Dying traps

G

greenjeans

New member
Just getting started in trapping this fall. (Can't seem to hit coyotes with my 22-250....)Anyway, I bought a dozen BMI Wolfer #2's. I plan on using the logwood powder for a dye. Here's the question. How much corrosion do I need on the trap for the dye to stick? The oil is off the traps, and are just starting to rust a bit. I have talked to some of the local trappers here, and I get all responses from just a light surface rust that wipes off with your fingers, to pitted metal. How much is enough?

Thanks
GJ
 
Try either soaking them in vinegar for a few days, or boiling them in sani-flush for 30-45 minutes. Either way, rinse them good afterwards & let them air dout for a week or more.
 
Did the sani flush thing. The metal turned a darker gray, and the oil is gone. But 4 of em just won't rust. I'm gonna try dunking them in saltwater a few times a day. Need to get em dyed pretty soon.

Thanks

GJ
 
All I do is get some sagebrush or some sort of bush local to your area you are going to trap put it in a boiling pot of water let it boil about 20 or 25 min. And then when I am done shut the heat off then let cool then I get the hose run some water into same bucket and let the oils from the new metal or leg juice flow over and out of the pot. They come out black as can be then let dry and wax. That method works for me.
 
greanjeans the reasoning behind the rust is that it indicates the trap metal is completely oil free and relatively clean. Surface rust is all that's needed.
Boiling the traps gets them hot enough that the oil will float off them in the water, along with last years wax, and any odor that might be on them.
Toss em out in the yard afterwards, hang em on a fence, the cloths line or anything. Once they get a good surface rust on them you know they are clean and oil free.
 
Been dunking them in saltwater aboout twice a day. They are just starting to come around. My hunting/trapping buddy was over this evening, and he said they all look just about right. Dying on Sunday. (My buddy Troy and I just got back from bow shopping. He didn't buy crap. I bought a $730 dollar hat, and got a Mathews Outback for free.) Might be in the doghouse for awhile....
Been nice knowin' ya.

GJ
 
They are starting to look about right....I think. We plan on dying them Sunday. Do I need to soak or wash them in vinegar before I dye em in 4 days? I wondered about that salt kicking in and not stopping when it was supposed to.

River Runner,
I know, the hat WAS pretty expensive, but that free bow shoots AWESOME!

GJ
 
Why bother dying traps when you're going to end up covering them with a half inch of dirt? With my 'yote traps I skip the dying and just wax them after they are clean. By the time a 'yote sees the shine it's already too late for them.
 
greenjean

One reason why people dye traps is because if the dirt covering the trap is nocked off or washed off by rain then the trap will have a better chance of blending in with the rest of the set instead of being nice and shiny.

To answer your question before about getting the grease off the traps and getting them to rust ..I either boil the traps with degreaser which you can get at any household store..or you can take them to the car wash and blast them with hot water and soap and rinse..After doing that I would attach the traps to a piece of wire and hang them from a tree branch for a few weeks. I wouldnt soak them in saltwater or leave them in the grass.

NY Yote
 
One reason or two,to dye is to help conceal the steal smell,and to protect against rusting after the trap is waxed.VRMTHNT is right about what to use.Logwood is nice,but I found local plants to your area work better for one reason,they are a common odor to the animals in your area.Here I use staghorn sumac,it grows everywhere.Because no matter what you do to the trap, even when waxed will give off the odor of the dye,and I found that you will get less digging using local stuff because it doesnt arouse there curiousity.They know its there but it doesnt bother them.Also if you plan to wax,which you should,dip the traps in straight wax,not wax melted on top of water,and use a low flame,and take your time.wax is extremely flammable.Good Luck.
 
They seem to have dyed pretty well. Letting them hang in the garage for a few weeks. We will wax them pretty soon, and yes we will use straight wax, nice and slow. Thanks for all the help. Next years traps may turn out a little better, as I won't be under the gun to get em done. But so far, these look like they should be just fine. Thanks for all the help and constructive criticism. Have a good season.

GJ
 


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