waxing traps?

[fishdaddy]

exactly how do u do it?
thx.
fish.

[Bogmaster]

With great caution,fish.
 When I used to wax my traps,I used a container just for my wax.
I liked to wax 1 trap at a time.When doing this,it is a slower process,but you can get by with a smaller container,and less wax.
 Because of waxes flammabilty,I used a double boiler process.I had a large water container that went directly over my heat source.The container with my wax,was placed in the water filled container.The wax is heated to where it is almost smoking,the trap was then placed in the wax.It was left in the hot wax,till it reached the same temperature as the wax.After you do this,you will better understand what I mean.After the trap is pulled from the wax,I would shake it,then hang it up to dry.
 Waxing this way ,gives you a thin uniform coating of wax.
 Wear safety glasses and have a board large enough to cover the entire wax container.That way if the wax catches on fire,place the board on top--to smother the flames.
 Good Luck,
 Tom

[skidway]

Do like Tom says but wear old clothes,don't rush it, and don't be drinking. Hot wax is serious business.

[Catfish]

Fish,
   I like to do everything at once. I would use a big butchering kettle, 10 gal. at least, and put in wallnut hulls, about 7 gal. of water and some wax. When you get it boiling good you can dip your traps in the water for about about 1 to 2 min. and then pull them out slowly. They will be not only died, but waxed. I would recomand tha t you put a small twig in the jaws, 1/16 of an inb. or less, befor dieing. I liked 1/2 bees wax and 1/2 paraffin.

[Bogmaster]

Catfish,the only problem with doing both at once,you can end up with a very uneven application of wax.While it cuts down on the time involved,it also has its drawbacks.
 But as I always say--if you are happy with your system--thats all that counts.
 Tom

[redpig]

i do it all at once also, use a mixture of native plants from area to trap,if i use walnut hulls squirrels like to dig up traps, usually use oak bark, juniper berries and cresote brush. boil plants in 20 gal of water until dye is ready,remove plants and i use 10 to 15 pounds of parrafin wax. boil 5-6 minutes and slowly remove hang to dry.

[Macthediver]

When I wax my traps I do the boiling and waxing at the same time. I do use to seperate containers one large one for traps and a smaller contianer for the wax.  It may work for some guys and save a little time when you put the wax in with the traps. But I tried it years ago and was always disappointed. Traps tend to get and uneven coating of wax and often chip or rust threw.
When I wax mine in a seperate coantiner I use a tall narrow can. This allows me to use the least amount of wax and still completely cover the trap.  Using a larg container requires the use of lots of waxs just to fill the conainter.  I take my traps one at a time out of the hot dye water. I hold it for a secound or two over the pot as it will dry some. Then I dip it in my hot wax. If the trap and wax are the right temp it will sizzle some like a fench fry. When the silling stops i take the trap out and lay it on clean card board.  Done this eway they get a nice even coat of wax that doen't chip and holds up well, evren looks pretty:-)

Mac

[Asa Lenon]

I do my waxing on top of the boiling solution like Catfish described.  The important factors in getting a perfect job doing it that way is using a quality wax that contains at least 20% to 25% refined bees wax and leaving the traps in the solution until the traps are as hot as the solution.  The proper amount of wax to melt into the solution is about 2 ozs per square foot of solution surface.  Then one must pull the traps up through the wax on top slowly and evenly.  If one pulls them through the wax too quickly the wax will be too thin and if they are pulled to slowly the wax will be too thick.  I hook six traps together on a wire so I can pull that many at one time while watching carefully to be sure the right amount of wax is being applied. If it isn't right, one simply lowers them and tries again. Ace :grin: