Wooden Rat stretchers

[chub618]

i used wood and wire both last yr. wood makes a rat look beter also as said you can get more length on wood for some reason than wire. but you can also over strech too on wood.
i would also like to add try this out take a rat and put him on wood and measure, take him off and then put on wire he will be shorter on wire than wood.

[trappnman]

I think you guys are getting the illusion of length.

Simple physics- you aren't going to increase length if it isn't there.

wire is what- 1/8" in thick- wood say 1/2. THe rctra bulk of the thickness, would if anything slighthly DEVREASE the length.j

Now pull a rat over either one- and please tell me again how you can pull out inches that aren't there.

I'm starting to think that perhaps you aren't pulling them down and stertching them properly on wire.

I'll concede some benefits to wood- minor ones- but not length.

[thorsmightyhammer]

Like I stated I havent used wood on rats before.

But I know that on coon the same coon done on wire will measure out bigger if done on wood plain an simple.

No illusion in the tape measure. Either they are 32 inches or they arent.

If you are selling to a buyer who is doing a nose count it wont matter much.

For those of us who ship to NAFA or FHA it could be important.

Gary PM coming your way thanks.

[trappnman]

tell me WHY you think they are LONGER on wood.

the answer from most, you can pull them down and tack them down. So what?

On wire, if used properly, I can pull them down as far as they can possibly go-

to say the ssides don't get pulled down, etc- is simply untrue for me- it seems like I must have a secret way of using wire-

I'd like ANY explanation for HOW its PHYSICALLY possible to stretch something LONGER on a THICKER stretcher.

[17HMR]

I find the same results as 49er, Steve have you measured one on wire and then took it off and put it on wood and put the tape on it again?

[thorsmightyhammer]

Like I said no experience on rats.

Plenty with wood and coon.

With wire you are pulling from the center and the skirt will ride up.

With wood you pull from the sides pulling up the center.

Now pull a rat over either one- and please tell me again how you can pull out inches that aren't there.


On coon you dont pull out inches that arent there. But you can sure lose inches that are there.

Same with beaver and wood vs hoops. You will lose inches in the end.

Rats and coon are measure from the nose to highest point on the skirt. Not to where the stretcher is hooked up.

Reason why I never used wood rat stretchers before was I sold local on a nose count. Not anymore.

[trappnman]

sure- its always possible to lose inches.

I can only surmize that those using wire that say less inches, aren't stretching them properly.

of course measure from the skirt- but if the skirt is pulled down properly and secured- its going to be the same.

You don't hook the "thingy" on the very end of a pelt on rats- you anchor them in the skirt. Let that little bit extra hang down.

Don't know aobut coon on wood-

but do know that yo uare NOT going to get extra length on wood vs wire on coyotes.

You do however get a nicer, fuller feeling shoulder area and a better pelt.

If the point of wooden rat stretchers is a better looking hide- you might have a point, in fact, probably do.

But a longer pelt? I'd bet cash money to see that. Someone that puts them up on wood, stop over some time in Dec and we will make the bet. I'll stretch a rat on wire, then stretch the same rat on wood. My bet would be the wire will be as long at the skirt- if not a bit longer.

[thebeav2]

Well I probably won't make the trip to MN Steve but I have tried It and most of your ordinary wire rat stretchers are too WIDE in the shoulders and rib area. The wood stretchers have a faster taper so you can get a longer stretch on wood.
The reason wire Is built that way Is so It can keep pressure on the hide to keep It tight on the stretcher. So as wire Is expanding back to It's memory to keep pressure on the hide It's also shortening the hide length.
Ask FA he's spent a few hours In my fur shed.

[Stef]

Now, I'm hook in a project..LoL

I have the wood (trees) I will cut some trees this winter (couple pine trees and others kind of wood) to get some personal wood. And this coming spring, I will get all logs cut with a portable mill.

My father (retired..LoL) has all the equipment needed to work wood so I'll give him a nice contract.... Rat wooden stretchers! ;D

My question is... I like to have at least 60 stretchers running when drying muskrats...
My rats are mostly XL and up..... What are the different sizes should I make?
Should I make 50+ XL stretchers and the others medium and small stretchers?
Gary, what do you think?

Stef

[thebeav2]

You might find It easier to buy them LOL
As to numbers I'll get back to you on It.

Gary

[Stef]

You might find It easier to buy them LOL

Not my pockets ;D

As to numbers I'll get back to you on It.

Thanks a lot

[trappnman]

beav- all my stretchers are Peerless chain ones circa 1945 or so, and they are NOT too wide in the shoulders. I'm betting they are pretty darn close to the measurements you use. THey are under everything in the shed, but when I get time to dig one out, I'll measure it.

I have a doz or so where my dad cut the bototms, for small rats.

I've heard that complaint about other wire rat stretchers.