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So I wasn’t sure which catagory to start this in. Moderators please feel free to move if need be. I thought it would be good to share with each other some gadgets in your shop that are helpful & maybe not cost a lot of money. Or it can be expensive too. that doesn’t matter. Through the years I have found it interesting the gadgets that show up in the supply catalogs to help us with our work. Now this is not intended to pick on those who invented the items. So please don’t take it that way. I’ll start this out with an item known as “Hide stretchers”. Many years ago I stretched my deer capes by inserting my arms into the cape & prying outward. Over the past 10 yrs or so I use a contraption that really didn’t cost me a dime as I had these items laying around. A couple of 2 X 4’s length to your liking. A door hinge. Couple of pieces of 2 X 6’s & or 4 X 4. The pictures will explain it the resat of the way. The stretch is great & it is easy to move the cape up & down & spin it around as you pry the 2×4’s apart. I estimate we have stretched close to 2000 capes on this thing.
WHat kind of gadgets do you have?
Very nice! If I recall … which these days is miraculous, LOL … I once saw one made from really large wooden dowels – like, closet rod dowels – hinged at the top as you have. It was attached to the wall with a couple of those half circle metal ‘connectors’ seen on chain link fencing, and operated the same way. The round dowels allowed it to go farther up into the facial area, then the head was moved up some to allow the rest of the neck and shoulders to be stretched to the max. Whatever works … works! Thanks for the post, and the jolt to the memory banks!
Well I don’t know if this qualifies for a gadget but I use it to stretch my hides and flesh capes and hides. It’s the first thing I guess I built for the shop when I first started. Actually used it with one of those aggravating “mini fleshers” when I started. Best fleshing beam I have ever used. Piece of 10 PVC cut on an angle at the top and rounded the edge smooth with a grinder. Welded a little stand and a landscaping timber and there you have it! 
John,
What’s not shown is that it will reach all the way into the head & face area. Sometimes you think you’re gonna split the cape using so much pressure but it doesn’t. I know how creative some of you guys are so don’t be afraid to share. I wish I had 1/10th of the creativeness that some of you have…
Heres a gadget I just finished Its not for the staxidermy shop but I think it is cool….DC
A few more, The first is a jig I made to remove the antlers from deer heads….DC
Second, is a jig, I made to help me put panels on the back of deer heads, I am a one man show so these help alot…DC
Good idea on the cape stretcher I like that. The jigs n fleshing beam well done.very effective .
Good idea on the cape stretcher I like that. The jigs n fleshing beam well done.very effective .
This carousel helps keep bird heads organized when we’re mounting birds.
