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Beaver - How I Flesh and Board Beaver....PIC Heavy #2566316
05/01/11 12:51 AM
05/01/11 12:51 AM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 368
Central MN
MNCedar Offline OP
trapper
MNCedar  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 368
Central MN
Maybe nobody cares....or already knows this. But I used to have "troubles" when it came to putting up beaver. Knicks, holes, slices, and finally tearing as I take them off the boards.

Really trying to take my time this year....and I was bored the other night too.

Open to any and all feedback and criticism. Its a lot of work, and I'm open to anything that may help my put up.



SO.....here we go.

Skin some beaver and make sure they're dry....


Got a little behind on skinning, and this female was a bit warm by this time, if you can't tell by the fatty areas around the head and front legs. But it dried fine and no worries.

I hook the nose on the board first. Tried the whole "case skin the head out" thing, and it just seemed to slow me down. But maybe its worth it.


Guess I try and rip a little "relief" on each edge of the beam first, then clean up the middle of the back....like this....






And clean up the hind end in the process. Probably the worst of it in my opinion. But get it looking something like this...


I then put it nose down and clean up the head and cheeks. I have a feeling I do more than needed here, but I think it helps them dry better, and an extra minute or two helps with the look of the pelt, at least to me.


Then, keep the center of the pelt on the nose of the beam, and work the "easy" stuff out towards the edges. Seems to help keep things cleaner for me. Like this...




Finally, I hook the head back on and squee-gee off as much of the white, liquid fat "stuff" as I can. Also, cleans off any scraps.


Now....to shoot the thing onto the board. I guess I do it the hard way and eyeball it. I'm just stubborn and that's what I do...but maybe the equation thing actually works for some.

I shoot the bottom on first, then pull the nose up. Then work the sides out and make sure I picked the right line.

IMPORTANT....If a pretty girl is texting you, it is CRUCIAL that you keep your phone on the board grin



Then, kind of like the star pattern when tightening lug bolts, I work my way around the bottom 3/4 of the beaver. I usually do the head last, guess because it seems like that area would be the most forgiving if my skinning was a little off. Anyway, sort of like this....




Any little tags, I try to clean up like this. Also, I usually trim the lips and nose too. Not always, but depends on how the beaver shoots on. I think it does help the pelt dry and look nice.




Not sure if this is best, but I pinch, staple, and trim the leg holes, like this...





Re: How I Flesh and Board Beaver....PIC Heavy [Re: MNCedar] #2566327
05/01/11 01:00 AM
05/01/11 01:00 AM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 368
Central MN
MNCedar Offline OP
trapper
MNCedar  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 368
Central MN
DONE.

Now time to carry the board in to dry with the rest of them... in the laundry room....right next to the clean clothes




Re: How I Flesh and Board Beaver....PIC Heavy [Re: MNCedar] #2566406
05/01/11 08:05 AM
05/01/11 08:05 AM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 16
East Central MN
Cokeacola Offline
trapper
Cokeacola  Offline
trapper

Joined: May 2010
Posts: 16
East Central MN
They turned out very nice, thanks for sharing!

Re: How I Flesh and Board Beaver....PIC Heavy [Re: MNCedar] #2566407
05/01/11 08:08 AM
05/01/11 08:08 AM
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 133
Central Minnesota
lyonch Offline
trapper
lyonch  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 133
Central Minnesota
Awesome post MNCedar!!! Your put up job looks good! I flesh a touch differently then you do, but i think it all comes down to personal preference. Have you found that the staples are a pain to pull out when you pull the pelts off the board? I use nails myself and have thought about staples, but i am just too gun shy you could say to do it LOL.

Here is a tip for anyone making beaver boards, make sure that when you stenciling on your ovals, alternate the colors of each ring. This way it is a lot easier to follow.


My mind belongs to my work,
My heart belongs to my family,
But my soul belongs to the coyotes!!
Re: How I Flesh and Board Beaver....PIC Heavy [Re: MNCedar] #2566414
05/01/11 08:18 AM
05/01/11 08:18 AM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 442
catskills,ny
W
watermann Offline
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watermann  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 442
catskills,ny
looks like you get an A . Good to see its about taking pride in ones work and not about economics . I vote this post to the archives ...Tom


2nd season trapping
Yotes 1 ,finally
red fox
greys
fisher 2
Coons 1
beaver
grinners2
mink
rats
Re: How I Flesh and Board Beaver....PIC Heavy [Re: MNCedar] #2566461
05/01/11 09:26 AM
05/01/11 09:26 AM
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 743
Ashe co. mountains n.c
trapmando Offline
trapper
trapmando  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 743
Ashe co. mountains n.c
Thank you for the educational beaver fur put up. Great job


A trap is only a trap if you dont know about it. If you know about it, its a challenge
Re: How I Flesh and Board Beaver....PIC Heavy [Re: MNCedar] #2566469
05/01/11 09:40 AM
05/01/11 09:40 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 9,734
Northern Illinois
M
MChewk Offline
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MChewk  Offline
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M

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 9,734
Northern Illinois
Very nice pics and descriptions...thank you.

Re: How I Flesh and Board Beaver....PIC Heavy [Re: lyonch] #2566516
05/01/11 10:41 AM
05/01/11 10:41 AM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 368
Central MN
MNCedar Offline OP
trapper
MNCedar  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 368
Central MN
Pulling staples is something you need to get used to at first, but its not that bad. Once you do a few....you get faster. I used to really rush this part, and the fur check would show it!

I use a screwdriver and a pair of sidecutters to pull staples. Sometimes I just lift the pelt loose and off the board with the flat screwdriver, and then grab one "leg" of the staple and pull it through and out.

I asked on here and with a buyer about the KB staple rake. He modifies them a little....but that thing is basically getting the snot used out of it too.

Oh, as far as the ring colors. My buddy did his last year, alternated between blue and black or red and black every other ring. He thought it was great.....

It just made me dizzy.

I count the "spaces" when I board. Like the beaver in this post, I see it as "one showing"....meaning one space. Maybe thats a little abstract...but thats just how my brain works.

Re: How I Flesh and Board Beaver....PIC Heavy [Re: MNCedar] #2566518
05/01/11 10:46 AM
05/01/11 10:46 AM
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 0
Oregon / Wisconsin
O
Old man Offline
trapper
Old man  Offline
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O

Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 0
Oregon / Wisconsin
Using your method,how long does it take to flesh and board a blanket?


The older I get, the better I was.
Re: How I Flesh and Board Beaver....PIC Heavy [Re: Old man] #2566543
05/01/11 11:11 AM
05/01/11 11:11 AM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 368
Central MN
MNCedar Offline OP
trapper
MNCedar  Offline OP
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 368
Central MN
I'm not an expert.

Oh geez....I don't know. Never honestly timed anything out. I just know the staple part of it goes fast, once you do a few it only gets faster.

One thing I wanted to try this year, but didn't, was to use a pneumatic stapler (soffit gun) and turn the air pressure way down. That would leave a large portion of the staple sticking out, and make it very easy to pull out. I was shown this by a buyer, and plan on it for next year.

Re: How I Flesh and Board Beaver....PIC Heavy [Re: MNCedar] #2566719
05/01/11 02:44 PM
05/01/11 02:44 PM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 843
NH
S
sgs Offline
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sgs  Offline
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S

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Posts: 843
NH
What kind of fleshing knife are you using?

Re: How I Flesh and Board Beaver....PIC Heavy [Re: sgs] #2566733
05/01/11 03:05 PM
05/01/11 03:05 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 368
Central MN
MNCedar Offline OP
trapper
MNCedar  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 368
Central MN
Necker 600

Re: How I Flesh and Board Beaver....PIC Heavy [Re: MNCedar] #2566964
05/01/11 07:09 PM
05/01/11 07:09 PM
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 7,249
western mn
B
bucksnbears Offline
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 7,249
western mn
cedar, i was thinking the same thing with a pnumatic staple gun. turn the air down low so the heads stick up 1/4 inch. also a brain fart and have never tried this but would the hide dry faster if you were to cut out a hole in the middle of the board. say a 10" hole or so??than stick a piece of lathe inside,to lift it abit.?? good informative post. and NO Lyonch. i ai'nt coming down to help you skin/flesh that pile you got laugh


swampgas chili and schmidt beer makes for a deadly combo

You have to remember that 1 out of 3 Democratic Voters is just as dumb as the other two.
Re: How I Flesh and Board Beaver....PIC Heavy [Re: MNCedar] #2566975
05/01/11 07:21 PM
05/01/11 07:21 PM
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 35
MN
L
LeviM Offline
trapper
LeviM  Offline
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L

Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 35
MN
Hey bucs ray and I have a pile in dustys freezer for you to start on.

Re: How I Flesh and Board Beaver....PIC Heavy [Re: MNCedar] #2567001
05/01/11 07:47 PM
05/01/11 07:47 PM
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 7,249
western mn
B
bucksnbears Offline
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 7,249
western mn
not a chance!! i'm alergic to them things sick and if i hadta flesh that many, my forearms would look like yours and i don't need hot chicks chasin me no more smirk

Last edited by bucksnbears; 05/01/11 08:59 PM.

swampgas chili and schmidt beer makes for a deadly combo

You have to remember that 1 out of 3 Democratic Voters is just as dumb as the other two.
Re: How I Flesh and Board Beaver....PIC Heavy [Re: bucksnbears] #2567305
05/01/11 11:16 PM
05/01/11 11:16 PM
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,144
louisiana
K
Kirk Offline
trapper
Kirk  Offline
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K

Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,144
louisiana
Originally Posted By: bucksnbears
cedar, i was thinking the same thing with a pnumatic staple gun. turn the air down low so the heads stick up 1/4 inch. also a brain fart and have never tried this but would the hide dry faster if you were to cut out a hole in the middle of the board. say a 10" hole or so??than stick a piece of lathe inside,to lift it abit.?? good informative post. and NO Lyonch. i ai'nt coming down to help you skin/flesh that pile you got laugh


bucks I use a pnumatic staple gun for mine and I rigged a block onto the saftey of mine which holds it off the board about a Quater inch as for the cutting a hole in the middle of the board it might work (cant say for sure as I use double sided boards) but back when I was hammer and nailing mine I would lift the hide up off the board after nailing and it would help with the drying time doing them that way


Re: How I Flesh and Board Beaver....PIC Heavy [Re: Kirk] #2567891
05/02/11 01:09 PM
05/02/11 01:09 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 368
Central MN
MNCedar Offline OP
trapper
MNCedar  Offline OP
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 368
Central MN
Would you be able to use a long enough staple with the pneumatic gun so that you can raise the pelt a little....?

Re: How I Flesh and Board Beaver....PIC Heavy [Re: MNCedar] #2568609
05/02/11 11:09 PM
05/02/11 11:09 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,302
minnesota
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goldy Offline
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minnesota
Looks like a real nice job Cedar. It might be a little easier if you do make a size chart for yourself though. I just hang the fleshed pelt from a nail and measure from nose to base of the tail. Anything 42" or more is a blanket (XXL), 39"-41" is an XL, etc.


"They that can give up essential liberty to gain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety" Ben Franklin talking about guns
Re: How I Flesh and Board Beaver....PIC Heavy [Re: MNCedar] #2569118
05/03/11 02:02 PM
05/03/11 02:02 PM
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,144
louisiana
K
Kirk Offline
trapper
Kirk  Offline
trapper
K

Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,144
louisiana
Originally Posted By: MNCedar
Would you be able to use a long enough staple with the pneumatic gun so that you can raise the pelt a little....?


Cedar I tried it in my gun (now mine is a small cheap gun so others might be diffent) and it wouldnt shoot a long enough staple to make it worth the effort. I do custom fur put up for some fur buyers down here and my drying room has a a dehumidifier , air conditioner, heater and fans so I can really regulate the temp and such in my room and do my best to keep it 65 degrees with the humidity as low as possible (not easy to do down here most of the time) now with I staple and leave the hide touching the board I average 5 days on the boards (somtimes I can get them off in 4) on my boarded beavers and 4 on hooped ones, when I was hammering and pulling the hide off the boards I could probly take all of them off in 4 but when I nailed I would have at least an inch of space between the beaver and the board


Re: How I Flesh and Board Beaver....PIC Heavy [Re: Kirk] #2569137
05/03/11 02:24 PM
05/03/11 02:24 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 368
Central MN
MNCedar Offline OP
trapper
MNCedar  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 368
Central MN
Thanks Kirk. I can't imagine drying fur down there. Up here, right now, I've been getting by with 3 days bringing them inside. But that gets to be a lot of hauling boards in and out of the house. I must say that not everyone is as thrilled as I am with the laundry room being filled with beaver boards. But, you only live once.

Goldy, thats a good idea and I'm going to put it to use tonight.

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