Hello, everyone. Back in black. 'Been a while. Stated my '24 trapping season here in Kotz. Got 2 otter so far, one in a bank den, the other in a beaver dam crossing. Got a few beaver sets out, Lord willing put a few more today.

I'd like to tan my own beaver and otter. I used to tan my own lighter skins like fox, marten, and muskrat, first with ProTanner's Solution, then with Luton F. I have TruBond 1000B now and would like to use that.

1. What's a good way to flesh my otter? I've seen the PVC beams here and would like to try them. I have a good, heavy wooden beam but I see the PVC ones work well. So any ideas on how to set one up would be great.

2. How do I thin my hides, or do I? I don't have a Dakota Flesher, although it's on my Christmas list for when I hit the lottery. Should I sand them with a sander to make them thinner once they're dried? I have nice, wire stretchers for the otter. No hoops for the beaver.

3. Has anyone successfully tanned beaver and otter with Trubond? Like garment ready? I'd like to know the steps if so.

I'll keep you all updated as I progress. Quyaana.

By far the easiest way to both flesh and thin hides is the traditional Cree way-Frostscraping.

I have tanned a lot of beaver and otter. Otter tan very well. Beaver can be problematic, hit and miss.
My first beaver I thinned with a sharp knife after picking. Worked but not pretty. I then bought a Dakota and never looked back.
I chromed tanned for a long time. Holds up very well to becoming wet. Parkas boots can get wet.
I then began using ez100. A synthetic tan that holds up to becoming wet.
Frost scraping might be a way to thin. A beam and good fleshing knife will work after the picking process. I have not tried it but can see it working. Pickling is important. I would not bypass this step.

Can't speak for thinning, I've never tried tanning anything. But a wood beam works just fine fleshing otter, I keep a spray bottle handy to keep the fur moist while I'm doing it

How do I frostscrape? Skin, flesh, put on a stretcher and let it freeze and scrape? Scrape with what?

Check out posts by Boco on trap talk.

Boco "Yes,You stretch the rough skinned hide tight,then take it out and let it freeze hard overnight.has to be around minus 25c (5 degrees F) to work best.when its cold the fat and flesh come off easy and look like pine shavings from a planer.If its not cold enough the flesh is too soft and there is no advantage,
Works real good at minus 30 but even at that temp you have to keep it out of the sun,since the sunlight will soften up the fat."

Info found on this thread. https://trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/8081291/

Thanks FT Good to see you back on the Forum.

I agree Boco I tried your method of frost scrapping and its great if your selling you pelts or tanning to thin them the only thing we get maybe one week of below 30 F. Question on your scrapper I have been using a 2 inch wide chisel with the corners rounded off and razor sharp. in you picture I cant tell what the scrapping end of your srapper is made of??

The scraper is a piece of stainless steel made from a piece of blade from a wood mill.
It is drilled in the middle and the handle is a bent piece of threaded rod with a drilled hardwood handle.

Ok I was wondering about what it was propped up on that is not part of it but just to show it better in the picture. LOL

This is what I use, Boco's looks like a better design but this one has been passed down so it's sentimental.

Thatd be a good design to dryscrape the hair and grain off a moosehide for tanning.
Seen similar used here for that purpose.