Zonker strips

[kujo24]

Hey Everyone!
It's friday and I (hopefully everyone else) have a long weekend! --127-3-
Quick question: I just got a bunch of whole rabbit pelts and am wondering if there is a specific process to cutting them in order to maximize the amount of strips per pelt, or just slice it?
FYI: I got the pelts from
http://www.flyfishusa.com/fly-tying/ft-materials-home.htm
I couldn't find pelts around here...have no fear I drop paychecks at local shops. This place has really awesome color variations and the pricing on pelts is agreeable- $5.95, $7.95 for special colors. --125-3 Thought that I would share, any tips would be greatly appreciated.

[Mark Cahill]

I have whole rabbits I'm selling for $5 even. Have a little stew, and you get your zonker strips too!

Couldn't resist. I do have the rabbits, but they're headed to the pet store.

[windknot]

I once heard of a method, seems like it would work but might be a PITA. anyway.. take a bolt small enough to fit through the gap in a double edged razor blade. Slip on a washer, then a blade, then a couple washers, another blade, a couple more washers, you get the idea. Bolt the whole thing up, lay out your pelt, and I bet you'd be in business. Number of washers of course determines how wide the strips are and length of the bolt how many you can fit. What are tying up? I just ran out of purple strips last night tying some LM Bass stuff. New order going in soon...

[ruge13]

Not sure about maximizing the strips, but you might want to think about the direction in which you cut them. Cross cut vs regular strips. Might make a difference in the application, for example palmered or laid flat.

[kujo24]

Thanks guys,

I'm actually tying some bonita bunnies/zonker bunnies and will try tying some snake flies for the first time. I will be cutting all of my strips length wise, no cross cutting. I recently learned from a tyer that you just tie the tip of the strip down, hide side up and the fur lays the way a cross-cut strip would; just make sure when you rap the zonker that you have the hide side facing the hook shank...It works great! If you have any questions let me know.

[jjonas]

I think the important part is cutting from the back (hide side rather then fur side). What I do is take a sharp exacto or utility knife and cut long strips, guiding it down while holding the pelt in the air. I usually start by cutting the pelt in half to make it easier to handle then work from the center on each half. That way you don't get all that fur flying around or accidently cut into it. The good stuff is the center cuts of the pelt. The rest is usually just dubbing.

[kujo24]

Thanks for the tips...unfortunately, rabbit fur has the same affect as insulation, once cut (even the hide side only) it flies around and does nothing but itch! :mad: I went with cutting individual strips with a razor blade...you should have seen me chasing the dubbing that was floating around with my dust buster... (#$119) Cheers :-%

[PAUL SCHWACK]

i always tack mine to a board- all 4 corners streched tight. much nicer to work with it that way.