Muskrat Dubbing the easy way

[Roadkill]

Thanks to whoever recently commented about using a hair trimmer to take dubbing off a skin ...

One muskrat hide... and my new pet trimmer
RIMG7259 by William Lovelace, on Flickr

Muskrat belly dubbing trim...
RIMG7260 by William Lovelace, on Flickr

A few whirls whirl in the Roadkill coffee dubbing machine and a nice supply of dubbing in about 15 minutes for the first attempt...
RIMG7261 by William Lovelace, on Flickr

[Partsman]

Very cool, a little warm to pickup a road kill but lots of rats on the sod farm behind my house. The trimmer looks like the way ideal way to collect the fur.
Mike.

[DUBBN]

I can not bring my self to shave my muskrat. I really like to remove all the guard hairs. I do not want those long hairs in my small patterns.

Beaver is different. All beaver should be shaven as close as possible. Its easier and funner to work with.

I feel like I should cut out a patch of the ditch rat and shave it. Some things cause me stress. This is one of them.

[letumgo]

I can not bring my self to shave my muskrat.

This line struck me as so funny. I immediately started laughing when I read it. Sounds like the opening statement in one of those multiple step self help programs.

“Hello, my name is Ray, and…”

Sorry to get off track, I am just in a silly mood.

[hankaye]

Ray, Howdy;

Once you've met the Man himself and spent some time on the water with him ...
it only raises the humor level by a huge amount, in the best way possible.

However the short paragraph about the other rodent rings true with much more
meaningful implications. Reminds me of ex #1 for some odd reason ... ,

hank

[Johnno]

Beaver is different. All beaver should be shaven as close as possible. Its easier and funner to work with.

.


Yep…. Agreed

[mooney4]

Just came across this topic! I just bought a couple of Muskrat skins and was thinking that i should try and shaving one into different batches of dubbing. I might need to go get an electric groomer now!! Thanks!

[DOUGSDEN]

Gentlemen,
Pretty humorous exchange above! I like Bill's tutorial about "trimming the rat" but, in some ways I have to agree with Wayne (I think?) about keeping some of it (perhaps the whole skin) in tact in case a Casual Dress or Birds Nest should happen along and need tied!
I have been confirming some orders for this winters rats from my local trappers! They treat me well and will stretch and dry the entire skin for me for a nominal fee! I always welcome a beautiful Muskrat skin into the den! Wonderfully soft and versatile fur for tying!
Dougsden

[Fishnkilts]

I can not bring my self to shave my muskrat.

This line struck me as so funny. I immediately started laughing when I read it. Sounds like the opening statement in one of those multiple step self help programs.

“Hello, my name is Ray, and…”

Sorry to get off track, I am just in a silly mood.

I just spewed scotch all over myself. Classic Ray, just classic.

I have a question though. Is it important to store fur from different parts of the body on an animal separately? And if so; why? Sorry, I'm not trying to steal this post, just trying to learn things.

[RickA]

Fishnkilts,
One thing I have learned from this forum... Put the rocks glass DOWN before you start reading.
The guys at Computer Geeks don't care to clean slobber infused bourbon from your laptop.

To answer your question, I would say color is the first reason to keep body sections separate.
The belly is usually lighter than say the back which is the darkest. Length of guard hair also varies
as does texture. A prime example would be the way some tyers break down a hares mask.

I like to have a stash of fur still on the hide and some that is already processed.
Bunnies are a different story.