I posted this on the WVTA Message Board and thought I would share here also. I like to tinker in my garage and make some of my own equiptment, so this is for you guys and gals who like to tinker...I needed a cap for my MB-650's so this is what I came up with.
First I removed a pan from one of my traps and traced it onto a piece of 1x4.



Then I cut out the wooden pan with a scroll saw.




Then I cut a strip of aluminum flashing 1 1/2" wide, and long enough to reach completely around the wooden pan.




Then I bent the strip of aluminum flashing around the wooden pan and stapled it with an electric staple gun.



Then drill a hole in the center of the wooden pan and attach a wooden handle of choice to the wooden pan with a dry wall screw.I like to dip mine in Formula One when they are finished.







The last pic is a #2 Bridger fully modified with a Paws-I-Trip pan insatlled. I don't know how well you can see the shock spring in the trap chain but I make them myself also.

Post a tutorial of the shock spring creation as well if you could. Nice work on the cap!

Thanks for sharing, Do you have any trouble with odors contaminating the wood, then the set?

Awesome job. I guess I would have the same question as Trapset regarding odors trapped or transmitted from the wood. That's why I switched to wood sifters to metal. Perhaps it's not enough to be concerned about, especially with just a capper.

Either way, awesome creativity and design Whistlepig!!!!!!

I usually dip mine in Formula-One and thet seals them up pretty good.I am going to put together some more springs in a week or so and I'll post the pics then.

Now that I think of it, you do dip yours but to remedy the scent question, a quick dip in hot wax would cure any concerns someone might have.

Great job!

Is it hard to make your own springs? I'd like to see those pics.

Looks great,trap looks great too..

Very nice, I like to tinker also, will be looking forward to your spring making class...Thanks, Tom

I like that, can these get archived?

no.

I just notified the mod's that this is a good archive post once it has run it's course. You are 100 percent correct, this one merrits archiving. Tom

Nice job!!

But it would have to bed itself for me to give up my waxpaper.

Another great "do it yourself" trick.

I have been using a plastic capper (manufactured type) but one day my buddy was using it and bumped the trigger which set off the trap and broke it into several pieces. We glued it back together which worked but I have thought about getting a back up one or even making a more durable one in case I am clumsy like he had his moment. This home made one from Whistlepig would definately be in the more durable category without having to buy an alluminum one.

good idea thanks for sharing

great post for sure should be archived.

ditto

TTT

A caulking tube makes a nice 1 1/2 coilspring trapper's cap. Just cut a slot for the dog and you're good to go.

Thanks for the comments fellow trappers...I learn alot from this forum so the least I can do is give something back. Some trappers do not use the caps to bed traps but thought maybe this would help those that do use them. These caps fit real tight to the pans when you bed, and when you pull them off there is very little space for dirt to fall under the pan.I like my dirt packed really firm inside my trap jaws. I want the ground to feel the same to a critter every where he steps except for the dirt on the pan.....and when he steps there it is to late, he is mine.

When you use a trappercap, do you still use a pan cover?

So let's see the springs up close!

Michael

I'll post some pics tonight of my springs. I buy the springs at my local hardware store(Ace). The last ones I purchased were a $1 a piece. I think I had about 15 or 16 vdollars a dozen in them the last go around with all materials. Have not made any for a while but need to put some more together.

Snapped a couple of pics of my shock springs.I'll post more detail when I put a few together. I know that they are not perfect by design but they have worked well for me on my yote traps. Hopefully you can get an idea from the pics on how I made them. I picked out the springs by how hard they were to compress, I have never actually put weight on them to get an exact number. I just picked them out by feel. Basically all they are is a spring and a couple of pieces of flat stock steel with a j bent on each end and a hole drilled in the other end to hook j hook to. Put one piece in one direction and put one piece in the other direction so they hook the bottom of the spring and work against each other.Maybe some of you guys and gals can take this idea and perfect it a little more....If you like tinkering like I do. I am no big numbers guy or long liner but I do catch my share of yotes and cats and I have been using these same springs for about five years now and have not had one fail me yet. I posted a few pics where you can see the shock spring in action....kinda

Really looks great, I think I could build those myself. I haver a Mig 140 Miller and had not welded in years. It only took a few passes and I was back in the swing. Keep up the work. Larry

Ohio Andy here are a few pics of the shocksprings I make in the above pics.