I have known some who drummed coon and beaver when they were green, before fleshing them. It does help clean them and shine them up. Fox, marten and fisher and other fur out furs are drummed after they are stretched and dried. There are several different medias to use, I'm not sure which is best, or where to get it.

Judd - there is always the chance that a skin of any type can get damaged in the drumming process. However, if the process is done properly, the chance is very low.

Consider that NAFA drums thousands of fox/coyote/bobcat and marten/fisher pelts and I would say 99.8 % of the time everything is fine. But occasionally "stuff" does happen.

From what I have been told, the biggest problem in the drumming process at NAFA is when a pelt such as a marten or bobcat has the feet and claws on it, one of the claws gets caught in the drum and prevents that pelt from tumbling freely. If it gets caught in other pelts, that is when damage can occur. I guess that is why NAFA doesn't like feet/claws on the pelts.

I know a country buyer that drums a lot of fur...almost everything...prior to fleshing and stretching. It seems like coon and beaver are the main item though.

Anyhow, his drum is quite large and he uses saw dust. It really cleans up a hide nicely. It'll remove blood, dirt, sand, small burs, etc. I'm guessing he'll tumbe several hides for 10-15 minutes prior to fleshing and stretching.

jerrys drumming system uses corn cob grit like they use to polish metals.he has 2 chambers in it so he can be drumming 2 batches at once.

it makes stretching coon alot easier because alot of the grease is removed durig the drummin process.

he drums long haired fur and his coon and possum.

i tumble after i wash, snap dry pelts, then place on the shaft of a washing machine on spinning cycle.... i do this only with fox and yote

See fur tumbler!