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I'm sure a single diller is probably harder on a cage than any single coon would be. Where we run into trouble is maybe the second year of constant catches. I've repaired more Safeguards than all the rest put together. We've had our second year of the professional Tomahawks now and so far so good. That new one that I wrote about in WCT sure looks like a winner. Caught another big coon in one today and everything is just like brand new. What a difference a little piece of metal can make.

I have various traps and controllers from Tomahawk and Safeguard but I use a lot of the "Little Giant LT4" traps from Miller Manufacturing for the larger animals. Very strong and dillo proof. The pan is twice as thick as others and has never been bent in any way. The doors are thick, tough and hold fast at the corners. I've caught coons, chucks and huge armadillos with no problems.

I've found the safeguard trap "pro series" I think its #5436 to have a stronger pan than the rest of the live cages out there...like you find at hardware stores(Havahart)

Paul, the #51690 isn't a Professional series trap. It's their standard box trap.

The 1/2"x1" wire on the bottom and sides of the Professional series traps, along with the heavier duty treadle and rod, make them a far stronger trap, imo.

That's the one I use "pro series". treadle lasts for a long time. Stronger trap.
No doubt the regular series is going to be weak.

On the same subject but different brands I have to ask Mr. Winkelmann something. In the recent edition of WCT you say what a great trap the new Tomahawk is but here you say all you order and all your techs want are Comstock's? Which is it? Are you getting old and forgetful on brand names? Or are you running for office and trying to make every group happy? Paul for President!

PS:
The last couple Tomahawks I received I would put in the same category as Havajunks, they weren't much better then Harbor Freight specials.

Dave, how long ago did you get those Tomahawks? If you read my article thoroughly, you would have seen that I listed certain cages for certain animals. I included Comstocks, Tomahawks, and even the smaller Safeguards. I call 'em as I see 'em. And you will notice that nowhere did I endorse Obama.

Paul it was probably 2010. I was low on skunk size traps, 7x8x24 and ordered one each Tomahawk, Safeguard standard and Safeguard Professional from WCS. I ended up getting about 10 Safeguard Pro's mainly for the pan stops and 1x1/2 mesh bottoms. And I wouldn't think for a second you would back the dirty"O". I used to say if the devil ran for office the democraps would back him. He did and they did!

sqs and others, sorry about the wrong number thing on the Safeguards. Not sure about the first one but the last raccoon went right through the side of a Safeguard Professional. And I will admit that I don't have to fix the Professionals near as much as regular ones. But I have had coons pull the pans right through the pan stops. ( Our raccoons are on steroids and even the Olympic committee is afraid to test them )

I use the safeguard pros, the only problem I have is somehow the raccoons pull the handles off. Looks like they pull it from the bottom loop in the handle? I tried the regular safegaurds and had breakouts, those are on the junk pile waiting to be made into oneway doors. I like the sliding rear door pro model for easy non-target release. The raccoons sometimes flip the locking bar on those but I have not had an escape yet.

I like safeguard pros....but they are not comstocks.

Idont know about the dillers in other parts but in our parts the can destroy an anvil if left alone with it for more than 5 hours....

LOL...I know what you mean.

if they ain't belly up and stinking first. I know of no other critter that goes down so fast and bloats even faster.