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Post by whistlerwhittler on Feb 14, 2010 9:24:47 GMT -5
I fleshed my first coon yesterday. It was also the first animal I've fleshed with the Necker that I got for Christmas. I like the knife! However I do need some more practice (I was bummed when I put a hole in the back). Here are some pics, any constructive criticism would be great as I took another coon pelt out of the freezer to work on tonight. Thanks.
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Post by Itrapny on Feb 14, 2010 9:36:03 GMT -5
Looks great...except for those damned wire stretchers I love my Neckers..I have a 600 & 700 and they both work great on Beaver & 'coon
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Post by jimd on Feb 14, 2010 10:03:29 GMT -5
nice looking coon. Here's a couple tips. Cut off the bottom lip, wrap rubber bands around the front legs close to the belly. you can cut off the legs once it dries. This will leave a neat hole instead of a leg flap hanging out. Pull the hide down longer. This will get you extra length and make the width between 8 - 9". You can add a small piece of plywood inside the fur and use it as a backing to pin that hole closed or just sew it up.
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Post by whistlerwhittler on Feb 14, 2010 14:33:20 GMT -5
Thanks.
Jimd: I just did all those things. Luckily the pelt was out in the cold garage so it was still supple. If it were in the basement it would have been much drier by now. I've heard not to overstretch the pelt, so I probably understretched it last night. I just now pulled the hooks down and got the back side almost straight across. There is still a some arc on the belly side. I did remember your rubber band trick last night, but could not find any rubber bands in the house (my son probably has them stashed somewhere). So now I just tied them close with some twine.
Itrapny: I wasn't going after coon this year but ended up catching two at the same castor mound on consecutive nights. They may have been a couple, one 24# male and an 18# female. I borrowed two wire stretchers to put them up with. For next year I'll have to make a couple wooden ones.
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Post by Itrapny on Feb 14, 2010 15:29:20 GMT -5
I was just bustin on ya....many people use wire and they look almost as good as wood. You use what you have and I even have some left over wire stretchers as spares ;D
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Post by whistlerwhittler on Feb 14, 2010 19:50:22 GMT -5
I forgot to mention that a friend at work has some 3/4" basswood and he's offered to plane it down and cut out some stretchers once I get him the patterns.
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Post by northcountry on Feb 15, 2010 14:48:31 GMT -5
Is basswood the best material for stretchers?
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Post by Itrapny on Feb 15, 2010 15:15:34 GMT -5
Any soft wood will work, but basswood seems to be the standard
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Post by whistlerwhittler on Feb 15, 2010 23:55:24 GMT -5
I did learn that plywood is very hard to push pins into.
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Post by proratman on Feb 17, 2010 19:45:04 GMT -5
Which Neckler did you get for Christmas?
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Post by whistlerwhittler on Feb 17, 2010 22:53:18 GMT -5
The 600.
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Post by proratman on Feb 18, 2010 18:38:56 GMT -5
Thanks
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Post by shorthair on Mar 10, 2010 23:04:12 GMT -5
That is an outstanding first coon. Great job!
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