So in the midst of building a new shop, 40 X 48. So new shop comes with new skinning shack/area, well once I build it. My question is what direction would you do your skinning machine if building from scratch. Currently mine is vertical, have very few gripes on it how it is set up. Only issue I can see is, as I age is there is more high and low bending and kneeling with a vertical machine. I have never used a horizontal/table style, but I can see the benefit of throwing a coyote on the table and hooking up and going. Looking for ideas/pros/cons of each option. I can re-purpose my current set up either way with little effort, just cant decide what way to go. Cheers.

I've never had any trouble with vertical. They take up a lot less space and can be designed to be folded away after season to give you even more room.

Good point, I wouldn't have to clean off the table every year with stuff I piled on it in order to skin a yote either lol.

That would certainly be a concern for me as well! lol

Build a bench along one side of your shop. Make It so your comfortable while standing and skinning. Mount your winch on one end and on the other end build a device to hook up the critters hind legs. Keep your winch elevated about 10" above the bench surface. This will allow you to flip the critter as you skin.
Use cable slip nooses to hook up the legs and the hide.
You need that bench anyway so the only cost you will have Is the price of the winch. So Instead of paying $500.00 or more for a vertical set up you can be skinning for under $100.00.

Beav a wall mounted skinning machine that will fold back out of the way in off season is around $150, a floor mounted one is about $125 if you buy it already built, if you build it yourself it would be considerably less, and then you could use the bench for other stuff.

Horizontal

Lots of room In a 40X48 shed.

So you were selling your floor mounted vertical Skinner for $125.00?

Yes. I sold a lot of them cheaper than that, I don't sell them myself anymore. I think, the new cost on them is around $140. Hoist not included of course.

Cost will not be a driving factor here as I will fab everything myself, and most all components are already owned just part of my vertical skinning machine at another location I still have, its just not in my yard and less convenient to go there to skin. I am thinking of the possibility of a horizontal fold down table that hangs against the wall in off season for extra spaces. Just hinge the back part of the table to the wall and fold it down when done. Solves the stacking of extra crap on it when not in use. This will not be my main workbench so i like the idea of a fold away version. Great ideas gents, keep them coming. Counter height is 36” give or take preference of some, i am thinking a 30” width table would be suffice for coyotes? Any opinions on table widths?

Agree with this. I need alot of bench space. My problem is that I acquire to much stuff in the off season. Need someplace to put it all.

Any opinions on how wide table should be?

I went vertical with my winch/hoist at 13'. I skin and quarter quite a few deer as well as the furbearers I process. My bench is used for a lot of things but not for handling the larger critters like raccoon and bigger.

Chris

Saw them priced at $800.00 at the last WTA convention.

If you can afford the shed, hire your skinning out. Save your back and increase your leisure time. Stop trying to be superman. You only get one back!

Skinning is my leisure time lol, and I am entirely too frugal to pay someone for a job I am willing and capable of doing myself. I would rather sell in the round than pay someone else to skin for me, plus whos going to teach my kids how to skin if im subbing out the job. Sweat equity makes the world go round.

Vertical

24" is standard cabinet depth, I've spent some time thinking about this, and if i were in my latter years...I may want to make things a little more simple. Hope this helps!

Horizontal is a pain in the back in my opinion.

Vertical.
I have a harbor freight electric hoist bolted to ceiling and plugged into garage door outlet overhead. The long cord switch comes down the wall and is easy to run. Gambrel is on the hoist hook.
Base is a free rolling moving dolly with 5 or 6 seventy five pound sand bags or several concrete blocks for weight, instead of bolting bottom grippers to floor. I made adjustable chains anchored to that dolly and they have cheap vice grip locking pliers on end for attaching to skins. When I'm done skinning the gambrel goes up to the motor out of the way, and the dolly with weights and skin grippers gets rolled to side of garage where its out of the way.
Peeling coyotes is a snap now.
Jim