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Post by mikeb on Jan 9, 2015 21:28:48 GMT -5
looking to pickup some wood boards for muskrats-cant remember who on here sells them-any info would be helpful-live near rochester,ny Thanks Mike B
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Post by REDNECK on Jan 9, 2015 21:38:46 GMT -5
I think his name is jim
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Post by kirkwooder on Jan 9, 2015 22:54:00 GMT -5
Austin said he had a few dozen used ones he wanted to sell. He's in Naples. PM him.
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austinp
#3 Newhouse
the next fur season is never far from our minds :)
Posts: 3,008
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Post by austinp on Jan 10, 2015 4:44:25 GMT -5
mine are sold
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Post by mole on Jan 10, 2015 6:15:37 GMT -5
It seems there is quite a movement to wood for muskrats. EJ Dailey used to curse them. I don't know if it was because he sold wire ones or not. Mentioned having to split them to often to get the rat off. Never have used them so I don't know anything about them positive or negative.
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Post by mikeb on Jan 10, 2015 6:18:45 GMT -5
You do have to use belly wedges or yes they may never come off-the name jim does sound familiar-thanks
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austinp
#3 Newhouse
the next fur season is never far from our minds :)
Posts: 3,008
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Post by austinp on Jan 10, 2015 6:20:03 GMT -5
mole, they make for a pretty finish but are time-consuming to push all those pins in place. Some buyers prefer the look, others don't care or prefer wire.
gotta use a belly board with them... mandatory! I used 15" sections of plain lathe from the lumberyard, can get three from a 48" length.
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Post by mikeb on Jan 10, 2015 7:39:39 GMT -5
very true austin!!!!!I dont catch big numbers every day(just not the population around here)So the wood works great for me-i reall like the finish products-and the buyers must as well!!!
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Post by crabbait on Jan 10, 2015 8:03:11 GMT -5
Tried a few wooden boards this year, for the few rats I put up they are o.k. But still like the looks of a wire rat better. And yes, can't stress the need for a wedge enough.
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tmc
#2 Newhouse
Posts: 2,447
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Post by tmc on Jan 10, 2015 8:34:36 GMT -5
jimd - South Shore Sportsman, sponsor here. Can't go wrong.
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Post by nyredfox on Jan 10, 2015 8:44:56 GMT -5
jimd - South Shore Sportsman, sponsor here. Can't go wrong. I ordered some more large rat boards from Jim this year. We only use wood for all our fur. Really like the finished look. Jim and his son are marketing Orlando Browns wooden stretchers now. The best wooden stretcher out there in my opinion! PM Jim.
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Post by mikeb on Jan 10, 2015 19:39:53 GMT -5
Thanks everyone for the info!!
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Post by silverfox on Jan 15, 2015 9:00:39 GMT -5
newfox1, a member here on the forum makes and sells them (lewis county), they are adjustable and the end product (rats) look far superior to wire stretched, not sure how much he asks,they are clear bass wood (no belly board required)
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Post by mikeb on Jan 15, 2015 20:32:36 GMT -5
was hoping to find someone closer as i live in monroe county!!!Its to bad as jims prices are very reasonable!!!
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Post by Lonny Mattison on Jan 17, 2015 8:27:26 GMT -5
I started out with Dad's old wire stretchers years ago..blah. Did not like the looks. I use only wood. I like the looks. I am the opposite of Austin. I spend more time fiddling with the hooks on the wire.
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Post by nyredfox on Jan 17, 2015 8:36:23 GMT -5
I started out with Dad's old wire stretchers years ago..blah. Did not like the looks. I use only wood. I like the looks. I am the opposite of Austin. I spend more time fiddling with the hooks on the wire. I agree..... BTW, I have a bunch of wire stretchers that I would sell cheap if anyone is interested...
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cooper67
#2 Newhouse
oswego county trappers ,nysta,jefferson county
Posts: 2,554
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Post by cooper67 on Jan 18, 2015 19:36:08 GMT -5
The difference is lenght wire makes rats wider so fur is measured by lenght rather than width, also remember to not pull tight on wood as that thins fur, I use my own wood rat boards I made I like results on wood better, people putting up numbers of rats use wire faster easier,
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austinp
#3 Newhouse
the next fur season is never far from our minds :)
Posts: 3,008
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Post by austinp on Jan 18, 2015 19:52:57 GMT -5
I like the looks. I am the opposite of Austin. I spend more time fiddling with the hooks on the wire. practice, practice, practice. Kristen's TrapHer page has a video of Derbyshire putting a rat on wire AND fleshing it clean in less than 1 minute flat, complete. Then again, so far this year he's done 2,593 in nine weeks, so I guess that qualifies as practice www.facebook.com/steve.derbyshire.129?fref=photo = is his facebook page for everyone to see except walleyed... who is bitterly sworn against ever opening a FB of his own <grin>
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austinp
#3 Newhouse
the next fur season is never far from our minds :)
Posts: 3,008
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Post by austinp on Jan 18, 2015 19:54:48 GMT -5
BTW, I have a bunch of wire stretchers that I would sell cheap if anyone is interested... depending on how cheap, I'll take them all
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Post by Lonny Mattison on Jan 19, 2015 5:40:49 GMT -5
Austin, next Flatiron fur sale, I vote you for putting on a rat put up demo!
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austinp
#3 Newhouse
the next fur season is never far from our minds :)
Posts: 3,008
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Post by austinp on Jan 19, 2015 5:49:38 GMT -5
I'll do that, Lonny. From carcass to stretched
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Post by johnrockwood on Jan 19, 2015 7:42:23 GMT -5
From a buyer's perspective: Wood or wire is acceptable - BUT...............there is a huge tendency to overstretch rats on wood by trappers trying to get the longest rat possible. That is ok when the Chinese are in the market and the competition for rats is very strong. In fact, they even pay less attention to the width during those times. HOWEVER, today's market is WITHOUT the Chinese participation. THEREFORE, over stretched, thinned out, narrow rats are going to be graded down in many instances by any buyer that is in tune with today's market conditions and buying for domestic or other high end orders. Leather retains some memory when skins are dressed. Because of that, rats that are over-stretched to get length and are not wide enough may not even work for a high end furrier that is making something other than plates. I have orders for big rats but if they are stretched too narrow they have to be much longer than the standard grade lengths. Some of those long narrow rat skins won't even be able to be utilized by certain customers because they need the width, as well, for their product. In today's world it is again all about square inches of QUALITY fur, properly shaped. Things change from year to year due to who the primary customers are. We have all enjoyed the lenient grading throughout 2012 and 2013 as the Chinese bought anything and everything. Slights brought as much money as clean rats, damaged rats brought more than good rats did in 2009-2010, they paid no attention to kidney spots or shedders, there was little consideration given to how many rats per pound (leather quality), etc, etc, etc. Those things ARE a concern by what few customers are left for muskrat skins in today's market. Especially those from the sections of New York that produce the premium muskrats in this nation.
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Post by Lonny Mattison on Jan 19, 2015 9:38:14 GMT -5
John, can't you over stretch with wire also? And with wood, if you have a 7" wide board for XL, how could you make it too narrow? I am all ears, because I use wood and do not to make the mistakes.
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austinp
#3 Newhouse
the next fur season is never far from our minds :)
Posts: 3,008
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Post by austinp on Jan 19, 2015 9:46:24 GMT -5
it is much easier to over-stretch on wood than wire. Matter of fact, that's why a lot of guys like wood... so they can stretch a rat down to the next "size" premarked on their boards. but each rat is what it is... one cannot "gain" size by tugging it past the state of natural length. I myself do not "stretch" muskrats... I clip them on wire forms to dry. whatever size they are at the end is what they were when caught
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Zagman
#2 Newhouse
Posts: 2,186
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Post by Zagman on Jan 19, 2015 10:30:13 GMT -5
I like wood for ALL animals......has something to do with looks but MAINLY....I like being able to pin holes shut AND I like being able to pin furs a certain way to enhance certain features and to downplay certain bad features.... Wood gives me a better ability to do just that...... Gotta sneak SOME stuff by the buyers! MZ
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