dyeing the old way

[hillbill]

bak in the day 25-30 yrs ago when i trapped last, i used to dye my traps by boiling in red oak and walnut bark and walnut hulls. anybody still do or remember this?i just ordered a dozen new traps and i thought id toss them in the dishwasher to degrease and then throw them out in the mud for a month or so to rust a little and then boil and wax. anybody use a homemade wax concoction?i been out of the loop awhile so would love to hear any ideas from anybody.

[Macthediver]

I used to use the walnut hulls and sumac bark to dye all my traps. But it is so much cleaner and simpler to just buy the powdered logwood crystals from a trap supply dealer.
I believe you get pretty much the same end results with hulls and bark as with logwood. But with hulls you have to be more carefull to shake or rinse the little clingy chunks. Other wise you get rough spots in the wax job that don't hold up as well during use.
That's been my experience anyway.
If your looking at just doing a few traps and want to do the whole deal. I say go old school on them and cook away.

Mac

[trappnman]

the old ways are much easier, for sure. Just toss in some crushed walnuts or a bunch of sumac berries (walnuts always seemed better to me) into water, add traps and let sit for 4-5 days. No boiling needed.

take out and rinse.

[rzwieg]

Boiling with walnut hulls seemed to work better than the cold method. I use crystals or powder now.

[RdFx]

When boiling up traps, whatever you use, bring to boil for about ten minutes and let set over nite to cool.  In morning or whenever take out and hang to dry. If your doing water traps dont have to rinse off black residue on traps but if going to wax for canines i would rinse off the residue when traps are still wet.  Then dry and wax.... for water traps doesnt make a differance. just take out of pot , hang to dry and then wax if waxing.  Canine traps dont need to be dyed. Clean them then do what ever you prefer : dye, wax , dip ect and use... Dying traps after they are used a season or two does help a bit  keep them from rusting up  .  To each his own and what he likes to do or method preferred.

[trappnman]

boioling traps is one thing- its always good to start out with fresh traps- and I do so at the beginning of each season but its not erally needed- I often just wash off used traps well during seaosn, then rewax.

rz- boiling hulls works faster by far- but the cold methid, given time, works just as well.

but I agree- crystals are the method I use now- becasue I can boil, dye and wax all in same day.

[Macthediver]

My Wife says it wouldn't be a true start to fall if the smell of traps cooking didn't whaff into the house.  I usually pull the trap from the hot dye water just long enough for it to look dry. Then it's right into the hot wax.
When I'm done they look real pretty. Which I'm sure the critters could care less about.
But their all like little gems to me.

Mac

[RdFx]

Yea , Mac  boiling and waxing traps at night and listening to the geese fly overhead honking....plus cool  nites too.   ALways busy during day , will have to try a day light boil and wax for once....

[rzwieg]

  Archery practice while traps are boiling; that's autumn preparations.

[R Jones]

Yep ! I still use sumac berries every season.

[hillbill]

thanks for the heads up on the sumac, never used them but i might now.they are vey prolific in this area.

[R Jones]

Hillbill, Just make sure they are dry. I just snip them off the bush , and put them in water. Boil like you normally would.   R Jones

[TRAPnHUNT]

I still use oak & black walnuts in boiling water to dye my traps. There is something about old school methods that I keep close to the heart. Some may say that the new dyes are better but hey, if it worked for the old timers, it sure in the hell would still work today. My 20 year old son does his traps the same way even though he is educated on cold dipping. Lets face it, humans moved forward with technology. Not animals!!!