Why basswood?

[opie]

My son and I are going to try putting up fur this year. We're curious to know why basswood is preferred for board stretchers. Pine or fir is much easier to get from the local lumber yard. Will it work just as well? Also kicking around using wire stretchers. Any pro's or con's would be appreciated!

[bigjohn]

Basswood is a very soft wood and that makes using push pins to tack on the fur easier to use.Any wood will work,but pins go in harder and come out that way too.Be carefull of pine and other woods that can secrete pitch,as it will mat the fur.With pine and such,I'd throw a coat or two of sealer to lock in the pitch.
Wire stretchers will work too.I beleive you can get alittle better product with wood or wire/wood hybird.
Either will give you an advantage over selling green.

[bverboy]

basswood don't harden over time like pine, cedar. etc.....

[krank]

Pine is fine.Oak is a joke......Basswood is top of the line. Plywood is cruddy (IMO) Its all about pushing pins....

[login]

I have all wooden stretchers and made them myself. I used what ever I had laying around the house to make them as well, as long as it was close to the thickness that the buyer wants that I sell too. So I used pine boards and OSB plywood, like I said, I had plenty around the house. Using the type of wood that I use, I have to use a hand stapler (or power/air stapler if ya have one) to tack the pelt to the board, push pins won't work (too hard to push in). That is why when you buy wooden stretchers, they are mostly made of bass wood, for the push pin's. As far as wire VS wood, pelts look and sell better when dried on wooden stretchers, but if you have a butt load of fur to put up, wire is quicker. Hope that helps.

[townsendtaxidermy]

Basswood is about the softest of the hardwoods and is not very grainy. It's a favorite for a lot of woodworking crafts, especially when using the lathe.
I made my first project in trade school out of basswood...a rocking horse for my daughter. It takes a good kerf. I lived in a small trailer and didn't have room for it inside, so kept it outside. It took a knocking but kept on rocking. A few years after I made it, a guy driving by saw it and stopped...offered me $50 and I jumped on it. I was young and poor...often regretted it.

[64bobcat]

X 2 on what Login said......

[opie]

Thanks for all the great advice! We will definitely use basswood for our stretchers. Sounds like the best investment. I really appreciate the expertise that this forum offers!