Buck, As a traditionalist, learning from my mentor 55 years ago, I continue to dye traps with black walnut hulls/sumac berries and wax them with a blend of paraffin and beeswax - both land and water traps - including my Conibears. I have never used the synthetic dips.

I am not a metallurgist or a chemist, but over the years, as a scientist, have given periodic thought to the question of, "Why dye?"

Without supportive, concrete evidence, I believe that the tannic acid in the dyes somehow permeates and seals the pores of the steel to some extent in advance of the layer of wax, maximizing the integrity of the rust preventative coating formed to inhibit the invasion of iron oxide (rust.)

My traditional habit may be old and crusty-rusty, but all of my traps, including those over 50 years old, are still functional almost as if new, without rust or pitting in the steel.

That is what little I know, and why I continue to dye and wax all of my traps to this very day.

Tradition or necessity? For me - both.

A most interesting, provocative question from another man with an unquiet mind.

Jonathan