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Post by thebeav2 on Apr 6, 2006 11:21:46 GMT -6
I just talked to Greg and he said you can't over stretch, a hide, t will only stretch so far so take advantage of It. Size will get you more money every time. He also said that you would be surprised how far the hide can be stretched "after" tanning and the manufacture wants as much size as they can get. What we need to do Is not talk about over stretching but say you should stretch to the maximum. He said the same about coon If you leave It lose and floppy trying for fur density you will lose In Inches. and that will lose you money. Gary
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Post by ColdSteel on Apr 6, 2006 12:44:55 GMT -6
Beav,What about otter?I thought I was over stretching some trying to get to that new 42 " size NAFA has.I had a few I could hold up to a light and see through.I don't know if over stretching caused this but I backed off after I saw this on a couple
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Post by musher on Apr 6, 2006 15:49:48 GMT -6
I'm not going to try to convince anyone that catches way more beaver, of a different climate zone, of anything. However, when the local peddlar checks out a batch of beaver pelts he only measures one once in a while. He DOES run his fingers through every pelt. He also is convinced that "baggy" beaver are caught one month later than they actually are. To top it off: he pays accordingly. The advantages of a small town are that everyone knows each others prices for beaver.
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Post by Stef on Apr 6, 2006 16:14:32 GMT -6
Like I said in my second post... If you follow the pattern lines... its almost impossible to over stretch a beaver because some break will happen in the areas i said above.
It just doesn't fit.
Stef
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Post by fishadict on Apr 6, 2006 16:15:35 GMT -6
Steve - Actually, Greg told me that by stretching tight, many hides went into the section with Canadian hides, because Canadian hides have thinner leather.
fa
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Post by thorsmightyhammer on Apr 6, 2006 18:07:16 GMT -6
HOWEVER- stretching definitely affects the "thickness" of the fur. I'll stand by that.
So- if a grader feels that the fur doesn't "feel right"- would not he suspect overstretched- and downgrade it to the "finished" size?
Steve size is size its not a grade. Tough to argue with the tape measure. He can grade the fur in that size range. Mine mainly go heavy and semi heavy. Very seldom see a I-II. For me they end of october beaver. And only some of them will go that low.
A xl semi heavy beaver is worth about 20 bucks more than a dense heavy large at Nafa and I would say that at FHA also.
Gary is right we shouldnt call it overstretching we are putting up the maximum value of the market. When the market changes I'll start backing off on my stretch.
The only size range that I can tell this doesnt hold true is from a l to a lm. Looks to me that a heavy lm is worth more than a semi l. I think probably why is a Large-medium is use natural so they can pay more.
Pocessing cost affect the beaver more so than any other article.
Like I said in my second post... If you follow the pattern lines... its almost impossible to over stretch a beaver because some break will happen in the areas i said above.
It just doesn't fit.
I dont follow the lines very much Stef. Beaver are individuals just like a human some are long some are short, some are wide some are narrow. I stretch em how he wants to go and use a tape measure as much as the lines to determine size.
I dont know about climate zones but a beaver from about 2/3 of the northern half of minnesota will compare with one from anywhere in the world.
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Post by Gibb on Apr 7, 2006 11:52:12 GMT -6
Steven49er, beaver are stacked only for grading ;fur to skin, once they are graded we bulk them fur to fur and skin to skin. The grader needs the skins stacked fur on skin so he does not have to flip every other skin over. This speeds up the grading time. When shipping or holding the skins we recommend skin to skin or fur to fur. Lots of trappers ask us why we do that. Cheers Jim
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Post by M35 on Apr 7, 2006 11:52:46 GMT -6
My hoops don't have lines. Just a set screw & a bunch of hog rings.. Where can I get some lines?? LOL I stretch to the fullest extent the hide will allow. There isn't 2 beavers that are the same diameter in me pile.. Don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing..
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Post by trappnman on Apr 7, 2006 12:21:37 GMT -6
Size is not a grade? How so?
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Post by musher on Apr 7, 2006 16:07:06 GMT -6
Gibb: Help us out here! Baggy loose or banjo tight? do we pull tight to the next line or back down a line?
Are 68" + all thrown into the same pile or is the break down more elaborate?
Do Canadian pelts have thinner hides?
What do you think of the FHA pattern vs. the NAFA one?
Which pays more: leather size or fur density?
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Post by thebeav2 on Apr 7, 2006 16:23:02 GMT -6
Well Steve get on the phone and call Greg at NAFA and get the answer.He would be more then glad to talk to you. Or you can bend his ear at the FTA convention. Thinner leather Is what the processor Is looking for especially In beaver. And the dryer your hides are the less weight they will have which makes them feel lighter. A dehumidifier will make a big difference In the fur shed.
Gary
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Post by psb1011 on Apr 7, 2006 17:44:13 GMT -6
Just this year started going for fur density on my beaver instead of size.I think mabe ill go back to getting the inches next year.
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Post by thorsmightyhammer on Apr 7, 2006 22:40:38 GMT -6
Size is not a grade? How so?
I dont know(chuckle). Size is size. Its a definate.
In my estimation a grade is not a definate. We can haggle over the fur density, color, defects and others.
Pretty to do that with size. Tape measure never lies.
Thanks for the clarification Gibb. Makes sense.
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Post by Steve Gappa on Apr 8, 2006 8:40:49 GMT -6
Its all definite- color, density, quality and size.
Do you think a grader is measuring every inch- or "sizing" them up with experience?
To a grader, its bottom line- so size definitely is part of the equation. Assuming the equation looking for is total value of an individual pelt.
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Post by thebeav2 on Apr 8, 2006 8:53:17 GMT -6
You forgot DAMAGE If A high quality beaver has a few bites In It or Is poorly handled It will be In the damage pile.
Gary
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Post by thorsmightyhammer on Apr 8, 2006 22:03:16 GMT -6
At the auction every pelt is measured. Either with some sort of template or in the case of a beaver a tape measure.
The grader doesnt measure size. Some poor sap getting 8 bucks an hour does that.
After the pelts have been sorted by size than the grader gets a pile of like sized pelts and grades them.
Gibb could probably give a better account of how its done at their place.
In the end color, density and even damage are not definite. There will always be some pelts on the fringe that could a person could have a reasonable arguement about.
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Post by Stef on Apr 9, 2006 7:22:12 GMT -6
This is where you don't want to have holes or bites in that red rectangular. Outside of it... almost no problem. Stef
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Post by psb1011 on Apr 9, 2006 9:28:02 GMT -6
When I have holes bites and/or rubs,they are almost always inside the box.lucky me
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Post by Hornhunter on Apr 9, 2006 9:53:21 GMT -6
Fur Harverster Magazine that Gibb sent me last year on handling beaver pelt has this highlited.
IMPORTANT!! The lines on the board should only be used as a guide to give you a consistent uniform shape.
Also says that a beaver pelt will always shink approximately 2' from the time you board until you take it off.
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Post by ColdSteel on Apr 9, 2006 9:59:45 GMT -6
I have to agree with you on that on those bite marks.I have caught some that looked so rough I think they committed suicide and just jumped into the trap ;D
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