Ive always used boards. Im curious, to get the oval shape do you use a tension bar or do you just bend the hoop into shape?? I ran out of boards a few times this season and was thinking about keeping a few hoops in reserve.....

I just bend it.

Just bend them a bit after a couple hundred they start to keep the oval shape.

Short,simple and to the point I like it....

Bend it to the shape you want and tie a wire across the fur side from one side to the other to hold it in that shape while the pelt dry's Ky.

Ok thanks. I have a lot of overhead space to hang fur. My shed is 12' on the high side. Lowest part of the roof is about 10'. I cant stand low ceilings,LOL

I liked the hoops cause the pelt don't have to be bone dry to put up, don't get that matted down look either, just brush all the fur up toward the head after hooping and let them dry.

Im still gonna use boards mainly. I use an electric staple gun and its super fast. Im thinking of the hoops for back ups when running out of boards. You put the hog rings about the same distance apart as a nail I guess?

I wish I had read this earlier,I sent prune a pm asking the same questions as Ky. Do you punch holes for the rings first or just pushem through as you go?

You just push the ring thru as you go. BUT...get some large rings, not the little ones that come with the hoop. LM. KY, did you get the contract form ok ?

KY...Prune tells how his son hooped a bunch over in the 1041 beaver thread....it's hard to argue with someone who's doing that many!

I do mine a little different.

I used to hoop them on the floor, or on a table, but found a better, easier, and faster way....(for me)

I hang an "S" hook from a cord about 18" long, near the wall (6" or so). Being near the wall will keep the hoop from spinning. If you have a power skinner....you can adjust the height as you go...even better. I Hang my hoop from the hook. Most of my hoops have "somewhat" of a permanent oval, that I tweak slightly each time I use them. Put two hog rings through the beavers nose, then hang the beaver from the hoop with one ring on each side of your ceiling hook. Two hog rings keep it from falling one side. From there, I adjust length. I ring outside the front legs, the flanks, then hind legs, then the tail. Then cut the ring interval in half, then in half again. Rarely do I need to adjust the hoop a second time....but if I do, I find out at this stage. One that's done.....rock and roll installing the rest of them at your desired interval...

I use regular "small" hog rings....all mine are green or worn silver and duller than snot. With a light, comfortable pair of pliers they go right in easily...you have to do a few to see how to hold them with the pliers. I use Craftsman 6" slip joint pliers. It takes a few to develop the speed and dexterity, but it does come.

Also, I do this right next to my upright freezer....I keep a couple hundred hog rings spread across the top of it. That's the only way I can keep them from becoming a "barrel of monkeys" and slowing me down.

Oh.....front legs: two clothes pins each. Hind legs: a hog ring in the middle, and a clothes pin one each side.

I use more hooks than most people...every 1" or so......

You said that you use an electric staplegun, any recommendations?

I use hoops and do things pretty much like Daniel does.

I don't do anything with the front legs though. I also like many rings, close together...about an inch apart. I don't believe it really matters, but I think they look nicer with more rings.

I also hang my beaver hoops while hooping, similar to the way Daniel does it. But, my contraption looks like a painter's easle. It has a slight angle to it with a hook on top for hanging the hoop. It works out quite well for hooping. If someone would be willing to post a picture, I can email it to them.

I have certain hoops I use for each size beaver. I've found that it isn't good for hoops to stretch a blanket on one and then try to stretch a small (or vise versa). So, I've got certain hoops for SML, MED, LM, XL, XXL-3XL. After a while, they take and hold an oval pattern.

Yea, I just got it thanks!!

Thanks guys. Ill probably pick up a few to keep around. I doubt Ill ever get away from my boards though. With the electric stapler, rotating table set up I can board a big beaver in about 2-3 minutes.

They also make a bar that is adjustable to get the oval shape out of the hoop.
Also, the rings are small, so I go to the hardware store and get "Hog Rings", they use them for upholstery, and have 3 different sizes, s, med, Lrg.. and usually I end up using different sizes on the same beaver, and they are very handy to have.

also, end up using around 100+ for a big beaver.

Absolutely, I'd love to see it as well!

dledinger@earthlink.net