What I tried to explain above with bending the dog is what I believe is the recommended way to set the tension on a MB550. It is easier to adjust with a normal dog and easier to fine tune the tension.

Schmattz

Yes you would have to tack them to the wood.

It seems to me if one would just buy wood forms you wouldn't have to go through all this trying to reinvent the wire form.

But If one could find some small steel tubing you could just cut the bottom part of the wire form off and use the tubing as a splice and make them as long as you want. But It still seems like a lot of work.

My video of modifying my current muskrat stretchers is now live on youtube. Check it out if your interested in make a little extra money off of your muskrats if you are using older wire stretchers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ipgYs0J43E

Let me know what you guys think. You may have to copy the link. Or clink on my link in my signature and it should be the first video. I will make sure it works on Sunday when I get home from the convention.

Schmattz

Good video Schmattz. Nice job detailing what you did to modify those various sized wire stretchers so they are up to spec - tinkering is a big part of trapping, even in the fur shed. Time spent doing those mods sure looks like it could pay off at the fur sale.

Great video! Loved seeing all the different ways you fixed them up.

Nice job! But i thoughr you were from Minnesota, (had a lil woohah in it!)

Thanks for watching guys. I corrected the link in my last post so that it gets you right to the video. I walked around at the NTA all weekend and I didn't see a single muskrat stretcher for sale in the outdoor vendor area that was the correct size. I don't mean to offend anyone who was there selling them if they did have the correct size stretchers I just didn't see them. That is the reason I made this thread and the video showing how to correct them. Hopefully this helps just one person make a little extra off of their hard work.

Here is the correct link just in case you don't want to go find my last post:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ipgYs0J43E


Schmattz

When I brought my rats in last winter to Groeny and I had told him I was a newish trapper and fur handler, he told me straight out that my wire stretchers are too wide and they cost me some money. I will be modifiying them this summer some time

I would recommend either making a wood template to size them to or order a wood stretcher to make sure that you are getting the nose part of the stretchers the correct shape.

Schmattz

He told me the same thing, hmmm