Who out there uses spar varnish for the finish on wood stretchers. Who leaves the wood plain. Why?

i don't put any thing on my boards, the raw wood helps the fur dry better

I've seen pics of your fur put up. I would say whatever you are doing is working just fine. Oh, I don't put anything on mine. Matt

bfflobo,

I've used spar varnish and boiled linseed oil.

Spar varnish keeps the mold from forming, but when you get a hide that sticks to the stretcher, it really sticks!

Boiled linseed oil will let mold form on the wood, but the hides don't get stuck as hard.

I treat my new boards, once, with a 50:50 mixture of orange shellac and denatured alcohol

Looks like I will do just as I have done for the past 30 years. Stretch critters on wood only. No mold problems here in the high desert. Still learning. Thanks guys.

I agree.

I still have some that were my grandfathers, and I'am 65.
We have never put anything on our stretchers.
Never seen mold eather.
Of course we don't board wet fur eather.

I rub a thin layer of linseed oil on new boards. I'm not as concerned about mold as I am about warping. I think the linseed oil helps prevent warping.

You might try a a 50/50 mix of tung oil and mineral spirits. It is VERY thin and soaks right into the wood. Does a good job of sealing the wood without a surface finish that can get gummy if it gets wet. That being said, I don't use anything for a finish. I stretch enough coon on my cat boards that they get a good "oil" finish all by themselves. I use white cedar for my boards.
Chuck

I'll second using cedar for the boards. I plane down fence boards. No finish, just the fat from animals. The boards smell good, and are soft enough to easily get pins in and out of.

Aaron