Author Topic: Fur tumblers? (Read 1495 times)

Tim B · « **on:** August 25, 2003, 10:29:08 AM »

I am in the process of making a 'fur tumbler'. It is simply a 55 gal plastic drum barrel that will be put on an axle and hooked up to a small motor so it rotates. There is a rectangular door on the side of the barrel as well.

The idea of course is to put a bunch of wood shavings in it along with wet coons, rats or rained on foxes and turn it on. 30 minutes later you should have some nice clean DRY fluffy critters.

Just wondering if you other boys use anything like this??
Tim B

Bogmaster · « **Reply #1 on:** August 25, 2003, 01:32:57 PM »

Tim,I have never used a fur tumbler.When I arrive home from my line,all wet furs have a fan turned on them.Except for the beav, which I lay on their back for a day or two.
I start skinning the dry fur , then skin the others as yhey dry. Tom

Dan Mich Trapper · « **Reply #2 on:** August 25, 2003, 01:59:25 PM »

I would like to know how well it works . I hang my wet animals by the head or front foot (the water runs with the fur better than against it ) with a fan on them . Dont take too long . When I used a tumbler it was after I had tanned a skin and it was put into the tumbler to remove oils and fluff the fur up . It make a real big difference .

Wackyquacker · « **Reply #3 on:** August 25, 2003, 06:17:30 PM »

I use to tan a bunch of fur and have made both breaking and cleaning size tumblers (7 foot diameter types to the barrles you speak of). Your drying capcity will be limited by the water absorption capacity of the sawdust (not much I'm affraid). In the big tumblers during warm times and low humidity you can get the fur dried fairly fast; there is a lot of air movement in the tumbler and exchange with the atmosphere. I'm affraid in a drum, your sawdust will suck up all the water it can and the furs will still be quite wet. You may also find that these semi dry furs are hard to free of sawdust.

Also, tumblers, at least those I'm familar with, do not have a "through axel; You may run into problems with your furs gettinig tangled on the axel. My drum rides on wheels which are powered. The rotating wheels roll the barrel (like a big rock tumbler). Inside there are dividers which lift the furs and drop them through the center of the drum. My large unit has axels which are fixed to the sides (ends) of the drum and is driven through the axecl via a chain.

If I can help let me know.

Tim B · « **Reply #4 on:** August 26, 2003, 03:14:01 AM »

I used some 'kiln dried shavings' to work naptha out of the hides over the summer when I was tanning a few furs...It worked great and a few shakes of the hide and it was free of the shavings and looked good as well.
I planned on using these shavings in the barrel as well. I like the idea of the dividers. I am hoping and dont think the animals will get caught on the axle because I will be putting the whole animal in the drum...not just hides.
also, I can get the shavings pretty cheap so I can scoop out the wet stuff and put in dry.
A fella I talked to a while back made one simmilar and says it works great.
Im still in the construction phase so any more suggestions would be appreciated.
Wacky...You dont have any pics of your tumblers do ya??
I used the fan method last year and it took too long to dry rats and coons. I like to get my skinnin done so I have more time to set traps.
Thanks for the input.
Tim B

Wackyquacker · « **Reply #5 on:** August 26, 2003, 03:35:46 AM »

OOPPS :oops: guess I didn't read your post correctly. I didn't catch the whole animal part of things. I don't think you will want a 7 footer :lol: . I'll try to get pics on or maybe I better e-mail them.

Van Dykes catalogues small tumblers and shows the dividers. For the whole animal you wouldn't want to lift them much...or would you??? To get you thinking, I made a base the circumference of the inside of the bottom of the barrel. Notches were cut (4) on the outside radius. Four slats were made by transferring the contour of the inside of the barrel to a 1X4. After fitting the ends of the slats were shaped to fit the notches in the bottom and similarly for the top. The top (opening) plate was similar to the bottom but the center was removed leaving a 2" doughnut type opening.

I worry that with bodies falling on the slates it may break them of otherwise knock them loose. You may need to reduce the width of the slates and make them out of oak for extra strength.

Tim B · « **Reply #6 on:** August 26, 2003, 05:33:40 AM »

Thats good info Wacky. I think I will go with one small divider just to keep fresh shavings around the animal.
I think I can fit 3 coons or about 10 rats in the barrel at once. That will help a bunch cause a some critters wont need drying.

Id like to see the pics. I guess you can get my email from the site?
Thanks
Tim B