How To: Converting wire stretchers...LOTS of pic's

[tmrschessie]

Ok a few folks have asked me to post this so here goes. First these are heavy #5 wire stretchers, you can do the same with #4 or for any other animal hide you want to do this way.

Here is a "jig" I made so I can make these conversions myself.


Next I place a wire stretcher in the jig...



Then I place a wooden insert in to get the correct position so I can cut off the hooks...





Then using a big pair of bolt cutters I cut the side rails so they are about 1/4 inch shy of being flush with the bottom of the board insert.



Once the hooks are off I measure to insure the board is able to get my longest measurement, in this example 5X, then add the rest....




I put 3 1/2 wraps of duct tape making sure the side rails of the stretcher are centered. I do the bottom first...


then I do the remaining marks, insuring the duct tape is tightly pulled on each wrap, I end with the cut on the tape being on the top right....The top of the tape is the length measurement when stretching your coon hides...

Here are the NAFA measurements I use...

Raccoon size, length
5XL. Over 38"
4XL. Over 35"
3XL, 32"-35"
2XL, 29"-32"
XL, 27"-29"
LGE, 24"-27"
LM, 22"-24"
MED, 20"-22"
SML, Under 20"




Then I mark the sizes for easy reference...


The width is 8 inches at the bottom...

FHA Measurements
Raccoon
2" = 3"
6" = 5"
12" = 6 1/2"
24" = 7"
36" = 7 1/4"
48" = 7 1/2"


NAFA measurements
Raccoon (large):
5.5" to 6" @ 11"
7.5" to 8" @ 30"
8" @ 48 to 54"

Raccoon (medium):

5" to 5.5" @ 8"
7" to 7.5" @ 25"
8" @ 48 to 54"

Raccoon (small):

5" @ 11"
6.5" @ 30"
7" @ 48 to 54"


they are then hung up to be added to the inventory...





here is my one of my work stations with the J and S hooks I make and some bought and home made swivels...


The insert is 3/8 thick by7 1/2 inches wide by 16 inches long in the example I have used here...

Keep your wraps tight and where you want them. The jig was made of scrap plywood, trap stakes that I cut to short...and a few nails from when I used nails....GET AN ELECTRIC STAPLER....so much faster.

This conversion will allow you to make the money cut on your coon and get from 1 to 3 inches or more in length with out over stretching.

The idea for this is old but the guys that helped me get started are "nebowhunter" and "bluetick".
Pro-Hunt recommended the cross piece on top and rags the measurement charts I forgot...thanks.....well there you have it....Tom

[tmrschessie]

Ok, I have added a bunch of measurements etc and think it is now ready for use...Good luck and let us know how you do...Tom

[skunkhunter]

I like your idea, Tom. I've got a bunch of wire stretchers I haven't used I think I'll convert. Thanks for the tips and pics. I just went and took some measurements and some of them are only 34 inches long, and are 9 inches wide at the bottom. Couldn't I extend the plywood below the bottom of the wire about a foot and use them for the larger skins if I had to?

[tmrschessie]

Yes, you can make the board as long as you want. After cutting the hooks off the width, if you cut the boards width, they will be 8 inches. You may want to taper your boards if you make them much longer. 7 1/2 at the wire and tapper out to 8 inches past the wire, to keep your width uniform. Also if your wire is thinner then that shown it will change your width a little. Tom

[tmrschessie]

skunkhunter, guess I should have also said to leave them the length you have, then you could use them on the smaller coon you might take. Just an after thought. Tom

[btbowhunter]

the way tom has em here, basically the smallest coon you can put on em is a 2x. now if you are opening the coon correctly, you should have very few coon that don't make the 2x mark. (less than 10% in my estimate) i'm talking basically a kit coon. for these small coons, i really don't worry about width a heck of alot. i've got some tapered down bobcat wood stretchers that i put the small ones on.

i will keep a few wire stretchers around with the hooks in tact for skunks and such.

the other advantage to these wood stretchers is the fact that you can "square off" the pelt. putting up on wire, you pull the insides of the legs and the tail (center of pelt both sides). when you do that, you ride the hips up the stretcher and thats where they measure from. you can use clothes pins to hold it for those kind, but it doesn't turn out as nice.

[tmrschessie]

Thanks Jess for the added insight, folks this is nebowhunter, he provided me with the idea for this. He had to change his name here slightly....Thanks again. Tom

P.S. here is a picture from btbowhunter (Jess) that show fur put up on this type stretcher...

[btbowhunter]

Wish it was my idea. just passing along what someone show'd me....and the tweeks to take care of problems along the way!

[tmrschessie]

Howdy, has anyone converted any stretchers? Tom

[skunkhunter]

No, I haven't converted any Tom. After reading your suggestion on leaving them the same length, I'm in a bit of a quandry on that thought. No big deal, because I have
plenty of wooden boards . I'll just keep those wire stretchers as is for other critters,
like btbowhunter suggested.

[KalendM]

Ive done this to my stretchers also. It seems to help me out quite a bit. They make the coon look good.

[tmrschessie]

Skunkhunter, that was just a recommendation for a few of them. That way you could do smaller and larger coon with the existing wire stretchers, once some of them had been converted.

I would also convert the smaller sizes so I could get the same "squared" look to them as the larger size coon. Just a thought. Tom

[Pa_Trapper]

Great Thread, I have a dozen stretchers I need to convert. I am hoping the dozen wood stretchers I have will be full and will need the wire ones too.

[tmrschessie]

Hope all your stretchers are full makes for a better video...LOL Tom