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How do you fix wire stretchers? #7284839
06/12/21 11:42 PM
06/12/21 11:42 PM
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 862
Ohio
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Gone Trappin. Offline OP
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Ohio
I have some muskrat stretchers but they are way too wide. I know all about pulling the hide down tight but they are just too wide to start with. Has anyone else had this problem? And how should I fix it? I tried narrowing it down by tying wire around it and left it for 3 weeks but that didn’t do anything. Maybe I could cut the joiner at the base then re-bend but I don’t know if that will work.

Re: How do you fix wire stretchers? [Re: Gone Trappin.] #7284845
06/12/21 11:55 PM
06/12/21 11:55 PM
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Oregon
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H2ORat Offline
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Oregon
I had some that were too wide --- try to bend one in at about the apex of the curve -- some that I had were too brittle to do that with and broke at the tip. on those add a little heat to it -(propane or acetylene) - you will take the galvanizing off but they will be functional. the tip doesn't have to be cherry red but you need to see some color change.

Re: How do you fix wire stretchers? [Re: Gone Trappin.] #7284851
06/13/21 12:08 AM
06/13/21 12:08 AM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Law Dog Offline
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Law Dog  Offline
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Yep squeeze the top together some is what I do.


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: How do you fix wire stretchers? [Re: Gone Trappin.] #7284855
06/13/21 12:17 AM
06/13/21 12:17 AM
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Posts: 8,717
Nebraska, Dawson County
chas3457 Offline
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chas3457  Offline
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Just catch bigger muskrats. grin

As mentioned above, bend the nose in, and depending on brand of stretcher, tweak the bottom corners up and in.



Charlie


Old age and treachery will always overcome youth and enthusiasm.

NRA Life Member ~ GOA Member ~ NFOA Member ~ UNMLA Member
Re: How do you fix wire stretchers? [Re: H2ORat] #7284863
06/13/21 12:36 AM
06/13/21 12:36 AM
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 5,471
West Central MN
20scout Offline
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20scout  Offline
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West Central MN
Originally Posted by H2ORat
I had some that were too wide --- try to bend one in at about the apex of the curve -- some that I had were too brittle to do that with and broke at the tip. on those add a little heat to it -(propane or acetylene) - you will take the galvanizing off but they will be functional. the tip doesn't have to be cherry red but you need to see some color change.

If you use heat to bend them, be careful not to breath in any of the fumes from the galvanizing as it is highly toxic!


Common sense is a not a vegetable that does well in everyone's garden.
Re: How do you fix wire stretchers? [Re: 20scout] #7284870
06/13/21 12:52 AM
06/13/21 12:52 AM
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Posts: 2,459
Oregon
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H2ORat Offline
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Originally Posted by 20scout
Originally Posted by H2ORat
I had some that were too wide --- try to bend one in at about the apex of the curve -- some that I had were too brittle to do that with and broke at the tip. on those add a little heat to it -(propane or acetylene) - you will take the galvanizing off but they will be functional. the tip doesn't have to be cherry red but you need to see some color change.

If you use heat to bend them, be careful not to breath in any of the fumes from the galvanizing as it is highly toxic!

Drink milk if you breathe too much galvanized ---- it does help, Don't ask me how I know. Has anyone on this site welded pvc or pe? It is definetly best to weld or heat galvanized in a well ventillated area -- use a fan or hold your breathe when the smoke gets thick. Have done it for 30 years ----- yes be careful --- it does affect everyone a little differently.

Re: How do you fix wire stretchers? [Re: Gone Trappin.] #7284931
06/13/21 06:58 AM
06/13/21 06:58 AM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,233
The Hill Country of Texas
Leftlane Offline
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The Hill Country of Texas
if they are ok top and bottom but too wide in the middle you can draw them down with nailing twine


“What’s good for me may not be good for the weak minded.”
Captain Gus McCrae- Texas Rangers


Re: How do you fix wire stretchers? [Re: Gone Trappin.] #7284943
06/13/21 07:16 AM
06/13/21 07:16 AM
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Posts: 539
Watertown, WI
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rszwieg Offline
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Are those Peerless stretchers? Just save em for the big ones, if they are.

Re: How do you fix wire stretchers? [Re: Gone Trappin.] #7285017
06/13/21 09:18 AM
06/13/21 09:18 AM
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Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Law Dog Offline
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Law Dog  Offline
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They can be bent by hand and bent back without being heated KISS.


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: How do you fix wire stretchers? [Re: Gone Trappin.] #7285023
06/13/21 09:27 AM
06/13/21 09:27 AM
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Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
SNIPERBBB Offline
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Rodney,Ohio
Careful about tweaking them. They're designed to be squeezed to get the hides started so they're right when you release stretcher. If you get them bent you might have issues with loose hides. You shouldn't need to bend them unless it's making the hides the wrong dimensions.

Last edited by SNIPERB🦝; 06/13/21 09:27 AM.
Re: How do you fix wire stretchers? [Re: Gone Trappin.] #7285044
06/13/21 10:04 AM
06/13/21 10:04 AM
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Wisconsin
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The Beav Offline
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Wisconsin
To wide of a form will thin the leather In those rats and they will be down graded.


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: How do you fix wire stretchers? [Re: Law Dog] #7285076
06/13/21 11:07 AM
06/13/21 11:07 AM
Joined: Mar 2020
Posts: 7,211
W NY
Turtledale Online content
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W NY
Originally Posted by Law Dog
They can be bent by hand and bent back without being heated KISS.

X2


NYSTA, NTA, FTA, life member Erie county trappers assn.,life member Catt.county trappers
Re: How do you fix wire stretchers? [Re: Turtledale] #7285098
06/13/21 11:41 AM
06/13/21 11:41 AM
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Posts: 862
Ohio
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Gone Trappin. Offline OP
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Ohio
Originally Posted by Turtledale
Originally Posted by Law Dog
They can be bent by hand and bent back without being heated KISS.

X2

I’ve tried it 100 times. They are too springy

Re: How do you fix wire stretchers? [Re: Gone Trappin.] #7285104
06/13/21 11:50 AM
06/13/21 11:50 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
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If you do need to bend them. You actually have to over do it to account for the spring. Or just simply add a few wraps of duct tape/gorilla tape just below the shoulders

Re: How do you fix wire stretchers? [Re: Gone Trappin.] #7285105
06/13/21 11:52 AM
06/13/21 11:52 AM
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Wisconsin
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The Beav Offline
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Wisconsin
As long as the bottom of the form Is still the original length you won't be able to get the size you want. Cut the bottom wire in the center then over lap those wires to the size you want. Take a steel nut and run both wires though It and the smash It flat. Or if you have a welder just tack them together.

Are you sure you have rat stretchers?


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: How do you fix wire stretchers? [Re: Gone Trappin.] #7285170
06/13/21 01:51 PM
06/13/21 01:51 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Law Dog Offline
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Lock your fingers together and squeeze a couple inches down from the tip with your palms you need to over squeeze as it will come back a bit I’ve done it a hundred times the newer ones just bend in and don’t come back the same. It’s really not super easy but it’s not rocket science it wire.


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: How do you fix wire stretchers? [Re: Law Dog] #7285217
06/13/21 02:50 PM
06/13/21 02:50 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,292
East-Central Wisconsin
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bblwi Offline
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East-Central Wisconsin
Bend at the apex of the curve as stated. Then go down to the 18 inch mark and put some duct tape around and tighten to 6he standard wooden stretcher width. You can put another strip up at about the shoulder also do get that down to the desired width.

Bryce

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