made pine or decent bass wood.

The pins are probably pulling out because the boards are to hard and they aren't being seated like they should. Or maybe he Is OVER drying those hides.
I've probably done 10 or 20 1000 coon In my life time and I have NEVER had a coon hide tear when removing It from a board or when removing staples or In some cases push pins.
And you canucks will never convince me that you can without mechanical means over stretch a hide
to where the fur shows signs of being thinned out .

I just got 2 dozen top lot coon boards for $100. Way better than the wire stretchers I was using. I modified the stapler with a shim so the staples dont go in as far, but dont have any coon to try it on yet.
and those were the plain colored push pins that were pulling out. I am going to get some longer aluminum ones and see if it helps
Thank you all for the responses. I am hoping to pick up a few more coon this year and try some different ways