Rusty Traps???

[Mattemma]

For those who use traps of various kinds what do you do to keep them in working order?

I have a havahart 1089,some conibear 110's,and a squirrelnator trap.

The 1089 and conibear are getting rusty. I was thinking of rustoleum spray paint and some wd40 or veggie oil rubbed on moving parts.The squirrel trap I just touched up with black spray paint.

I think the traps need some sort of lube to keep things moving well. I do have some garage door grease that I use for the track.That might be better.The conibears just look horridly rusted.I have not even really used those.

What do you do for your stuff?

 

[chickortreat]

.

 

[Mattemma]

I never thought of wax.Thanks.

 

[HappyRoo]

Properly waxing requires boiling CLEAN traps in a water to wax mixture " However there are some new rust chemicals out there today called rustdefacator name brand, you can spray cleannn! traps with it and zap! no rust, it turns them Black just like walnut dye does. But the traps should look like new when sprayed.

 

[Ole and Lena]

Been trapping for years and know all about trap care. First off, never wax connibear traps, it makes them too sensitive and erratic, more likely to get your fingers than a critter.

For most trapping needs unless you are setting them in a very caustic environment trap dye will suffice. You can either boil them in commercial logwood powder or if you have a black walnut tree nearby, boil them in a kettle full of water and walnut husks for about an hour. This will bond with the metal creating some rust preventative film.

For my gopher traps in the yard, I let them develop a slight film of rust, then spray them with cold galvanizing compound (in the spraypaint section of your store). Heat the contact points mildly with a torch and dab on some candle wax. Have also used boiled linseed oil in a pinch. Doesn't seem to spook muskrats, mink or coon, but it's not nearly as durable a finish as boiled in trap dye.

If you are seriously going after fox or coyotes, use commercial trap wax and follow the directions precisely. It is usually necessary for these wiley critters.

 

[Mattemma]

Thanks for the info!