How do I plane em? I don't have a tool for that I believe. I will ask my dad if he does since he's in the log home business

I still think it’s a cool project! Much like collecting and making your own gland lure, or making tallow soap! But I do love placing an order on a trapping website and having supplies delivered too! Lots of fun

Yes it's very fun knowing you have trappibg stuff coming tomorrow lol idk why it's just a great felling knowing your getting something! Kinda like Christmas

Well it won’t come tomorrow but probably this week! I bought swivels, a small pelt fleshing tool, some S hooks….mostly hardware. But things add up and F and T offered a free gift with so much purchase so I chose a skunk trapping and handling DVD which I’m sure will be interesting!
I did buy red fox urine because I tend to be liberal with it at most sets. Also an ADC very berry bait because I have a friend who wants a groundhog trapped in a cage trap. Yes it’s fun to buy stuff you need. But I already have a lot for someone who doesn’t trap a heck of a lot. I try not to overspend. Cause that way I can save money for something more exciting….like having my fox mounted! Should be done in a few more months!! Cost a lot but it’s more special than just buying stuff!!

Owwwwwww,,,,,,, Nooooooooooooooooo

Not wood vs wire......again.......................................
I hate wire,,,,,makes a good "lot" look different...........
wood board for each size,,,,all uniformed.....
Stretch the bigger...... of the small,,,,,,to be next size if you can,,,,
If you cant,,,,,,,,back to the size down....

I made mine from rough cut poplar. I was the softest wood available in my area at the time other than pine. Planed to 1/2", rounded the edges on router table, cut to shape on bandsaw. To NAFA manual dimensions. Pretty cheap if you already have the tools.

My marten and mink boards including the belly wedges are commercially produced. Otter, wolverine, and wolf boards I built due to the high shipping costs to Alaska. I used NAFA’s dimensions on my otter boards, which are solid. The wolf and wolverine are split boards from my late father in law’s patterns.

End of discussion!

Forming boards are very simple to make with hand tools.

Finding QUALITY Basswood that is straight grained and clear so it is easy to use tacks isn't always easy.

Iv boarded thousands of pelts over the years and I doubt any went on basswood,none of that around here as far as I know.

I hauled lots of beaver out on snowshoes too but then I learned to work SMARTER. Using GOOD boards is a pleasure but you can continue to work harder if you like.

OK sally,pushing a pin in a board is hard work,lol.
There are lots of different wood that make great boards soft cedar is the best around here.

Yeah, even white pine can get hard. Poplar is real hard compared to white pine. Basswood is great to work with if you are using push pins. If you're using a stapler I guess it doesn't matter much.

Never tried cedar.

You remind me of a Chesapeake. Most of the time you need to talk to them with a 2x4 just to get them to listen to what you are saying.

White Cedar bleeds pitch. Western Red gets hard as a rock.

No pitch in my cedar boards-nice and clear.
Gotta watch out for pitch pockets in pine.

Now I know why you buy boards-If you think pushing in a pin is hard work you are too lazy to make your own.

UPDATE: Please change the title of this thread to "Make your boards out of the wood that won't pass for kindling". No further discussion is needed. Bozo has spoken.