Trap Preparations

[Salmon_Run]

I purchased 2 dozen new traps and in preparation boiled them today for about 5 minutes and skimmed off the nasty before pulling them from the water.

Some turned a nice dull grey and a few look like they are still grease coated.

Should I boil them again or treat them with a degreaser? I was avoiding any foreign chemical smells but want a light rust before dyeing...

Any suggestions please....

Edited September 20, 2016 by Salmon_Run

[stoneam2006]

Put in dishwasher or take to car wash and spray down with degreaser then let rust for a few days or as long as you can
Then boil in dye (whatever you choose I use logwood) for about 30 min or better
Pull out and immediately wax so traps are still hot which will help the wax process

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[Salmon_Run]

Thank you ..

Theses were covered in a heavy grease and not just an oil coating....

 

[stoneam2006]

Like cosmoline? I boil in lye but it's dangerous and caustic

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[turkeyfeathers]

Stone has it. First get rid of grease. Leave outside for a few days to catch a nice surface rust. Dye with logwood, sumac , black walnuts. Whatever you choose. Like he said , have wax ready as traps will take wax better when they're still hot. When cooled , file off wax from end of dog and and where dog catches on pan. Otherwise they may spring on their own when set. Are you going to use earth anchors or cross stake rebar ? May want to boil those too. Don't plan on staking single stakes with anything less than a 24 " rebar stake and even then coyotes can pump them out. My .02 for what it's worth. Oh yeah , careful waxing: stuff is highly flammable. Experience talking there lol. Please don't use your wife's good pots in any of these procedures ! 

[Salmon_Run]

Thanks guys...

I will take the good advice.

[Salmon_Run]

I am glad to see fellow trappers here...

It is a lost art and I have not set steel since I was a teen and am getting my three teens involved. They love being at camp and outdoors.

Any suggestion will be well taken and send me a private message if desired. 

 

[stoneam2006]

Stone has it. First get rid of grease. Leave outside for a few days to catch a nice surface rust. Dye with logwood, sumac , black walnuts. Whatever you choose. Like he said , have wax ready as traps will take wax better when they're still hot. When cooled , file off wax from end of dog and and where dog catches on pan. Otherwise they may spring on their own when set. Are you going to use earth anchors or cross stake rebar ? May want to boil those too. Don't plan on staking single stakes with anything less than a 24 " rebar stake and even then coyotes can pump them out. My .02 for what it's worth. Oh yeah , careful waxing: stuff is highly flammable. Experience talking there lol. Please don't use your wife's good pots in any of these procedures ! 

Great advice...I had yotes pull 2 traps on me few years back have sence switched to super stakes on 18in of chain and will never go back. Ask anything you want no secrets here I love to trap and so does my boy my dad started taking me on the line around 3 and been ever sence. Good luck and tight chains.

More than happy to anwser any questions here or in a pm and am sure TF and the other trappers would too

Keeping the tradition alive is what it's about

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[the blur]

How did you get the Fox ?     I have 1 on my cam, but I like them around to eat the mice & rats from my neighbors property.  

[chas0218]

Anyone make their own stakes from rebar? I was thinking 1/2" rebar at 18" long and a larger chain link welded to the end so you can just clip the trap to it or weld a washer to the end. Any thoughts?

[turkeyfeathers]

24 minutes ago, chas0218 said:

Anyone make their own stakes from rebar? I was thinking 1/2" rebar at 18" long and a larger chain link welded to the end so you can just clip the trap to it or weld a washer to the end. Any thoughts?

I have some rebar 18" stakes my brother made for me. Welding washers does work but thread a nut on too. When pounding stakes welds sometimes break away.  Been there , done that. If using rebar for canines. Absolutely double cross stake with 2 rebar even at 18".  You can buy what I'd describe as a metal 8 that you cross stake with. Coyotes will pump out a single. Many a yote have been lost to this. 

[Culvercreek hunt club]

41 minutes ago, chas0218 said:

Anyone make their own stakes from rebar? I was thinking 1/2" rebar at 18" long and a larger chain link welded to the end so you can just clip the trap to it or weld a washer to the end. Any thoughts?

welding rebar can be a bear and kind of unpredictable. it is such a mixed pot of metal composition that sometimes welds don't hold to well. 

[stoneam2006]

Welding them works if you use a stick welder and just crank it up and burn it it. But as TF said if your going after yotes do yourself a favor and buy super stakes on chain you will not regret it. I've lost them on 24 in rebar they are strong. It's not worth the 10 dollar trap.

I caught the fox in a number 2 bridger offset last season foot hold. Just a deep mouse hole with some lure on lip and bait in the hole same thing I do for yotes but there alot of different sets you can make.

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