Dying and waxing....tradition, or necessity?
#1044292
12/12/08 12:47 PM
12/12/08 12:47 PM
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BuckNE
OP
Unregistered
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BuckNE
OP
Unregistered
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Ok, it has become a standard in the trapping world to dye and wax traps, or to dip water traps.
Now, the only advantage I see to dipping water traps is to prevent corrosion. That's all good, but one caught coon is going to shine that trap up, and now it can corrode. And since most folks don't pull a trap after each catch and re-dip, why dip in the first place? If you don't dip, it will rust and blend in with a creek bottom just fine.
Then there's the land sets. I can see the advantage of waxing traps to minimize odor, but why dye? The trap is buried under the dirt.
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Re: Dying and waxing....tradition, or necessity?
[Re: ]
#1044298
12/12/08 12:51 PM
12/12/08 12:51 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
West Tennessee
PappyD
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2008
West Tennessee
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I put some water sets out yesterday, brand new traps bought the night before and the went from the store to the water!
Come November, critters will die!!!
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Re: Dying and waxing....tradition, or necessity?
[Re: PappyD]
#1044347
12/12/08 01:23 PM
12/12/08 01:23 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
minnesota
goldy
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2007
minnesota
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I think with coon it is a waste of time. For other water animals, that don't chew, it helps with corrosion and camo's the trap from thieves. All my land traps this year were dyed and now you'd never know they were ever dyed, unless they didn't make a catch. Heck, the ones that caught coon look brand new again. The cleaning part, in my opinion, is neccesary for canines, and as long as I have to boil them anyway figure I might as well throw some tree bark in the water to color them and maybe give them some natural odor.
"They that can give up essential liberty to gain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety" Ben Franklin talking about guns
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Re: Dying and waxing....tradition, or necessity?
[Re: goldy]
#1044356
12/12/08 01:26 PM
12/12/08 01:26 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
kansas
mr. finch
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
kansas
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i think its a waste of time to dye them. i dont wax them but thats it
i live and work in this city but am truly alive on this river......tom burns
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Re: Dying and waxing....tradition, or necessity?
[Re: goldy]
#1044362
12/12/08 01:29 PM
12/12/08 01:29 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
East Central Alabama
BamaCoyote
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
East Central Alabama
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I'm old school. I boil and dye my traps then wax them. I think the wax may make the trap scent free though game will know we have been in the area and around the set anyway. The main thing about the wax is it will make the trap lightning fast for it is so slick. Just boiling them and then waxing would work but like goldy said if you boil them you may as well throw in some bark or hard wood leaves, black walnut hulls etc.
Still Sober
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Re: Dying and waxing....tradition, or necessity?
[Re: BamaCoyote]
#1044419
12/12/08 02:03 PM
12/12/08 02:03 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Northwestern New York(Elder)
Jonathan
"Wilson"
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"Wilson"
Joined: Dec 2006
Northwestern New York(Elder)
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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
Camera Gear: Canon EOS 7D-MK-II, Canon EF-S 10-22mm, EF 28-135mm, EF 100-400mm and EF 400mm lenses.
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Re: Dying and waxing....tradition, or necessity?
[Re: SDB777]
#1044475
12/12/08 02:36 PM
12/12/08 02:36 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Belgrade, Montana
hunterjmj
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Belgrade, Montana
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Jonathan, I agree with what you said as well. I'm not much of a water trapper but I always dye and wax my traps every year. I just dye the few conis that I have. If for no other reason I like to know that my investment in traps is in some way protected.
___________ Matthew 1:21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sin.
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Re: Dying and waxing....tradition, or necessity?
[Re: Ridgerunner]
#1044835
12/12/08 05:58 PM
12/12/08 05:58 PM
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PSB1011
OP
Unregistered
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PSB1011
OP
Unregistered
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Dying and waxing....tradition, or necessity?
I think if you die,you won't be waxing
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Re: Dying and waxing....tradition, or necessity?
[Re: ]
#1044878
12/12/08 06:25 PM
12/12/08 06:25 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Lake Clark, Alaska
AKtrapper26
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2007
Lake Clark, Alaska
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I would have to say a little tradition, a little for the care of the traps (prolong life), and maybe just personal preference, but I would say there are definitely locations and applications where it is not at all a necessity. Some animals (uneducated as they may be) up here don't care if the trap is undyed/waxed AND unburied.
I've caught animals each season I've been up here with new shinies. And heck, I just recently read on a thread that the Marten Jedi, Takotna, never takes his traps out of the woods season to season.
All depends...
"...if it moves, ground check that joker and tear at it with your pointy teeth. But save all the green stuff for the hippies." --The Possum Man
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Re: Dying and waxing....tradition, or necessity?
[Re: AKtrapper26]
#1044943
12/12/08 07:01 PM
12/12/08 07:01 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Gnome, Alaska
Alaskan
"AMY SUE"
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"AMY SUE"
Joined: Dec 2006
Gnome, Alaska
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I don't do anything to my traps or snares, and have caught LOTS of stuff. That being said, I've also seen where wolves, fox, and others have come up to a set and completly avoided it.
Mostly tradition, but as I wise trapper once told me: You'll catch 9 out of 10 fox with doing nothing. But it will be that one that DRIVES YOU NUTS while trying to get it.
"Goats pee in the water sheep drink."
Life member: NRA, NTA, AkTA, AkFTA, WiTA, MnTA, MoTA, OrTA
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Re: Dying and waxing....tradition, or necessity?
[Re: Jonathan]
#1044947
12/12/08 07:03 PM
12/12/08 07:03 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Gnome, Alaska
Alaskan
"AMY SUE"
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"AMY SUE"
Joined: Dec 2006
Gnome, Alaska
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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 Jonathan, I just love reading your posts! Good diction and syntax, and with some validity to boot!
"Goats pee in the water sheep drink."
Life member: NRA, NTA, AkTA, AkFTA, WiTA, MnTA, MoTA, OrTA
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Re: Dying and waxing....tradition, or necessity?
[Re: Alaskan]
#1045069
12/12/08 08:00 PM
12/12/08 08:00 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Wetzel County, WV
Chasin Reds
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2008
Wetzel County, WV
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as far as waxing goes the reason has already been said, why do I dye them?, because thats what my dad has always done, I have good memories of the day every year before trapping season when he would do it, and i would watch, so he still does his and I still do mine, hopefully in a fews years my girls will have some of those memories to keep, so I guess its tradition, without the die the whole process just woulnd't be complete.
on a second note, when I pull my traps after the first run at my line, I redo them dye and all, as I do not have enough to run my line two or three times without using the same ones over
Trap Hard, Trap Clean, Jeremiah Johnson would be proud(some say he's dead some say he never will be)
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Re: Dying and waxing....tradition, or necessity?
[Re: Chasin Reds]
#1045162
12/12/08 08:44 PM
12/12/08 08:44 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Glen Rose, Arkansas
glenrosebeaver08
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2008
Glen Rose, Arkansas
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how much wax does it take for 2 dozen traps?
"Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, months, and years they spend preparing for it."
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Re: Dying and waxing....tradition, or necessity?
[Re: glenrosebeaver08]
#1045643
12/13/08 12:04 AM
12/13/08 12:04 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Northwestern New York(Elder)
Jonathan
"Wilson"
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"Wilson"
Joined: Dec 2006
Northwestern New York(Elder)
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Alaskan, Thank you for your kind words.
I ain't much, but I learned how to spell, finally, in 7th grade. Syntax is a pretty big word. Is that related to grammar, and that other one I heard about once - lexicon?
Jonathan
Camera Gear: Canon EOS 7D-MK-II, Canon EF-S 10-22mm, EF 28-135mm, EF 100-400mm and EF 400mm lenses.
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