12-14" pvc is the way to go, if you can find it.

@TrapperChris, I finally got my hand on some 10" pipe and tryed my hand at making one not so "fat" at the top. Its not bad but im not really happy with it. I will post a pic as soon as I can.

I have different size PVC beams made up that just slide into a stand. Can switch out three different beams depending on what I'm working on. Got the idea from somewhere, not sure now.

Bigger one is great for beaver




You can see the smaller ones in the background up against the wall. Have one that's roughly sized for coyotes, otter, coon. Smaller one that's great for rats, mink, etc.

I traced a fox board and a large coon board for the taper i wanted. Used a jigsaw and a flapdisc grinder some final sanding and good to go.

This is the beam I just amde out of the 10" pipe I got, not real happy with it but it will do I guess

Southern Secret. You won't know till you try it. I bet it'll work out fine for you. Fleshing and stretching your own hides on something you made is great.
I love putting up fur and get great satisfaction in doing it. I hope you do the same.
Show us some put up pics this year when you get the chance

Im going to give it a tray for sure, & Ill no doubt be posting put up pick all tho im still waiting on my building/fur shed to get dropped off

I Made similar set up as Rendezvous, all im using is 6 in PVC, because that's all i had at the time, i had traced a Coyote stretcher stencil and cut it out. I use that one 95% of the time as well, notice for beavers its too small, a flatter P.V.C would be ideal, like mentioned 12" or bigger would be nice.

This has worked for me. 12"c900 water pipe. Need to narrow the point to slide legs of smaller hides over.

Nice looking beams. But it seems to me wood is a lot easier to work with.

For those looking for pvc pipe go to some construction or plumbing businesses and ask for ends they have cut off on projects, we got our pipe for free that way.
Well drillers too would have some pieces.

.

I've had good luck using the green PVC. You can use a readily available 6" pipe, cut it in half. Then put that half in boiling water for a minute. It'll soften up and you can flatten it out.

Late to the game on this thread but FWIW: I made 4 different sizes out of 10”-12” pvc pipe I really only use the “coon size”. When yr sanding the edges down WEAR A MASK

What ever you are using I think having different sizes will help. The ones I have made are oak. I have one I made which is 4 inch. This one I use for otter and similar size animals maybe like Fisher also. Then I have one that is made from 6 inch. I turned both of them down on a friends lathe. Keeping the end more narrow to help getting the fur down on it all the way to the nose. Easily switched out if need be.