Staple Removal from hides?

[robertw]

Guys,
What is your preffered tool for removing staples if using an electric stapler when putting up fur?

[robertw]

Anybody ever use that staple "rake" that was advertised a year or so ago?

[Bob Jameson]

I have used grounded to a point needle nosed pliers and an old stiff blade paring knife to pry the tight ones. A buddy staples all of his coon, skunk and opossum. I find it a pain personally vs using push pins on the said animals. Beaver is ok for stapling. Always seems to be a staple or two that prevents you from getting the hide off a board at times. It does speed up the process at times. The buggers are hard to see once the hide dries at times.

I have not tried the rake as of yet.

[17HMR]

I tried it 2 years ago and will keep useing nails, at the time I used a fur comb to pull them, 50% of the staples would only pull 1 leg out then had to pull them with pliers, it was faster getting them on the board but much slower getting them off.

[robertw]

That has been my experience, just figured there had to be a better way.

[thebeav2]

After years of PUSH PIN THUMB I went to a electric stapler on coon. Never go back to push pins.

[robertw]

How do you remove your staples Beav?

[mtcbrlatrap]

I did a couple dozen coons with staples two years ago. I used one of those bent slender needle nose pliers I use for releasing fish and getting the hooks out of fish. I just clamped them and twisted them off and that worked OK. I am back to pins As I feel it is for me about the same in time with removing pelts the slow end and SAFER on my hands. Running your hand over a few pins a year is annoying as H, running your hand over a broken staple is more than annoying and they are harder to find also.

Bryce

[gunny]

Has anyone use the air guns that shoot the brad type finishing nails? Harbor frieght has them for $19. The would be easier to pull than a staple.

[bill1306 (Phil)]

Sears has staplers that have a gauge setter that allows you to put the staple into the wood, but not flush with the surface. It is designed to use when stapling up wiring that you don't want to damage the insulation on. When I staple coons or skunks, I put the staples into the hides, where only one of the two points are in the hide and the other is only in wood. That will keep the hide from wrapping around the staple when it drys and makes it easier to pull. For pulling all I use is a flat screw driver. This is the fastest easies way I have found to use a staple. One other thing, I use 1/2 inch staples.

[furman]

As bill1306 says

Get a stapler that has a power setting and set it so it’s don’t drive all of the way down. Then I use needle nose pliers to pull them. I also have a magnet near when I pull the staples to keep all the staples in one place.

I have a lot of pine boards and this system works good and is much faster the pins or nails

I do like using nails because you can pull the hide down a little more and get more length before you nail it. But time is a factor for me and stapling is much faster.

[thebeav2]

Get yourself some fish skinning pincher's. They work well for pulling staples.

[Griz]

I posted on another thread that I saw Gary Schroeder demonstrate putting a flattened kitchen fork on the front of a stapler, with the teeth pointed down. The fork serves 2 purposes. One, it holds the stapler a quarter inch or so off the board so the staple does not drive clear in. If the setting is right, you can pull staples from plywood with your fingers (although I find it easier with pliers). This works with or without a depth setting on the stapler. And second, the fork helps hold the pelt in place while you fire the staple. It works for me.

[musher]

Isn't there a way to run a "ribbon" under the stable gun so that the ribbon is under each staple? You pull the ribbon, both sides at the same time, and you remove the staples.

[thorsmightyhammer]

I rigged mine like Schroeder's gun robert.

I use 9/6 staples and use a side cutters with the cutting edged dulled.

I aint ever useing push pins again.

I still nail my beaver.

[RiverRat]

Use the depth setting on the gun, and I use the black handled wire fur combs to pop em out.

[Bigfoot]

Catfish skinning pliers are the only way to go for pulling staples . I can pullstaples with them way faster than I could ever pull nails . they are one of the most used tools in my fur shed I use them to start the skin off the leg when I m skinning , hold beaver pelts while I,m stapleing and pulling staples . Beav is the first person I'v heard of using them other than myself .

[thebeav2]

Bigfoot you and I are just a bit more advanced then the rest of them LOL
But you are right they are the real deal.
Most staplers have a depth setting built In to them. Mine Is a Stanley and It has about 5 settings on It. 9/16ths staples are the way to go. The problem with most if not all staplers Is that you have to push the stapler down to get It to fire. But If you jam something Into the head you can make It automatic It's a lot faster that way but most of the time the jammer falls out after a while and your back to pushing again until you re jam It.

[robertw]

Furman,
Thanks for the tip about using the magnets! I tried stapling coons on time and I literally had staples every where!

Beav & Bigfoot,
Thanks for the tip about using the fish skinning pliers. I'll make sure I have a pair or two in the shed this winter.

[netrap]

I use a electric staple on all my coon and use a needle nose pliers for removal.