fur stretcher logistics

[cflann]

I have my new fur shed/man cave at least half up and running but I had a question for all you old pros! How do you store your fur stretchers during the off season? Also, how do you hang them when in use?

I have nice tall ceilings in the shop, so hanging even a coyote stretcher from the ceiling would still allow someone to walk underneath. Of course, the downside is I have to go up a ladder to place everything too.

I like wood stretchers, so I'm assuming I'll have to put some kind of a hanging loop on the bottom of the stretcher. Maybe a fencing staple that's glued in to predrilled holes? Just a thought. And for on the ceiling, maybe a long 1 X 4 with cup hooks attached? or maybe just bent over nails?

Any ideas?

Chris

[Gibb]

Made this one can hang just about anything on it.
Jim

[TrapperRon]

Drill a hole in the bottom of the pelt board. Use hooks like Gibb except straighten them a bit. Your boards will now hand just fine.

[cflann]

Thanks guys! Yeah, those hooks Gibbs uses are bigger than I was thinking. But like he says they'd hold anything then.

[thorsmightyhammer]

Jim, you must have a big freezer if you have enough room for whole beaver lol.

[Gibb]

Nuisance beaver from the summer, I hate skinning beaver in the fly season. One of my contracts for summer beaver makes me skin them. So I wait till the fall and no bugs.
Jim
Just bought two more freezers for this fall.

[thorsmightyhammer]

I hear ya.

I cant even hardly stand to skin and put up beaver in april.

Good luck to you filling those freezers this fall and lets hope the market still has some legs.

I kinda like these new found levels.

[Griz]

For the lighter pelts (Coon, coyote, mink, rats) one can put 3/4 inch cup hooks in a 1x2 and 3/4 inch cup hooks in the stretcher boards. I put the cup hooks in the 1x2 about 6 inches apart to provide for ease of hanging and air flow.

[trappnman]

I found the best for me, is using pipes and large "S" hooks made out of #11 wire- this works quite well, because if pelts ae fresh more space can be used between pelts, but as they dry, esp with fur out they can be slid together to allow more hanging space. for rats, same thing except I use electric fence wire for the "S" hooks

[Gibb]

Any pictures Steve? I like the idea, need to make more room this year or maybe I need to use the room I have better.
Jim

[trappnman]

no pics- but I just use 1/2 pipe as my rails, then just use my "S" hooks to hang the pelts. Works out quite nicely

[Possum]

I knew my lean-to on the pole barn would become a fur shed so once I got the ceiling insulated, I used peg-board instead of plywood or drywall on the ceiling. Once there, hooks bent of #9 wire and a hole drilled in every stretcher board does the job.