I have 3 unfleshed beaver pelts in the freezer waiting for the weather to get warm enough to thaw them. I have a Weibe double edged fleshing knife and I keep tearing pelts. I made my fleshing beam from a 1x5 and shaped the nose with a grinder. Is a pvc fleshing beam better?

You should use a 2x6 so you can round the top to fit the contour of your blade. as well as the nose point.

Thanks! I am 13 and feel like Im the only teen on earth who cares about trapping anymore.

Find yourself a nice round ash tree most are dead by now. Cut a decent log out of it and split her in half now you got two fleshing beams so a buddy can help haha.

There is no shortage of those around me in southern Indiana

Has anyone ever sold a hooped beaver pelt? If so, how much?

x2

I mill mine from birch logs and shape them with a chainsaw until they're close, then I shape them with a rasp and sand them smooth

I have found the best for me fleshing beaver is a larger radius than my coyote beam which I figure previous posters are saying. I was going to build a new beam with a lot larger radius but when I was experimenting with radiuses I got stopped in my tracks and found a hidden gem of a beaver beam!
https://youtu.be/OCZ4Jy3yJfo?si=4dnren_JMQwSH_bb

I did this but didn't split it. Turned it down smooth on a lathe and it works good for me.

Hmmmm. John, you’ve been a member of Tman for 2 weeks. There are lots of young trappers here; people selling/buying hooped beavers; all you have to do is look.

That being said, your problem isn’t unique. We all have to start somewhere.

1. Get a wider beam. One that matches the curvature of your knife.
2. Contact your state Trapper’s association and meet up with experienced people who can show you how it’s done.
3. While you’re there, meet people and find someone who will mentor you on pelt put-up
4. Meet some buyers who will show you how they do it.
5. Look it up on YouTube or Rumble
6. Make sure whatever you’re fleshing is clean. Comb it out. Wash it if necessary.
7. Punching holes in anything happens. You won’t reach expert status after 2-3 beavers. Try 20 and you’ll see you’ll get better with practice. We’ve all been there in our own developments. Practice, practice, practice. You’ll get better the more you do.

There’s PLENTY of resources out there for you. You’re not the only one facing the learning curve. It helps 100% if you have people to help you along the way.

Buy one from a trapping supply company and be done with it.

This. Someday down the road you can custom make one to your liking if you want, but for now just buy one and use it.

John you hang right in there and don't get discouraged. It takes a while to get the feel of the knife and know how to control the edge cutting with the sharp side. Seldom has a great idea in his video, and yes a wider beam helps with beaver and larger hides like deer too.

I built a set of PVC beams out of 16" sanitary pipe, I was digging the ditch it was being buried in so I got lucky and got it for free. My beaver beam is 12" wide and nicely rounded, that would be a big tree to match that radius in wood. I fleshed on wood for years, but I like PVC better. I still have several wooden beams as well. The best advice I can give you is set out to learn on possum hides, not hard to flesh, very good practice and you aren't out much if you rip one. The angle of your knife matters to.

I started fleshing beavers over my knee. Works a charm. Might be less convenient for non beavers though, haven't tried it for anything else.

Thanks for the advice, I live on a farm and we thinned out the coyote population. We shot and trapped 40 coyotes one winter.

If only I knew how to put up furs then.

putting up fur takes practice, watch some video

No, there’s more out there like you. Keep it up.
I bought one of Leon’s “Top Lot Stretcher” and love it. Wide and narrow beams, easy to change out. Solid base.
Anyone that says they’ve never cut a hide has either never touched one or full of crap.
Watch the best of em in videos and the good ones tell you “it’s happens sometimes, even to the best”
If you got a few, save the better ones for last and start with lesser value ones. The small ones are super easy, don’t use the sharp side on the little buggers.

2X and try to go to local and State convention.