Author Topic: Dyeing Traps without Waxing? (Read 987 times)

KYtrapper17 · « **on:** October 22, 2003, 02:00:53 PM »

Is it OK to dye traps with logwood trap dye and not wax them? I heard a man say he didn't wax but he did boil and dye them, and he takes good numbers of coyote and fox each year. Will it hurt them not to wax them? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Edge · « **Reply #1 on:** October 22, 2003, 02:19:12 PM »

Waxing is fast,wax can be stored from year to year,and adds little to the cost of trap preparation.
What waxing does is;speeds up the trap,and protect it from rusting(as bad)also last line of defense against caustic anti-freeze,such as salt,et al.
Waxing traps is maximum bang for the buck;all upside,no downside.Why NOT do it?
As far as hearing about a guy who catches lots by just dying traps,its prolly true,but I've got too much invested in my gear not to take care of it to the best of my ability.

Edge

RdFx · « **Reply #2 on:** October 22, 2003, 03:28:40 PM »

Out west trappers dyed thier traps but they almost always had dry conditions and didnt need an antifreeze to keep trap working. Like Edge says wax is the icing on the cake to make yr trap work fast and protect it. Some people prefer to dip their traps and that is up to the individual trapper.

KYtrapper17 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 22, 2003, 03:50:24 PM »

I dipped my traps for this year, but I plan to dye next year. I will probably go ahead and wax. Could someone explain how to wax? What do you melt the wax in and how?

RdFx · « **Reply #4 on:** October 22, 2003, 03:59:55 PM »

I use a 20 gallon steel container that i wax all my water traps and conibears in. I use lp gas with a torch set up with elbow so torch is facing up. I use a seperate 10 gallon container for my canine waxing. I use 20 lb blocks of candle wax the plain type that you can buy fm hobby stores. After my canine wax is two or three yrs old it gets added to the water trap waxing container and i get fresh wax for canine traps. I use pure wax and keep a cover handy in case a fire would start and i could cover it fast. I usually wax three 330s at once or 6 nbr 2 or 3 canine type traps. I put traps in wax that is ALL melted BUT not smoking! I leave traps in till bubbling stops and pull out and gently shake over container to get excess wax off. DO NOT i repeat DO NOT get dripping wax into flame of yr type of heater as it can explode into flame. I hang all my traps and let cool then pack them away. WHen you take traps out of hot wax they should give off hot vapors (not steam lol) and look shiny wet color ; then you know whole trap is same temp as wax and took a fine thin coat. Done this way you WILL NOT get flaking or cracking of wax on yr traps. Anymore questions fire away.

Edge · « **Reply #5 on:** October 22, 2003, 05:02:13 PM »

Good catch RdFx,wax is extremely flammable,always make sure your wax container is bigger than you need,20 lbs of wax going off is not something you will soon forget.

Edge

Wackyquacker · « **Reply #6 on:** October 22, 2003, 06:31:14 PM »

Do you fellows ever add rosin to your wax to facillitate even coatings? I remeber reading about rosin in wax soe place but I can't remeber where ...having a RdFx moment. :-D

RdFx · « **Reply #7 on:** October 22, 2003, 09:25:35 PM »

Nope i never added Roseann to my wax: besides for her screaming it would make the wax stink and yotes woundnt go near the smelly traps!!!!! Its possible that cruel New Mexico trappers do it though :roll: ! In REALITY though ive heard of it being done to keep wax fm cracking and making wax more pliable. I have never had to add any with wax ive used. I suspect if one used the wax on top of water method that the rosin might give better results as most times wax coverage would have been uneven and could cuase cracking.

trappnman · « **Reply #8 on:** October 23, 2003, 02:06:55 AM »

I concur with the advice you have received. Dye really only accomplishes one thing- while doing it, your traps get a good boling. I like the dark color- but 1 coon and thats gone LOL

Waxing is realy the thing you want. In fact, I know many people that never dye, just clean their traps and wax each year.

Meranwhile, to jump on a hobbyhorse- I went to dye/wax again this year after many years of using a variety of other dips.

I will NEVER,NEVER use anything but dye/wax on my canine traps again. In 9 check days- have not had one instance of digging at the trap.

Wackyquacker · « **Reply #9 on:** October 23, 2003, 04:03:04 AM »

NEVER say NEVER! I dip all mine and often go long spells without a digger ...especially the last nine or ten days on a ranch :-D :-D :-D

Now you're riding horseback to check your traps? I'd thought you could see most of your sets from atop the soapbox :lol: :lol:

trappnman · « **Reply #10 on:** October 23, 2003, 12:50:55 PM »

LOL WQ- It saves time. It has to be a humidity/climate thing. I have not had one set dug at the trap in 10 check days. Last couple of years with the dip...my oh my.

So- Never it is!

Edge · « **Reply #11 on:** October 23, 2003, 02:55:40 PM »

It is the Leggetts that add rosin to their wax.

Edge

foxtail · « **Reply #12 on:** October 23, 2003, 03:06:22 PM »

RdFx, you are waxing 330s?
Was that a typo?
Kind of dangerous don't you think?
I personally would never do that.
I also advise anyone who will listen not to do it.

Wackyquacker · « **Reply #13 on:** October 23, 2003, 05:06:40 PM »

You all ever see ole RdFx walk...sorta lists to one side. Well, he got that a way when a waxed 330 clipped his right arm. He figures if he can get one to clip his left arm he'll straighten out. Now I offered to send T-man over and fire one on his left arm but noooo...he's just plain knot headed. :roll:

RdFx · « **Reply #14 on:** October 23, 2003, 06:17:51 PM »

YES i wax 330s, in fact all conibears. Ive been doing it for 47 years. When i teach trappers ed i DEFINATELY tell students not to wax conibears UNTILL they get experience then even consider painting or dipping the big bore conis. I like how they tune up a conibear just like wax does for my canine traps. I can use a weaker conibear and with the wax it goes off faster thus giving more whacking power. I can remember the first time i waxed my 110s and trying to set them before grade school in morning and whacking my fingers ouch, ouch *7$#@!. I learned how to clean triggers ect and things go much, much smoother now. Always when setting big conibears use a saftey till you set it in water or land and yr ready to leave when set is done.

trappnman · « **Reply #15 on:** October 24, 2003, 02:13:31 AM »

he's just plain knot headed

A leftover from the hat job.....

RdFx · « **Reply #16 on:** October 24, 2003, 01:01:58 PM »

SOoooooooo dats where dat extra bump on da head comeda from!!! :-D

Newt · « **Reply #17 on:** October 24, 2003, 02:29:34 PM »

Trappnman, I second that !!!!!!!
By-the-way did the UPS man strike OIL yet ?

RdFx · « **Reply #18 on:** October 24, 2003, 03:31:11 PM »

Some of us have the touch! And some of us are touched a bit bless yr hearts :-DSo you are saying yr KLUTZES

Newt · « **Reply #19 on:** October 25, 2003, 01:24:02 AM »

----------------OVER---------------

trappnman · « **Reply #20 on:** October 25, 2003, 02:13:29 AM »

Just got it yesterday newt. Thanks. Send me email of total. steve