Metal Stretcher Question

[Fallguy]

I was given 3 metal stretchers. They are each 47" long and one is 10" wide while the other two are 11" wide. What animal are these sized for?

Second question is this. The stretchers are very heavily rusted. I am guessing they need to be cleaned up before drying a hide on them. What works best here? Sanding them down and then applying something to them? Let me know what would work best.

[Coyote 22-250]

they sound like a #5 and may be out of shape a little to give different dimensions.
#5 are 9-3/4" by 48" and for coon, small coyote, and bobcat. that is what i found on the net. as for cleaning up the rust a steel wire wheel will clean it up or use *emery* cloth, like sand paper




*spelling???*

[Coyotehunter]

steel wool works great.

[Fallguy]

Ok thanks guys this summer I will put the wooly steel to them and see if I can get a coon to try them out on next fall.

[Prairie Ghost]

I have seen guys that clean them and then rap masking tape around them. However be careful i have talked to a lot of fur buyers that don't like coyotes stretched on them. I know the buyer in dickinson likes them stetched on metal but haven't heard another one talk good about them

[Fallguy]

Well I have some Grawes wood stretchers (coyote sized) but I thought that I could use the metal ones for coons maybe if I ever get into shooting those. Got a new Marlin 22 mag and I need to make use of it.

[Coyotehunter]

I had the hair get wrapped around the metal stretcher and raise hell when turning the hide. I think it was from pulling the hide from side to side to square it up on the hanger. I have a bunch of Grawes stretchers now and love them.

[Prairie Ghost]

Tough to beat Grawes