Skinning machine

[scott1phillips]

Who do You think makes the best electric skinning machine? How much are they? will they handle large coyotes and coon?

Scott

[orcatdog]

I made my own with some pics from people on this site. Not sure where you are at, but I might sell mine. I just don't use it as much as I thought I would. Some square tubing, vice grips, and a cheap harbor freight 2000 pound winch.

[claytoncarr]

Sept 8, 2011 12:32:54 GMT -6 orcatdog said:

I made my own with some pics from people on this site. Not sure where you are at, but I might sell mine. I just don't use it as much as I thought I would. Some square tubing, vice grips, and a cheap harbor freight 2000 pound winch.

Mines the same except it has the lawn mower battery operated winch. A charged battery will do 30 + animals per day for three days. Maybe more. I charge it on the third day. My winch is harbor freight.


I skin mainly coons and all my coyotes on it. Badgers too. Really saves my hands and back.

[monstertom]

Scott, If you have the shop space all you need is the winch. Mine is mounted at at the peak of the rafters (12') with an anchor in the floor. Does every thing from skunks to deer. Pulls cold coyotes and coon. retracts up in the attic when not in use.

[TRay]

Glen Sterling senior built a very good one that I know a number of furbuyers have used for years, don't know if he still is building them or not.

[RiverRat]

A base to hold your clamps is all you need with a winch up top for your hooks.

[monttrap04]

I had several coyotes tear at the hips with mine. I think I spaced the clamps a little to far apart but not sure??? Kind of scared to use it on coyotes again with the price of these nice Montana dogs. Works slick on coon though.

[claytoncarr]

Sept 10, 2011 0:00:43 GMT -6 monttrap04 said:

I had several coyotes tear at the hips with mine. I think I spaced the clamps a little to far apart but not sure??? Kind of scared to use it on coyotes again with the price of these nice Montana dogs. Works slick on coon though.

I had to go over the rods welded to the vise grips several times with a file. There can't be any sharp edges, period. Also it takes a number of coyotes to get the feel down. I stop the winch when it is about to the top of the shoulders and make a few cuts. Then go until the front leg cuts and throat area again. I tore a couple in the beginning. Half froze yotes create other problems. If the nose is froze solid I usually won't even try that day.

[garman]

to me Ed kabele out of spirit lake I had the ultimate coyote machine, Big T would or Nick on here know him as well, I worked for him for a while. I am tempted to revamp mine to go that route. Much better set up. I wish I could explain it, maybe I can get pics next weekend when I am home. I have done a similar concept with mine if you skin past the tail then use a rope noose from the floor and keep adjusting noose up coyote as needed. OR better...hire some dumb@$$ to skin them for $3 a piece LOL if you can find someone.

[cmr2]

the tearing on the yotes IMO is from where the saddle attaches at the hips ,if cut they dont tear but thats MO

[Nick C]

Sept 10, 2011 19:13:19 GMT -6 @garman said:

to me Ed kabele out of spirit lake I had the ultimate coyote machine, Big T would or Nick on here know him as well, I worked for him for a while. I am tempted to revamp mine to go that route. Much better set up. I wish I could explain it, maybe I can get pics next weekend when I am home. I have done a similar concept with mine if you skin past the tail then use a rope noose from the floor and keep adjusting noose up coyote as needed. OR better...hire some dumb@$$ to skin them for $3 a piece LOL if you can find someone.

Have seen them skinning coyotes in the "skinning room" there many a times, but never really paid attention to the device or rig that was being used. I know the hoist they use is pretty heavy duty! Similar to the ones that are used in the manufacturing facility I work at for moving heavy grain auger parts and components.

[orcatdog]

On the one I built above, it is very important to have nothing sharp on the vice grips. I welded cold roll steer pieces that the hide goes between vs. the vise grips directly. Kinda like laminations on a trap.
I had two vice grips. One on each side. I then added a third pair for the back. So one for one leg and one for the other leg, and the third I put right above the base of the tail. And yes, I tore a bunch of dogs before I got the "touch" and when to stop.
Skinning machines are nice when alone. But lately I have been working with a trapline partner and on a warm coyote I think we can skin it faster together than messing with hooking it up, etc.

[fishdaddy]

the last one i skined i cabled the back legs to a tree and pulled the skin off with a 4 wheeler

[claytoncarr]

Sept 12, 2011 13:59:03 GMT -6 fishdaddy said:

the last one i skined i cabled the back legs to a tree and pulled the skin off with a 4 wheeler

That would be a good video.

[fishdaddy]

works good took less than 10 minutes.

[monttrap04]

Thanks for the responses guys. My clamps are OK. The tearing was up further. I did about 9 or 10 in a row one night last winter and by the last few I definately had some "feel" for what the hides could take. I was hoping there was a foolproof fix but apparently the human element is still part of the process....which sucks. lol

[braveheart]

I still use my home made Hansen skinning machine.It is 18 yrs. old at least.Made out of a old Speed Queen gear box.It is strong and quiet.But it takes a tall roof to work on coyotes.

[netrap]

I am still using my old hansen skinning machine also. Finally had to replace the gear box with a winch from harbor freight. Still the best style of machine IMO

[trappnman]

if you do them in the field, you won't need a winch.

[netrap]

I also built myself a bumper skinning machine patterned off my other machine, for in the field skinning this yr.