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Post by Vic Havens on Sept 21, 2006 11:00:50 GMT -6
I read on another post that some of you are using wooden rat boards. I have aften considered doing this as all of the rest of my fur is put up on wood.
What are the dims on these boards or can you just trace a wire strecher and use that for a pattern.
Second question: For those of you that are using them are you using staples or pins. Myself I like the staple they are a lot faster to attach the hide, but can be a pain to remove.
Thanks,
Vic
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Post by coyotewhisperer on Sept 21, 2006 20:15:30 GMT -6
I bought my wooden rat boards from Happy Plumber on this site his work is top notch.
Jeff
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Post by thebeav2 on Sept 21, 2006 21:01:27 GMT -6
I have a speicial pattern for my rat boards. Most rat boards are to wide In the shoulder area so you lose length. They never measure the width at the shoulders. But they do the total length.
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Post by walkercoonhunter(Aaron L.) on Sept 21, 2006 21:27:08 GMT -6
with rats and thier thin leather do you tear many with boards? is belly boards a must with them?torn noses? never used wood for rats always wire
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Post by Stef on Sept 21, 2006 21:35:55 GMT -6
Gary, the beav talked about it in another thread and I agree that Rat wooden stretchers are simply better. And me i wrote in that thread that I preferred using wire rat stretchers. Why I said that... simply because of the total cost. It needs a lot of different stretchers to fit rats on boards and for now, I just cannot figure out how I can make or buy these different sizes rat wooden stretchers. I have couple dozens wire stretchers and happy with the results so far. One thing that I have to say... I have big rats here so length is not really a problem. Sometimes, I just cannot use the 2 hooks at the bottom of the stretchers... the rats are touching the bottom Stef
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Post by thebeav2 on Sept 21, 2006 21:37:43 GMT -6
Never tore a rat yet. I insert the belly wedge In from the nose end. The only noses I ever tore was when i screwed up when skinning. But It's no big deal.
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Post by thebeav2 on Sept 21, 2006 21:43:03 GMT -6
I have 3 different sized rat boards and I never have had any problems yet with size. Stef you better get some boards for those big rats.
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Post by slidecreekdan on Sept 21, 2006 22:15:24 GMT -6
Wooden stre were used a long time before wire was heard of. I just love them. I got rat stre that were made by hand by my old teacher. Made anyware from 1901 thur 1960. They were passed on to me when my friend passed away in the 1960s. So I just happen to like them for what ever reason. Thanks Boys Dan
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Post by Ridgerunner on Sept 22, 2006 6:40:31 GMT -6
I have used the wire for years, but would like to change to wood. Perhaps next year I'll sell the wire and make up some wood. I use wood on everything else.
I too noticed that certain brands of the wire are too wide at the shoulders, so I cut a deep groove (width of groove equal to the dia. of the wire) in a 2x4 with the chop saw, and used that as a jig. I would place a stretcher in the groove perpendicular to the 2x4 and using hand pressure, I was able to narrow the shoulders about an inch.
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Post by trappnman on Sept 22, 2006 9:01:34 GMT -6
I can't possibly see HOW a rat would be longer on wood than wire.
If anything, the thinness of the wire should make a wire stretched rat longer.
Been using wire for deaceds, and since its a nose count, I'll keep using them.
Did buy a couple of doz wood coyote boards at the FTA this year- Lori has been putting up most of our fox on wood, and we like the results so she wanted to give them a try on some yotes.
Also thanks to Jack Hill of Green Bay, WI- I got a wringer wash machine. Jack was nice enough to bring one to the WI convention for me, and my daughter and son in law hauled it home for me.
Am eagerly looking forward to using it on my canines.
Thanks Jack!
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Post by Wright Brothers on Sept 22, 2006 9:39:08 GMT -6
Saw a NAFA demo the other weekend, the guy showed a wire vs wood dried rat of same size and primeness. He pointed out that the wood dried skin felt thicker, not as flimsy, and would many times go into the heavy pile when graded. No doubt that comparison could be tainted by how much the skin was stretched, but wood was his final answer.
I started out all wood. Sometimes using luan for rat boards if short. Then my buyers wanted all on wire, to be like theirs. Over that time I changed to wire. Now NAFA wants all wood. Figures huh.
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myst
Demoman...
Posts: 113
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Post by myst on Sept 22, 2006 11:24:53 GMT -6
I use adjustable wooden rat strechers and I do get a longer and thicker rat hide. Where the longer part comes in is on the tail where hook up the hide the tippee is not there giving me extra length, not a whole lot but about 1/4 to 1/2 inch generally. To bad for the drought this year in my part of the state as I have very few rats.
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Post by trappnman on Sept 22, 2006 11:27:52 GMT -6
I understand your point- but on a good Peerless stretcher, I can pull them down just as far- hook them in the same place, pull down the sides- done.
I can see thicker-
In any case, selling local it doesn't matter- Its just "how many do you have"
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Post by thebeav2 on Sept 22, 2006 13:30:32 GMT -6
Unless you fasten the sides down to the wire they will just slide back up . And If you use clothes pins to hold the skin In place when the skin starts to dry It will pull the fur up the sides of the wire stretcher. When they grade for size they measure from the eyes to the shortest part of the hide. When i get done with a hide on a wood stretcher It will be just about square across the base of the hide. The hide Isn't any thicker on wood or wire but wood makes the hide look thicker.
Gary
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myst
Demoman...
Posts: 113
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Post by myst on Sept 22, 2006 14:31:12 GMT -6
Beav When board your rats do you end up with a belly window sort of like on coon or mink?
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Post by thorsmightyhammer on Sept 22, 2006 16:52:31 GMT -6
I've never used wood for rats but I bought some this summer.
I would assume they will make a rat "longer" just like wood will a coon.
The hide Isn't any thicker on wood or wire but wood makes the hide look thicker.
When you refer to hide are you talking fur or leather Gary. If wood makes the leather appear thicker they will be a money making proposition.
On a side note the ones I bought are probably going to be too big for 70 percent of my rats.
Want to sell me one of your medium ones Gary?
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Post by trappincoyotes39 on Sept 22, 2006 17:06:55 GMT -6
Sorry, with Tman on this one! I caught many rats back in the day and one of the largest rat buyers back in the day and probably still is Groenwolds and I always did really well and the grony buyer said my rats looked the best of the bunch all did on wire and never used wood for rats at all. Coyotes and cats I can see an advantage but not rats to the majority of buyers.
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Post by fishadict on Sept 22, 2006 18:17:42 GMT -6
TC37 - largest dealer does not necessarily mean the best price. Try some boards and see what you think.
fa
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Post by thebeav2 on Sept 22, 2006 19:59:57 GMT -6
Boy that was a mouth full Fa. 49er send me a PM with your mailing address and I will send you my patterns.
Gary
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Post by trappincoyotes39 on Sept 22, 2006 22:11:23 GMT -6
I don't have rats anymore!!! I trapped the mighty Miss back waters years ago and I'm no dummy I would watch what I received over cost of shipping to CA I did very well with groenwold, on rats and coons he has always treated me very well in the past.
Where I live now no groenwold buyers. But then almost zero rats and far less coon out west They had good markets for rats and coons, they didn't call the truck the "rat wagon" for no reason! If he wanted them done better he would have said so. As you know once put up, nothing they could do to change th end product.
The Miss backwaters where a rat trappers paradise, rat huts for as far as the eye could see, now in my few visits back to the home country not near that kind of sceneary.
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