solvents to clean beaver fur

[musher]

Have any of you ever used naphta to clean beaver fur prior to shipping to auction?

A fellow posted a Youtube video, in French, that shows him brushing out his fall pelts with naphta and a fine brush. He says that, in the fall, beaver are too busy with making feed piles and preparing dams to groom properly. Comparing the tangled fur of winter caught and fall caught beaver is his basis for this claim.

By using a fine brush, after wiping the fur down with naphta, followed by a regular brushing with a hair brush, he untangles each hair resulting in a fluffier presentation. Where 50 beaver pelts can fit into a fur bag, now only 35 will fit. When you shake the pelt, the fur stands.

The goal is a higher grade.

Any thoughts?

youtu.be/HfLIxc2WPAw

[trappincoyotes39]

Naphtha if used I would think would pull the natural oils from the hair? Wonder how much if would remove and when going to tan months or more later would they have issues with the hairs braking off from the spirits drawing out to much oils from the hair? might make presentation look good but wondering long term effects on the pelt.

[trappnman]

I don't think it would have any long term effects on the fur-

I don't know enough about beaver grading- it would be a good "trick" for getting furs ready for local buyers- but would it make the pelt bring more? or any more than a good brushing would do? If so, I would think WD-40 would work quite well since its a both a cleaner, and a lubricant (kinda)

I know on coyotes, doing my baby oil and dryer thing accomplishes what that guy was going for- to have 100% unmated fur, with some body to it. I often rub a bit of baby oil on coon on drowners 3 days can suck most of the oil out and the fur looks lifeless- a quick rub down with baby oil and a good brushing, brings that deep look back.

[redsnow]

I watched his video the other day, (most of it), sorry I don't understand a word of French. But I will give you my observations. The man spent a lot of time brushing, grooming the pelt. Coleman fuel is expensive, so is WD-40. In the long run would you gain money? Another thing that I wonder about, if you stuff a fur bag full of pelts, and they sit for a week or so, would they still be all fluffed up? Or packed down, looking flat again? But that man brushed and brushed the hide. He spent quite a bit of time working with it.

[TrapperRon]

My thoughts. Make sure your beaver is clean before you pelt and board it. Once dry and off the board use a beaver comb to brush it out and then a fine brush to brush it (for me a pet brush works well). Beyond that you are not gaining anything. The grader is looking at the leather and fur side for damages, feeling the fur between the shoulders for density of underfur and guard hair and lastly they are colored. Try as you may you can not make a silk purse from a sows ear. Having said that you beaver need to be well handled, clean leather and clean fur.

The use of solvents if anything may take away from the luster of the natural oils in the hair.