I have a decent sized shed I am going to make into my fur shed if I can get some info on stretchers, fleshing boards/beams etc. I am not new to skinning and fleshing coon and rats, but I have little knowledge of what types and sizes of stretchers I should be using. I skinned for my local fur buyer some 20 years ago but never handled fur past that point. I am thinking of getting some #4 and #5 wire stretchers for coon and I have some #1 wire stretchers for rats. Am I on the right track here? I will also get some wood boards(stretchers) for mink, yotes, fox and cats. What sizes should I get and do they come with "belly" boards or do I need to get them separately? I also need any recommendations for a fleshing board and fleshing knives. I am a fair hand at woodworking and have access to about any woodworking tool or lumber (I manage a lumber yard). Any plans out there for a board style fleshing beam would be appreciated. I would make it out of oak. I could also make stretching boards if I knew dimensions, etc. Please give me a hand here!

Snoop around this site a bit....lots of good info here.....

http://www.traps4kids.com/home.html

you can get stretcher diminsions from the big auction web sites. as for the fleshing beam just buy one they are resonable and last. the knife on the other hand is up to the amount you want to spend. the necker is a really good one in the middle price range. around 60 dollars. it works good and if you are knew to fleshing it will make it a little easier. also i would invest into a good fur handling video. they are well worth the investment. as far as the stretchers you are on the right track

You can make a fleshing board out of a piece of lumber about 2" thick adn round the nose and curve the sides. That is what I did. But I also have a ordered fleshing beam but I don't like it as much.

Are most folks putting up coon on wood? What are the advantages over wire? And thanks goat, I was thinking the same thing. I have a real nice piece of 2" oak in my lumber yard just begging to be made into a beam!

Wood for me since I started trapping 40 years ago .

4's and 5's would work for your NE coon. Bigger ones on the fives.

the thing I like best about wood is you can pull the base of the tail area into a slite pleat. This give the fur a denser look as it is seen from the viewing window also if you make your own, there is no such thing as scrap lumber, if ti cant be made into a stretcher then most likely it will make a belly board. ..just a thought