Streching boards,..What material is best?

P

Pack_Wolf

New member
The "Preadator Extreme" magazine had demensions of various streching boards in the last isssue. They did not have material listed. What is generally used? Plywood, 1x boards?
Thanks,

Pack /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
The best material is probably wire frames. Here's why.

STRETCHING

To stretch the pelt you can use either commercial wire stretchers which are especially made for the job, or you can use a homemade stretching board. Wire stretchers consist of fairly stout wire that has been bent in the shape of the desired pelt. (ill.6) They come in different sizes, depending on the type pelt to be stretched. Wood stretching boards can also be purchased, but most trappers make them. They are usually made out of a soft wood, like basswood or pine. When making a board, cut a one inch board into the same shape as the pelt. Be sure to smooth all the rough edges.

The metal stretching frames, left, will usually fit most hides, while, right, it takes many different sized boards to fit different sized hides.

An advantage of the wire stretchers over the wooden boards is that they are adjustable. The wire can be reduced in size by just squeezing in on the sides to fit into a smaller pelt. Though they are cheaper, the trapper needs a wooden stretcher to fit every possible size pelt.
 
Use wood. If a fur buyer sees your pelts are from a wire stretcher he will drop the price. The wire rusts and stains the hide. Use 1X pine or fir. Its cheap. Get a fur handling DVD. It's worth the money.
 
Wire and wood are good. When I was growing up my father always used wood from a cucumber tree to make stretchers. With wood and wire I always use a strip of wood about ½ inch wide and slid under the leather side of the fur after it’s been turned (on fox and coyote). It will make the fur come off the stretcher easier.
 
I get my wood stretchers from Grawe's Animal Lures out of Whapeton, ND. He makes high quality adjustable basswood stretchers. You can find his phone number in his ads in Trapper and Predator Caller. If you can't find it send me a PM and I'll get it to you. I think his prices are such that I would just as soon buy a few rather than go to the work of making them.
 
The boards I make are white pine, or pine. I cut them to the shape I need, one piece boards, then cut a groove on the 1/2" board edge, then cut grooves and slots to make it possible to run air from a fan on the nose of the stretcher. This helps the skin side dry while on the stretcher.T.20
 
Do yourself a favor and use wood, not wire. Basswood if ya can find it. If you use pine make sure their isn't any sap coming out of the wood. Even kiln dried pine sometimes has sap seeping from the knots.
 
last year We bought 50 wood stretchers from Hunkyboy, and man let me tell you how pleased we were with his boards, but I'm not sure if he is still taking orders. you will just have to ask him. Yancy
 
Last edited:
I haven't done it for several years but western red cedar was the best wood for stretchers in the opinion of a good many trappers and fur hunters I hung with in the PNW. It was easy to come by in WA and BC, easy to work with and it seemed to dry the hides better. Interesting read for me. I have no clue what several of the woods mentioned are, nor where to get them, though they sound like they are common in other parts of the continent. Each area probably has some local wood that is better than others for stretchers. Seems like I made a stretcher of spruce once also when I had some on hand, but perferred cedar.

I have a wolfer friend who is also a pro photographer. He has a collection of coyote stretchers, and he has also asked every rancher he gets to know if they will brand one of the stretchers he made with their brand. He's got some interesting old time stretchers, and a bunch of more recent wooden ones with several cattle brands burned into the wood.

Good luck this winter.
 


Write your reply...
Back
Top