Putting Up Muskrats

[Macthediver]

I know this topic has been covered a bunch before, but I feel it is time to bring it up again. I have been putting up what few rats I caught this fall and realized something. Over the years I have accumullated a variety of different wire stretchers.  
They are all basically simular yet have small differences in length and more so width.  
I have been thinking I may be farther ahead to get rid of all my current stretchers and go to either all one brand of wire, or maybe even wood.  
Does anyone know what the market truly wants when it comes to length and width on put up rats?
 
Mac
 
"Never Forget Which Way Is Up"

[RdFx]

Mac  the lengths of the rat boards should be 24 inches and  a extra large board should be 6  1/2 inches at bottom ,  a medium or large rat the bottom should be 6  inches and the small 5 1/2 inches at the bottom of board.  
   I think the rats  have a heavier feel coming off boards vs wire stretchers.  Ive watched the graders and  the rats in higher priced piles were  all heavier and were from boards.  I put   rats  on both wire and boards for that  comparison in all  three sizes.
  My rat boards are made out of cedar and basswood.

[Bogmaster]

Mark,like Lee,both wood and wire our used on our rats.
 Mike does the larger rats on wood---6 1/2 inch base.When the wooden stretchers are full we both use wire.I have found that most wire strerchers come out with finnished rats about 6 1/2 inches wide,though I have one batch of wire that are wider,and I only use those on huge rats.
 There is no question,that rats look and feel better,when done up on wood.But I am keeping my supply of wire ones.When you need to put up a bunch in a hurry,wire is the way to go.
 As of last year,monetary returns have been pretty much the same,on both types.
 Tom

[cotton jonas]

my step son picked up some used sleepy creek wire rat stretchers man they look way yonder too wide to me?

[RdFx]

If this is all you have bend them  to the width needed, Usually  the stretchers are made out of mild steel and bending can be done...

[cotton jonas]

thats what i told him lee will give him one of mine so he can bend his lol
 making a few wood boards to try this year   will see ifin i like em

[Bogmaster]

Tony,those stretchers should be fine as they are.
 Put a rat on it,then measure the bottom.Sleepy creek stretchers were never overly wide,I think once the fur is on,you will see that it had pulled the bottom in,that is why most stretchers ar not one solid piece across the bottom .
 Tom

[cotton jonas]

he's got some rats put up on em now tom and they look like a round point shovel to me lol
 what wood board pattern are yall useing nafa or fha?

[fishadict]

Hi Mac.  First post here.  I think rats look better on wood.  They have a thicker feel as stated above.  You can also get some extra length.  Greg Schroeder told me if the rats are borderline on size, those stretched on wood will go in the better pile.  Lee's friend makes some nice boards, as does Jerry Mueller.

fa

[KYBOY]

Like a lot of the guys said, I put my bigger rats on wood and the rest on wire.

[Mallard]

I use the old Victor quick drys. Years ago I had accumulated a bunch of different styles,and as well bought some of the new Sleepy Creek canoe paddle rat stretchers. It was a complete mess. I asked my fur buyer what he thought, and his responce was that he prefered the Victors because the dimensions were standard to the market. I sold all my odds and ends and invested in a pile of the quick drys. I also like the eye on the end for hanging. They don't make them anymore, as is the case with many quality trapping items of yesteryear, but there's plenty still out there for sale in the used market. Normaly a buck each.