Fur Handling Archive


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


~Catalog~

Print Thread
Hop To
Converting wire stretchers...LOTS of pic's #795218
07/21/08 09:02 AM
07/21/08 09:02 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,720
South Central Nebraska age 71
tmrschessie Offline OP
trapper
tmrschessie  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,720
South Central Nebraska age 71
OK a few folks have asked me to post this so here goes. First these are heavy #5 wire stretchers, you can do the same with #4 or for any other animal hide you want to do this way.

Here is a "jig" I made so I can make these conversions myself.




To make the Jig...
I lay the wire stretcher on the plywood. Then lay a piece of 1x2 against each side of the stretcher and nail them down. Then after cutting to length and with the insert in position I put in a couple nails to hold the stretcher against the wood insert.

Next I place a wire stretcher in the jig...




Then I place a wooden insert in to get the correct position so I can cut off the hooks...





Then using a big pair of bolt cutters I cut the side rails so they are about 1/4 inch shy of being flush with the bottom of the board insert.



Once the hooks are off I measure to insure the board is able to get my longest measurement, in this example 5X, then add the rest....




I put 3 1/2 wraps of duct tape making sure the side rails of the stretcher are centered. I do the bottom first...




then I do the remaining marks, insuring the duct tape is tightly pulled on each wrap, I end with the cut on the tape being on the top right....The top of the tape is the length measurement when stretching your coon hides...

Here are the NAFA measurements I use...

Raccoon size, length
5XL. Over 38"
4XL. Over 35"
3XL, 32"-35"
2XL, 29"-32"
XL, 27"-29"
LGE, 24"-27"
LM, 22"-24"
MED, 20"-22"
SML, Under 20"





Then I mark the sizes for easy reference...




The width is 8 inches at the bottom...




FHA Measurements
Raccoon
2" = 3"
6" = 5"
12" = 6 1/2"
24" = 7"
36" = 7 1/4"
48" = 7 1/2"


NAFA measurements
Raccoon (large):
5.5" to 6" @ 11"
7.5" to 8" @ 30"
8" @ 48 to 54"

Raccoon (medium):

5" to 5.5" @ 8"
7" to 7.5" @ 25"
8" @ 48 to 54"

Raccoon (small):

5" @ 11"
6.5" @ 30"
7" @ 48 to 54"


they are then hung up to be added to the inventory...






here is my one of my work stations with the J and S hooks I make and some bought and home made swivels...




The insert is 3/8 thick by7 1/2 inches wide by 16 inches long in the example I have used here... I now use a 24 inch long insert to handle smaller and larger coon.

Keep your wraps tight and where you want them. The jig was made of scrap plywood, trap stakes that I cut to short...and a few nails from when I used nails....GET A PNEUMATIC STAPLER....so much faster.

This conversion will allow you to make the money cut on your coon and get from 1 to 3 inches or more in length with out over stretching.

The idea for this is old but the guys that helped me get started are "nebowhunter" and "bluetick".
Pro-Hunt recommended the cross piece on top and rags the measurement charts I forgot...thanks.....well there you have it....Tom



Last edited by tmrschessie; 11/03/12 06:50 AM.
Re: Converting wire strecters...LOTS of pic's [Re: tmrschessie] #795229
07/21/08 09:19 AM
07/21/08 09:19 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,488
Northwestern New York(Elder)
Jonathan Offline
"Wilson"
Jonathan  Offline
"Wilson"

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,488
Northwestern New York(Elder)
Tom, Excellent tutorial!! I do not own any wire stretchers except those I use for muskrats. Everything else goes on wood.

Many who are wondering on how to make this wire-wood conversion will benefit from this tremendously.

Jonathan

Last edited by Jonathan; 07/21/08 02:21 PM.
Re: Converting wire strecters...LOTS of pic's [Re: Jonathan] #795551
07/21/08 12:32 PM
07/21/08 12:32 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,720
South Central Nebraska age 71
tmrschessie Offline OP
trapper
tmrschessie  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,720
South Central Nebraska age 71
Thank You, Jonathan. I try to help where ever I can...Tom

Re: Converting wire strecters...LOTS of pic's [Re: tmrschessie] #795684
07/21/08 02:13 PM
07/21/08 02:13 PM
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 452
New Hampshire
anton Offline
trapper
anton  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 452
New Hampshire
Thank you Tom,
Was getting ready to make the coversions on mine and had dug through all the archives-you laid it all out though and included all sizes, size of board to add etc. !! Thanks.

*Someone needs to make sure they archive this post pls.

Re: Converting wire strecters...LOTS of pic's [Re: anton] #795773
07/21/08 03:03 PM
07/21/08 03:03 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,134
So. IL
pintail_drake04 Offline
trapper
pintail_drake04  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,134
So. IL
i plan on converting 1/2 dz of mine this year. thanks for the help

Re: Converting wire strecters...LOTS of pic's [Re: pintail_drake04] #795960
07/21/08 04:29 PM
07/21/08 04:29 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,720
South Central Nebraska age 71
tmrschessie Offline OP
trapper
tmrschessie  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,720
South Central Nebraska age 71
If you make a jig like I did, you will be done in about 20 minutes LOL. Thank You and good luck. Tom

Re: Converting wire strecters...LOTS of pic's [Re: tmrschessie] #796155
07/21/08 06:54 PM
07/21/08 06:54 PM
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 444
Southern Wisconsin
Only live once Offline
trapper
Only live once  Offline
trapper

Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 444
Southern Wisconsin
Do you trace an outline of a wood stretcher on your worktop to get get the right bend?Cool topic,I was going to give all my wire away.I guess I'll try this instead.Thanks!

Re: Converting wire strecters...LOTS of pic's [Re: Only live once] #796228
07/21/08 07:29 PM
07/21/08 07:29 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,720
South Central Nebraska age 71
tmrschessie Offline OP
trapper
tmrschessie  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,720
South Central Nebraska age 71
No I lay the wire stretcher on the plywood. Then lay a piece of 1x2 against each side of the stretcher and nail them down. Then after cutting to length and with the insert in position I put in a couple nails to hold the stretcher against the wood insert. Tom

Re: Converting wire strecters...LOTS of pic's [Re: tmrschessie] #796272
07/21/08 08:01 PM
07/21/08 08:01 PM

A
ADC
Unregistered
ADC
Unregistered
A



Tom make a copy of this great post over on the archives forum as well, PLEASE???

Here's the link... Trapping Archives Forum

THANKS!!!!

~ADC~

Re: Converting wire strecters...LOTS of pic's [Re: ] #796399
07/21/08 09:12 PM
07/21/08 09:12 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 9,649
se SD
rags57078 Offline
Humorist
rags57078  Offline
Humorist

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 9,649
se SD
bump


Off in my own world

Fish on !!!!!!!



47 years in this game of trapping
Re: Converting wire strecters...LOTS of pic's [Re: rags57078] #796481
07/21/08 10:16 PM
07/21/08 10:16 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,662
Ely, Minnesota, coolest small ...
M
madtrapper Offline
trapper
madtrapper  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,662
Ely, Minnesota, coolest small ...
These stretchers work well for otter too, they allow you to tack out the tail as it should be.


Ely, Minnesota, coolest small town in America, 2010.
Re: Converting wire strecters...LOTS of pic's [Re: madtrapper] #796593
07/21/08 11:44 PM
07/21/08 11:44 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,228
perryville/missouri
T
threestud Offline
trapper
threestud  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,228
perryville/missouri
hey doesnt the duck tape fall off after a while with all of the grease from coons i never seen that type of board before looks like a good idea but does it work ??

Re: Converting wire strecters...LOTS of pic's [Re: threestud] #796723
07/22/08 01:48 AM
07/22/08 01:48 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,858
New York
D
DerekB Offline
trapper
DerekB  Offline
trapper
D

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,858
New York
thats a good idea i will have to do that

Re: Converting wire strecters...LOTS of pic's [Re: DerekB] #796785
07/22/08 07:38 AM
07/22/08 07:38 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,720
South Central Nebraska age 71
tmrschessie Offline OP
trapper
tmrschessie  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,720
South Central Nebraska age 71
ADC, posted it for you. http://jayme220.proboards53.com/index.cgi

The friend that helped me get going is on about his 4th year with the same duct tape.

Good Point about the Otter....thanks,

I would think any animal with a tail that needs tacked open we could benefit using this system, I am going to do a couple coyote stretchers this way. Tom

Re: Converting wire strecters...LOTS of pic's [Re: tmrschessie] #2938271
01/10/12 09:47 AM
01/10/12 09:47 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,720
South Central Nebraska age 71
tmrschessie Offline OP
trapper
tmrschessie  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,720
South Central Nebraska age 71
I have gone to 24 inch wood inserts, this allows for smaller and larger coon on the same stretcher. Tom

Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

Moderated by  Wolfdog91 

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1