skinnin' tables

[cflann]

I'm gonna be starting from scratch with work benches in my new man cave/trapping shack. Normally I just use a wooden bench of whatever construction for skinning and processing game. I got to thinking, what about building whatever bench I want then putting a cheap(er) kitchen countertop on it so it's 10X easier to clean. Anyone have experience with this? Any other easy clean up ideas for work bench tops?

Chris

[trappnman]

any smooth surface will do- formica or smething similar works well

the biggest thing to consider, in my mind, is height of the table. Having it so you stand straight with no bend in your back, makes a world of difference in long hours of skinning

[cflann]

I'm with you on that. I think alot of folks make them too low. I'm not tall, but stooping even a bit is taxing after awhile.

[Possum]

I bought a stainless steel counter-top on eBay. HooWah! It's great.

[tzone]

I grabbed a old formica counter top and fabbed up a bench underneath.

[bblwi]

I open my animals by standing on one of the rear legs and opening one leg, flip the animal and open the other leg. I then put the carcasses on different gambles and finish opening and then pull down and skin. I do this with everything I catch. For those that have been using tables for some time how do you feel they compare to how you may have handled the skinning process before.

Bryce

[cmr2]

I use a weld table with a plywood top , it's just about belt high and works great , I have piece of clean plywood for game but really haven't processed anything big so sqiurrels and rabbits are fast to do , also have some vinyl wall paper from a job that was left over and just pull a piece out for that , I'll c clamp a mink/rat fleshin board on when I have them to do

But the height is a big concern and it will tax ya fast , I found some bar stools that are the right height for when needed

[calvin]

I have a steel topped workbench and several with wood tops. The wood is simply painted with a high gloss white paint. I use the wood benches more. Clean up is easy on the slick gloss surface. Paint it once in awhile if you want...or not.

[trappnman]

I use a bench for everything but canines, and coon to a degree. Coon I find it easier to open them up laying on a table, so I open them up as far as the tail then hang from a gambril to finsh. I also do beaver 50/50- open then up on the belly until the point when you flip them then I hang from the tail and let the weight of the pelt do a lot of the work and far less blood mess. My gambril swings over to the table, so its quick and easy.

I find tables much much easier than not for piles of mink and rats

[trappincoyotes39]

I do as bryce I have two gambrels so hang 2 critters at a time, but I go through and open them all up first on the floor covered with a tarp, then production line 2 at a time until done. Hands getting older so next year I will have a powdered skinning machine in the shed. Save on sore wrist and fingers.

[trappnman]

just curious as to why you would open up everything o nthe floor, then hang

on canines, I find it so much easier to open them up on a gambril, then when I have to do it on the floor or ground.

[Possum]

I do rats on the table, beavs half and half like Steve. Everything else goes on the gambrel, start to finish.

[bblwi]

I am not saying my way is better or best but asking to see what works as I may change or probably will change. When doing rats from a bench or table are most of you standing or do you sit on a stool etc. I also would be interested in the way you guys make your clamps such as type of metal welded to vice grips etc. or other devices. I am also contemplating a boat winch type and crank coon pull down piece of equipment. I am not needing to go faster just easier. I do about 12-16 coons per hour doing it all by hand. That is dry coons. When I get a group that are wet or it is colder they just pull so much harder due to the fat setting up and being more firms

Bryce

[seldom]

I used 5' section of kitchen countertop for a permanent table and built it low enough to match my chair. I use the table for boarding, removing ear cartilage, deburring, sewing, etc.

I also mounted a 4' section of countertop on a pedestal with casters and made it to a comfortable "standing" height. This is where my rats get laid out prior to skinning, opening cuts on coon, and de-fleaing canines. I also use it under any carcass that I'm skinning with the horizontal winch and I use it beside my fleshing beam to lay tools and rags while fleshing.

It's pretty darn handy to have a table on casters!

One thing about kitchen countertops, they are very easy to spray and wipe down.

[bblwi]

Thanks Seldom, some good informatin to review in your post.

Bryce

[seldom]

Dec 9, 2012 10:58:41 GMT -6 bblwi said:

I also would be interested in the way you guys make your clamps such as type of metal welded to vice grips etc. or other devices.

Bryce

I just use 3 pieces of 3/8" rerod per vise grip.

[17HMR]

I used 3 inch pieces of square key stock in the same way, but wanting to change to some type of cam like clamp if I can get it figured out.

[Possum]

I made my vise grips very similar to Seldom however I used 1/2" round rod instead of re-rod. On the jaw with two grip rods, I didn't put a gap between the pieces. They are tight together. Can't say if gapping or tight is better. Probably with re-rod the gap is better. I didn't paint mine orange, either since they are welded tight to my skinner in the barn. I did go with a boat winch on my vertical skinner. If you do coyotes, get one rated stronger than you anticipate needing. I wore out/broke a cheapo winch in a year. Moved to a stronger one and it's okay. Coons only, might as well use the cheaper model.

[mtcbrlatrap]

Round stock is being used because it is lower cost and available versus flat stock on the clamping grips for the skinning, opening and or machines?
For the cable for the boat winch crank type skinners what cable size or type are you utilizing?

Bryce

[seldom]

Dec 10, 2012 9:38:17 GMT -6 mtcbrlatrap said:

Round stock is being used because it is lower cost and available versus flat stock on the clamping grips for the skinning, opening and or machines?
For the cable for the boat winch crank type skinners what cable size or type are you utilizing?

Bryce

I think your assumption is probably correct in that anybody who fabricates and welds has LOTS of short pieces of rod in the drop box! I had both types of rod as scrap and chose the rerod because of the 1/2-spiral ridges thinking it woud grip a little better than smooth round.

Both of my winches still have their original nylon straps and theone in my shed is old, old, old, and frayed along the edges but till going stong!