I am looking to get some new stretchers since mine are wearing out, what brand do you guys think is the best and whether or not it should be adjustable or solid stretchers?

Top Lot whether you go solid or adjustable.....

Winner, winner chicken dinner!

also depends on what your putting up coon id go wire muskrat definitely wire mink solid fox fisher solid but also had good results with adjustable coyote adjustable or wire

Gotcha I have had my eyes on top lot previously. They seem tk be the best. Have any of you guys tried their Air Boss set up? It allows you to not have to flip your fur side out pelts like coyotes and bobcat. However I think for the stretchers and the hanging/drying unit it is around 600 bucks. Whay do you guys think?

Yup

I think you would need to put up a PILE of yotes and cats to make that cost effective. Maybe even "several" piles of them.

Top Lot are high quality at good price I have both adjustable and soild both are great

Yes, Leon and his daughter make nice stuff. It is nice working with a board that isn't full of knots and is easy to put a pin where you want.

You can borax the coyotes after fleshing and put on a split board fur side out. Keep some air flow on them and will dry ok. No flipping required.

The channeled (solid) board wrapped in absorbent paper and forced air system has been around at least 40 years.

It’s a fast system but requires the use of a fur drum to drum leather out PRIOR to boarding to initially remove a lot of grease and moisture.


If I don’t wash a coyote, it will only spend 24 hours on the board.

But, I also run low low humidity in my shed naturally and than reduce it even further by heating with a wood stove.

I still caution people, especially in more humid regions to tread very carefully doing this.


Borax will NOT penetrate any amount of fat or grease so fleshing jobs must be impeccable.

Paul Antczak (sp?) just released a video that shows how he boards his coyotes fur out, using split boards, mink boards and a tumbler.

Otis makes stretchers that are just as good or better than Top Lot too. We bought several at Coyote Days and they are great.

I'm biased, but I believe wooden stretchers are the best medium for putting up quality fur. Wire works and provides a good product, but not the same class as wood.. Adjustable stretchers are great for convenience and work ok for a number of things, but not great for anything.. Seems to be the product in demand right now.. Generally you are gonna get a much better put up on a properly sized full wooden stretcher.. my .02 for what its worth lol..

Thank you guys for the info really appreciate it!

i use solid wood boards, and hang from ceiling,

Thanks Boone.

I flesh really clean and use split boards. Have a fan underneath on low circulating air until they are fully dry.

Never had any issues with using wire I did keep a few wood ones around for greasy badgers and coyotes that needed a bath. The badgers because they are so greasy and the yotes because they might have damp spots. I use a wedge even with the wire ones as skin on skin will cause slipping. I used mostly wire for years due to the ease of hauling them around moving and trapping out of state.

I feel like for fur out species adjustabke stretchers are the way to go, however with skin out species would you say solid boards produce a beyyer uniform look?