Cage Trap Locking Mechanism Design- Help Please

Hyperwrx

Hyperwrx

New member
Looking into building a cage trap for fox and bobcats and am looking for some help with the locking mechanism once the guillotine door falls shut. I have seen the rectangular metal pivoting tab design that allows the door to fall downward, pushing past the tab yet impedes the door from raising. I also looked at trapper's design locally that had a bent piece of metal to keep the door closed. Are there another designs out there that are more secure?

Thanks for your help.
 
This probably is of no help, because I have never seen such a mechanism. My Dad would just attach extra weight to the door so when it shut it would take quite an animal to lift it straight up? But the trigger mechinism also has to be beefy to support it.
 
A guy in town here made his own box traps. They have a 5/8ths lock washer on each side to lock the door down. These washers slide down when the door drops. On the trapperman he is TexA 67 and something. You can not get it open , unless you turn it upside down.
 
I welded nails to the side of the door frame that will spring inward as the door slides past.

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I welded angle iron across the bottom to catch on the nails. I squeeze the nails outward to open the door.

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The door stayed closed even after it was knocked on its side.

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turnn2theright and others here - I really appreciate the effort you took to post an answer to my questions (pictures & explanation). I posted this questions across 4 forums and hardly nobody bothered to answer.

turnn2theright- So when the door falls, the welded on angle iron piece touches the nail yet is able to push past it and fall completely shut. Looks good. I might do your idea plus the metal tab on top of the door- double lock.

Questions- On the tripping mechanism. Are you using a flexible wire or a rod connected to your pan to disengage the door? Is it ran INSIDE or OUTSIDE the actual cage? Is the door actually resting on the wire or rod so that when it is pulled the door falls or do you have another piece added?

Thanks in advance.
 
I built two with the action rod on the outside of the cage and that was because it lined up better for me to hold the door. The only reason I can see to put it on the inside would be so it doesn't hang up on anything I stack around it to conceal it. I went with a solid rod so I didn't have any cables or tricks to deal with I want to set it the same way everytime. It took a little more time but thats what I wanted. I welded a hex nut to the center of the door and filed the action rod to suit my needs. I even filed away too much and welded a bead on the end and started over. Eventually I found a pan tension I liked, just enough to stay up in the wind and light enough to work smooth. Its a lot of trial and error when building a trigger mech, but thats half the fun.

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