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Other Activities => Trapping => Topic started by: lewy on December 26, 2017, 09:49:27 PM

Title: diy beaver hoop
Post by: lewy on December 26, 2017, 09:49:27 PM: Anyone make a beaver hoop, not to stretch but to display on? Would like to string one of mine up with raw hide and hang on the wall. If so I'd love to hear how you went about it and what wood you used! Thanks
Title: Re: diy beaver hoop
Post by: redi on December 26, 2017, 09:51:49 PM: Me too
Title: Re: diy beaver hoop
Post by: Kit Carson on December 26, 2017, 10:05:28 PM: I've been thinking about making one out of willow. Saw some videos on YouTube where a guy was shaving down the willow branch and then bending it around a large garbage dumpster. Clamp it and let it stay bent for a few weeks. Then hoop it. Looked pretty good and doesn't seem too tough.
Title: Re: diy beaver hoop
Post by: Humptulips on December 26, 2017, 10:43:05 PM: I've done several.
First thing cut your willow whips in the spring when the bark is slipping and peel them when it is easy. You will find you want smaller in diameter the better. I always cut a bunch and ended up throwing the larger ones away. Best place to get them is along the road a year after they have mowed the brush. You need fast growing but it needs to be somewhere they are reaching for the sun. That makes them long and skinny. Too open and they are shorter and fatter.
Second, an oversized beaver board works good or the end of a line spool to shape them on. I used my nails I tack beaver out with, 12 penny. Nail inside and outside as you bend them in a circle. Might want to mark your board if it doesn't have circles on it. You can nail a bunch up on one board. Put 2nd, 3rd, 4th on the outside of each other. let dry for a few weeks.
Third, it takes two whips to do a hoop. Overlap and attach with several wraps of wire. Bend to approximate sixe of beaver hide and repeat overlap and attach with wire.
Sewing them in you can only render the leather lacing one way. Takes a lot to get it in loose and then you get a lot of it back when you tighten.
Big job but nice when you get done.
Title: Re: diy beaver hoop
Post by: ouchfoss on December 27, 2017, 08:19:32 PM: I got all my hides back from tubari a few weeks ago and am planning to do hoops for a couple of the beaver hides. I couldn't find any willow whips long enough but I have a Hazelnut tree in my backyard that is pretty much a hedge and it's got probably at least 50 whips growing that are about 20 feet tall. I cut a bunch and bent them by hand into a fish shape and let them dry. I know people say you should use spring wood because the bark will peel off easy but I just left the bark on mine. We'll see if the bark stays on or not once it dries. :dunno:
My first try was with a kit beaver so I was able to just use one whip and I used some green nylon cord similar in size to some halibut fishing line. Turned out decent I think. Next one is going to be an XXL size beaver with two whips and some leather cordage.
Title: Re: diy beaver hoop
Post by: Humptulips on December 27, 2017, 10:13:48 PM: I believe the bark will stay on. I prefer the peeled but that is personal taste.
looks good!
Title: Re: diy beaver hoop
Post by: Kit Carson on December 27, 2017, 10:17:29 PM: Looks good Jesse! :tup:

Bruce, thanks for the tips. Very much appreciated.