The Thumbtack

[kelee877]

I,m just sitting here staring off into space, always so much news to digest in the morning...

and thinking no one has ever mentioned prepping thumtacks;

Do you know why I bring this up now...cause we will hit the time where we will need to skin animals...


Ladies thumbtacks are the easiest way to dry the fur....look a round your house at your furniture will you have a board big enough to dry fur from smaller animals..such as beaver and rabbit(depending on the size)..

some trappers use a straight up and down narrower board for small game like marlin and squirrel....

Well the easiest way to stretch and dry them is to have thumbtacks, the ones with the nice big head...


I don,t know how far to type info on trapping,skinning and drying of skins, but I did it one winter..and it is no easy job...and those dang things stink, so have a cloths peg ready...

[Dusty Lady]

Kelee, I would love to read any info and knowledge you have regarding drying animal hides. Some of us have strong stomachs and could probably use the knowledge in the future.

Thanks in advance.

[Freeholder]

I think what you want is upholstery tacks, but I'm not too sure I'd use those, either, because the heads will come off if pounded too hard, or with repeated use. It's really not too hard to make stretcher boards for smaller animals -- you'd need a chunk of wood to split, make some staves out of it, then shape them to the right size for the animal you are stretching. I think it's better to use the stretcher boards with small furs, because nailing or tacking around the edges ruins some of the hide. That's acceptable with a large hide (unavoidable, anyway), but not so much with the smaller hides.

Still, thumbtacks have plenty of uses, and would be a good item to stock.

Kathleen

[DreadPirate]

A 1 inch roofing nail might work also. Anything shorter WILL pinch your finger.

[Chuck]

1/2'" push pins will work on any fur except beaver those you would need to use 6d box nails. We just had 2 real good articles on fur care in the last issue of Frontier Freedom. Check them out when you get finished here.