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Post by wvmedic on Mar 5, 2012 13:08:18 GMT -5
Here is the first beaver we ever put up, I know it's not perfect do I will take all the pointers I can get, not a great pic if more are needed I can add some later, don't hold back I can take it
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Post by lyonch on Mar 5, 2012 16:55:10 GMT -5
I will tear into the put up later tonight when i have a minute. A few small pointers and i think your put up will be a lot better. At least you have the overall shape down!! I have seen people put up beaver that look like a stingray when they are done LOL.
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Post by lyonch on Mar 5, 2012 19:48:33 GMT -5
Ok here are the few small things that should help your put up:
1. Use 8 penny nails instead of push pins. 2. Flesh the area between the face and front legs a little better. 3. With the nails, you should be able to get the pelt to stretch all the way to the ring. 4. Cut the front a back leg openings a little bit larger so they have a clean edge, and nail the opening shut. 5. Put the nail that is in the tip of the nose, at the base of the nose instead. Then nail just to the inside of the whiskers. When you are done nailing these areas, cut the nose and whiskers off. 6. This is personal preference, but i prefer to cut the ears off and nail that opening shut too.
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Post by wvmedic on Mar 5, 2012 19:56:56 GMT -5
Thanks, I will do those things next time, also only reason I didn't use nails is because the board is borrowed and he asked to use pins thanks again for the info
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Post by bigtwinhd on Mar 5, 2012 20:23:07 GMT -5
She looks good! Real good for a first for sure!
I leave my ears on but nail my back legs shut. Front legs I tie tight near the hide and snip them flush with a pair of sissors when dry. I just use plumb line.
The key to beaver stretching is how tight to stretch. They shrink a lot when they dry and will leave small tears where the nails are. The hide is also pulled thinner. Looking at yours I'd guess you could have pulled it a little tighter even. Any little nicks right at the edges just trim and pull the slack. They have to be right at the edge though. I nail the lips out and then trim them after all the other nails are in. Some trimming on the tail area too sometimes.
You done a heckuva job. Should be at least a few random holes somewhere for a first!
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Post by bushdog on Mar 5, 2012 22:03:06 GMT -5
WV.....good job on the first put up. I don't know how you did that using pushpins!!!! I don't have the patience for that! LOL.
Definitely get your own boards and use 8 penny nails. This will allow you to shape your pelt to the pattern (rings) even better. I use 3/4 inch plywood, cut in half and you can potentially board 4 beaver.
I also close up the front & hind leg holes, last thing I tack up. I like to use a screwdriver and "pry" the hide off the board about an inch or so after tacking it up too, this allows it to dry faster.
Keep catching them, cause you seem to have the fever and you will become even more proud of your labor.
One other tip I can give you is making an accurate guess as to what ring to start on. What I do is lay the fleshed pelt out and hold the nose on a ring and pull the tail down to the same ring, now if the hide is too loose, push the nose up to the next ring and pull the tail down, if it is somewhat loose then tack the nose and tail, then pull each side of the belly to same ring and tack. Now what you have is 4 nails at the points of a compass. Next, nail in the half way points and try to nail opposite sides, (4 more nails). Now at this point I concentrate around the cheeks and anal vent. These areas are very thin and if you are trying to get too much (ring) out of the pelt it will tear here. If you cannot get to the same ring now as the nose and tail, you only have to move 8 nails inward about a half ring, then repeat until you get these tender areas on the same ring. Keep this method all the way around until you have a nail about 1/2 to 3/4 inch apart. This method has worked for me a long time.
Rick
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Post by lyonch on Mar 6, 2012 8:31:34 GMT -5
I use 3/4 inch plywood, cut in half and you can potentially board 4 beaver. Rick - If you cut those boards at 32" instead of half, you can get three boards out of a sheet of 3/4" plywood, and have 6 beaver nailed up at a time from one sheet of plywood. WV - Here is another tip that will get you really close to which ring to use (I normall do it like Rick does, but it takes a lot of practive to get efficient at guessing). Hang the pelt by its nose on a nail. Measure the pelt from the nose to the base of the pelt. Do not exagerate this number or it wont work. I measure to the nearest 1/2". Now take that measurement and divide it by 2. Now the next step it to add your original measurement and the number you got when you divided by 2. This will give you what measurement this will stretch to. Example = a beaver measures 40" from nose to base of tail. Now that number divided by 2 equals 20". Now add those two together, and you get 60". That beaver will stretch to 60". I will see if i can find my chart that I made where you just get the initial measurement, then look at the chart.
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Post by wvmedic on Mar 6, 2012 9:32:28 GMT -5
Man that's why I love this place thanks for the input fellows and keep it coming
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Post by lyonch on Mar 6, 2012 10:00:29 GMT -5
Here is the chart that i had laying around. Anything less than the first initial length will be a XSM and i have never personally had one of those in MN so i didn't have it on the chart. Now when you get into the borderline numbers, like 40" feel free to try for that bigger ring because sometimes it does work, and sometimes it doesn't.
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Post by fatty on Mar 6, 2012 14:39:47 GMT -5
Chris Good chart we always call xxl blankets, and over 70" or bigger super blankets. We get alot of blankets and supers not ure if thats the correct termanology or not
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Post by lyonch on Mar 6, 2012 15:16:42 GMT -5
My memory is pretty fuzzy on this one, but if i remember correctly, a XL beaver is considered a blanket beaver, and a XXL is considered a super blanket. Someone please correct me if i am wrong!!
Out of all the beaver i have caught in my life, i have never had to use a different board for stretching beaver than a standard 32x48 board. Now i have had some that i think could have made that mark as they seemed a touch loose after being boarded, but they dried tight. I would have to think the beaver that would make that special board would have to be in the weight range of 65-70 lbs before they could qualify for it.
If you were to continue the math, it would take a 48" long beaver pelt from nose to base of tail before it could even be considered for that special board.
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Post by fatty on Mar 6, 2012 17:12:59 GMT -5
I had several last year that made the super blanket mark, Outta 50 beaver last year 16 where blankets and 6 where super blankets. Our buyer always gives me a hard time cause the hoops he uses aren't big enough for some of them. I would agree though all the ones that where that big where over 60lbs. I had 3 last year that broke 70
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Post by bigtwinhd on Mar 8, 2012 20:56:17 GMT -5
Lyonch I always called a 2xl a blanket and a 3xl a super blanket.
Anyways, just tried your math trick. Measured at 42ish inches so 42+21=63 And as you said she was loose on the xl line. I could have made 2xl looking at it after I was done, but pulling 20000000 nails made me decide to let her lay.
If you cut your plywood at 32 from each end you will have a 34" wide board for any monsters you may catch.
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Post by lyonch on Mar 14, 2012 9:05:44 GMT -5
Big - sorry i missed your post here! I don't know how i missed it, but i did (stupid me). Anyhow would you have had to pull really hard on the pelt to make that extra line? I use to always add 10% in that formula but found myself constantly fighting to board that beaver on that line. So i took it out, and almost everytime it gets me right on the money. It is the boarder line pelts that i will usually try for next size up, and most often than not, i fight getting it to that line! I heard a few people tell me to always add 2" to your total and it would be more accurate. I haven't tried that yet, so i don't know how consistant that would be.
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Post by wolf1199 on Mar 26, 2012 12:15:52 GMT -5
I will tear into the put up later tonight when i have a minute. A few small pointers and i think your put up will be a lot better. At least you have the overall shape down!! I have seen people put up beaver that look like a stingray when they are done LOL. You have done well for your first attempt. Practice makes perfect. You have gotten some good advice from some of the members The lines on the beaver board are there for a pattern to follow to make sure the oval shape is obtained. Over stretching your beaver to make the next ring will only reduce pelt value.Many times beaver will be in between rings, just keep the pelt even around the ring even if it does not make the ring. xl beaver means xl. A blanket beaver is xxxl only, a xxl is not, but getting close. Good luck with next beavers.
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