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Muskrat fleshing beam #7677930
09/24/22 01:24 AM
09/24/22 01:24 AM
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 1,336
South Dakota
T
TheYouthTrapper Offline OP
trapper
TheYouthTrapper  Offline OP
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Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 1,336
South Dakota
So I took an old fox board that I had laying around and turned it into a muskrat fleshing beam. It had a gouge in it so I had to shorten it, retrace it, and refine it to beam shape. I'm waiting to cut it into final length since I don't know what bench it's going on. About 1.5-2 hours of sand paper and a little bit of time to cut it. What do you guys think? Did I do good or should I buy one? Thanks in advance!

-TheYouthTrapper

[Linked Image]

Last edited by TheYouthTrapper; 09/24/22 01:25 AM.
Re: Muskrat fleshing beam [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7677933
09/24/22 02:10 AM
09/24/22 02:10 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,552
minn
F
fossil2 Offline
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fossil2  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
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minn
looks like itll work fine. rats are fast and easy to scrape. cant tell the length from the pic. some people put the bottom of the beam on the floor and lean it against your table. others would set that beam on their chair and sit on it, with it sticking out between your legs, and bend over and scrape that way. some guys are really fast that way. if you need to do any more shaping on it, like rounding the edges off more, borrow a power sander from someone. save yourself some work.

Re: Muskrat fleshing beam [Re: fossil2] #7677936
09/24/22 02:21 AM
09/24/22 02:21 AM
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 1,336
South Dakota
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TheYouthTrapper Offline OP
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TheYouthTrapper  Offline OP
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Posts: 1,336
South Dakota
Originally Posted by fossil2
looks like itll work fine. rats are fast and easy to scrape. cant tell the length from the pic. some people put the bottom of the beam on the floor and lean it against your table. others would set that beam on their chair and sit on it, with it sticking out between your legs, and bend over and scrape that way. some guys are really fast that way. if you need to do any more shaping on it, like rounding the edges off more, borrow a power sander from someone. save yourself some work.


I will figure out a mount to mount it onto a bench. I tried a power sander, oscillating tool/multitool, an angle grinder with a flap disc and the angle grinder is the only one that worked well but it didn't get the finish I needed so I had to finish it out by hand. Besides I like using hand tools since power tools are really noisy, I was also listening to music.

Re: Muskrat fleshing beam [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7677938
09/24/22 02:46 AM
09/24/22 02:46 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,552
minn
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fossil2 Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,552
minn
i shouldve specified a belt sander for the job. itll shape the whole beam, the others you mentioned wont. as long as the scraping surface is smooth, youre good to go.

Re: Muskrat fleshing beam [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7677956
09/24/22 05:14 AM
09/24/22 05:14 AM
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 25,420
williams,mn
trapper les Offline
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trapper les  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 25,420
williams,mn
[Linked Image]
Cedar slab, it’s been shaped with a box plane and sanded on the top end.


"Those who hammer their guns into plowshares will plow for those who do not."
Re: Muskrat fleshing beam [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7677969
09/24/22 06:29 AM
09/24/22 06:29 AM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 7,998
Montana
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beartooth trapr Offline
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Posts: 7,998
Montana
It will work, just don't over scrape them.

For a fleshing knife I have tried about everything, I now just use a old spoon.


Let me sugar coat this
Re: Muskrat fleshing beam [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7677973
09/24/22 07:11 AM
09/24/22 07:11 AM
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 1,473
Over there.
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Flicker Shad Offline
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Flicker Shad  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 1,473
Over there.
Don't buy one. Save your money. Like said, rats are easy to scrape. No dedicated board even needed.

Re: Muskrat fleshing beam [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7677990
09/24/22 07:38 AM
09/24/22 07:38 AM
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 3,897
Wisconsin
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Eagleye Offline
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Eagleye  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 3,897
Wisconsin
As mentioned, not a lot of scraping required. I made one a few years back for mink and/or rats but not necessary.
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]

Re: Muskrat fleshing beam [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7677994
09/24/22 07:42 AM
09/24/22 07:42 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,684
Rodney,Ohio
SNIPERBBB Offline
trapper
SNIPERBBB  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,684
Rodney,Ohio
I use my regular beam for rats. I don't fit the rats over the be like coons. Just lay em on there, push the bug globs off and flip em over

Re: Muskrat fleshing beam [Re: Eagleye] #7678406
09/24/22 11:42 PM
09/24/22 11:42 PM
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 1,336
South Dakota
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TheYouthTrapper Offline OP
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TheYouthTrapper  Offline OP
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South Dakota
Originally Posted by Eagleye
As mentioned, not a lot of scraping required. I made one a few years back for mink and/or rats but not necessary.
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]


The organization of your boards makes me so jealous, I only have wire except for my fox, coyote, mink, and weasel stretchers.

Re: Muskrat fleshing beam [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7678421
09/25/22 12:35 AM
09/25/22 12:35 AM
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
bctomcat Offline
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bctomcat  Offline
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
Fleshing Rats, Mink, Marten, Weasels and Squirrels

Use the broad you will stretch the pelt on, or if using wire for rats use a small rat board to flesh on. Pull the pelt on so that you can flesh the side and then flip the broad to do the other side. Then straighten the pelt out so you are ready to tack the pelt on the board. Then finish the belly and back, leaving the saddle membrane on the pelt, except mink if it has a lot of fat under the saddle.
A curved small pelt (stirrup) flesher is the ideal tool for the fleshing of rats, mink/marten and other small animals when using their forming boards in the fleshing process.
[Linked Image]


The only constant in trapping is change so keep learning.






Re: Muskrat fleshing beam [Re: bctomcat] #7678425
09/25/22 12:41 AM
09/25/22 12:41 AM
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 1,336
South Dakota
T
TheYouthTrapper Offline OP
trapper
TheYouthTrapper  Offline OP
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Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 1,336
South Dakota
Originally Posted by bctomcat
Fleshing Rats, Mink, Marten, Weasels and Squirrels

Use the broad you will stretch the pelt on, or if using wire for rats use a small rat board to flesh on. Pull the pelt on so that you can flesh the side and then flip the broad to do the other side. Then straighten the pelt out so you are ready to tack the pelt on the board. Then finish the belly and back, leaving the saddle membrane on the pelt, except mink if it has a lot of fat under the saddle.
A curved small pelt (stirrup) flesher is the ideal tool for the fleshing of rats, mink/marten and other small animals when using their forming boards in the fleshing process.
[Linked Image]


Ok, I have a wiebe scraper that I've heard is pretty good.

Re: Muskrat fleshing beam [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7678439
09/25/22 04:24 AM
09/25/22 04:24 AM
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,672
Ohio
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Willy Firewood Offline
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Willy Firewood  Offline
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Posts: 2,672
Ohio
YT - too many irregularities in that beam.
They can cause a knife to catch and damage a pelt.
At your age buy good gear, you will use it a long time.

Definitely buy those boards pictured or make something similar.
Minnesota trapline supply has some good models.
So does PCS Outdoors.

Get the system where it is on a hinge and tips up out of the way.


FRAC LIVES MATTER
Re: Muskrat fleshing beam [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7678551
09/25/22 09:55 AM
09/25/22 09:55 AM
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,870
Frazee, MN
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backroadsarcher Offline
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Joined: Nov 2012
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Frazee, MN
I put mine on the wood stretchers I have and flesh them and pin them when I am done. I don't use a dedicated fleshing beam.

Re: Muskrat fleshing beam [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7679304
09/26/22 09:18 AM
09/26/22 09:18 AM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,239
SW WI
trapper20 Offline
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trapper20  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,239
SW WI
I do rats on the end of a 2x4 with a spoon, pretty easy to do

Re: Muskrat fleshing beam [Re: trapper20] #7679314
09/26/22 09:31 AM
09/26/22 09:31 AM
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 35
VT
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Craig Acton Offline
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Craig Acton  Offline
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Joined: May 2022
Posts: 35
VT
Use a road cone, Rat slides over it easy and you can spin it as your fleshing.

Re: Muskrat fleshing beam [Re: TheYouthTrapper] #7679357
09/26/22 10:20 AM
09/26/22 10:20 AM
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,996
South Dakota
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Rat Masterson Offline
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Rat Masterson  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,996
South Dakota
Doing rats with a spoon or on a 2x4 is fine if your doing a 100 rats a year, Do a few 1000 and let me know how it goes. Get a good beam with hardwear to attach to a table or bench with a fleshing tool. Most sponsors on this site have them, you can thank me later.

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