Can someone please explain the proper usage of adjustable stretchers? Obviously, since I'm asking this basic question, I am new to fur handling (this has been my first full year). I have been "stretching" my fur with my adjustable stretchers, basically as far as they will stretch without too much force. Ending up with varying widths in my finished fur. Reason I ask is because I read the following...

Quote from FHA website: http://www.furharvesters.com/PDF/pelthandling.pdf

"To start with, we recommend the use of only one size board. The board must be 60" long and 51/4" wide, gently tapered from shoulders to nose. The use of a properly sized board is of great importance for a uniform overall finish. The proper size board for fox will enhance the density of the fur and increase the length of the pelts. A big concern at the auction house is the different widths of the pelts coming to market. Some fur harvesters use boards as wide as racing paddles. These pelts have been improperly stretched. The buyers do not want pelts in a lot that do not look similar."

I don't have solid stretchers and I like my adjustables pretty well (no belly wedge needed), so my question is in regards to proper use of Adjustable Stretchers. Can I (or should I) make them uniform with adjustable stretchers? Am I doing wrong by 'stretching' the width of the hide?

Thanks.

When you put up your fox, make sure that you only spread the board to 5 1/4" so that they all remain uniforn width.

I will be following this one, because I have just went to solid boards from adjustable boards. It seems that the 5 1/4 boards are great for a small fox but, just don't seem to fit a large fox. The large fox are way to bunched up on the smaller boards. Grawes has boards for sale that are not furharvesters dimensions, but I think for a Utah fox those would be perfect.

MAXIMUM LENGTH
at the Designated Width, be that NAFA OR FURTAKERS or ??
is how you should put-up ANY FUR.

The adjustable stretchers DO have their advantages,
but only if you LIMIT THE WIDTH to the recommended dimensions.

If you want to use Adjustables or Wire, just tie a piece of heavy string/cord across the base of the fur and limit the width that way. Slide the cord up and/or down to get all the bases the same size when you're putting the fur on for the first time.

Another (Better) way is to put a solid piece of WOOD as wide as required across the bottom end of wire stretchers is a way to limit the width too.... You can get the Best-of-Both worlds that way.

Adjustable stretchers are wonderful in the wood stove. Give a guy a wooden stretcher and you have an instant engineer.

Thanks for the replies. I will mark my adjustables and try to keep the stretch more uniform.

Not to thieve your thread, but I just ordered 6 adjustable stretchers for cats. The problem with cats is that you get so much variation in size. I have a few solid cat boards, yet it seems that every cat I have finished did not fit on the boards properly. What are your recommendations for putting cats on adjustable boards? I have no problem with other critters. I have two sizes of fox boards and three sizes for coon boards (only use 2) and two sizes for yotes and of course two sizes for mink.

trapperkeck: I wish I knew. I have the same situation with my bobcats. I marked my adjustables to FHA specs, but some of my cats "sag". Makes me want to stretch them more. Not sure if I need to.

BTT

BobCatching, Lynxie, anyone??

OK, out of 296 peeks, nobody knows how to put a cat on an adjustable stretcher. That is just unbelievable????

Adjust to the width preferred by the auction house and use them for the ability to easily remove fur without wedges etc.

I have adjustables made by sudden valley that I use for coyote, otter, fox and male fisher. I stretch each to the appropriate width and have got top lot grades for many of my furs. My adjustables have a wire head section (kind of like a heavy 'rat stretcher) and the body is 2 piece wood, so I can tweak the head shape if I like.

I use a mink board to stretch the tails and make special tapered boards to stretch the legs if appropriate.

btt to ask...

I provided a link to FHA's recommended board sizes above. I was not able to find the same for NAFA.
Does anyone know where a guy can locate NAFA's recommended board sizes by animal?

The trick is to catch them that are all the same size

Other than for cats and fox the best way to use adjustable wood stretchers is to stoke up the fire in the fur house. Terry

I make my own. One size does not
fit all cats. So, I pull them long
as needed, then spread to get out
slack. Some won't be tight on a
#5 wire strecher. Pull them long
as you like, still need spreading
sometimes.

David... That Cypress?

When OPENING a Cat, try to do the hind legs right on or near the change of color-line on the hind legs. That Opening cut will leave maximum belly fur too.

Set the Width (any way you wish/can).

Center the head on the board and PULL the hide down on the board and pin the tail in place.

Here's a little trick used when putting up Coons that may be of interest here too....
+++++++++++++++++++++
After hooking the nose over the stretcher,
go down to the bottom/tail end of the board and put a single pin through the hide to "tack" it to the board.

Then go back to the head and UN-HOOK the nose from the board.

Go back down to the bottom end and pull the fur down and around the board and tack it as across the bottom edges. Make sure it's centered on the board. Pull down as much as possible. Make the bottomedge in folds with the escess hide. That will make the back fur look even more thick and dense.

CAUTION: Don't pull too much fur around the board from the belly side because buyers want as much white/spotted belly fur as possible on Cats. (That's what I've been told anyway)

After you've pulled down (just snug) as much fur as possible, a wide-bladed Fish Skinning Pliers works good for pulling the nose back up and over the end of the board. You should have Maximum Length and Maximum Allowable Width as well.

Then do any final adjustments to the legs and tail that you want.
Leave the legs long and stretch them forward, toward the head end. That makes the belly fur look even larger.

Maybe that will help you get those Monster Cats on your boards in a more finished/desired/uniform width.....

************** DON'T FORGET the BELLY BOARD! *****************
+++++++++++++++++++++

You're LUCKY to be able to trap/hunt Cats. There is NO SEASON, either way, for them up here in NW Iowa - yet!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope this is of some help...........
Good Luck

Billy, those are yellow pine.
I use cypress when I can get it.