OK this is going to be a step by step pictorial on HOW TO remove the plating often times found on nuts,bolts,AND chain used with trapping. AND how to anneal or soften nuts.
#1. After determining the size of nuts you need (I use them for cable ties, earth anchors and such as they are MUCH stronger than aluminum ferrels) wire aproximatly 50 into a circle on some trapping wire. The reason for this is to keep them together and make things easier.
[url="http://www.hunt101.com/?p=509740&c=500&z=1"][/url]
#2 The equipment needed, muratic acid(used in driveway & mortar cleaning),baking soda which is a base and neutralized the acid. 2 containers.[url="http://www.hunt101.com/?p=509741&c=500&z=1"][/url]
#3 After placing the wired nuts OR chain in the first container slowly apply the muratic acid. The acid is VERY corrosive and fumes excessively when applied.. USE IT OUTSIDE only and with EXTREME CAUTION as it can and WILL burn you. As seen the acid reacts immediatly with the plating and will remove it in seconds.AGAIN use extreme caution with ANY acid!! The fumes are JUST as caustic and NOT to be inhaled!!
[url="http://www.hunt101.com/?p=509742&c=500&z=1"][/url]
#4 In the meantime mix a fair amount of baking soda with water in the 2nd bucket. This will be used to neutralize the acid and/or take care of any spills or accidental contact as the soda, a base will neutralize the acid on contact.[url="http://www.hunt101.com/?p=509743&c=500&z=1"][/url]
#5 Remove the nuts/chain from the acid, I use a pair of long nosed pliers or screwdrive to do this. Place them INTO the soda/water solution. The acid is neutralized ON CONTACT. Here you can see the soda at work on the nuts.[url="http://www.hunt101.com/?p=509745&c=500&z=1"][/url]
#6 I then remove the nuts/chain and rinse with a garden hose to remove any residue.[url="http://www.hunt101.com/?p=509746&c=500&z=1"][/url]
#7 This step is UNIVERSAL for rusting, toss them in the grass and they will rust in only a few short hours, NOT needed here but a nice tip.[url="http://www.hunt101.com/?p=509748&c=500&z=1"][/url]

NOW FOR THE ANNEALING!!!!

Step 1. Dig a hole large enough to hold a small bag of charcoal briquettes AND the wired up nuts.[url="http://www.hunt101.com/?p=509683&c=500&z=1"][/url]
#2 place the briquettes in the hole and light them..[url="http://www.hunt101.com/?p=509684&c=500&z=1"][/url]
#3 Once the charcoal has fully lit and is starting to burn down white, place the nuts on the coals.[url="http://www.hunt101.com/?p=509685&c=500&z=1"][/url]
#4 BURRY EM!!! And leave them overnight. THIS IS THE SECRET to the annealing, bringing them up to a high temperature then slooooowly letting them cool. This takes the temper OUT of the nuts. The REASON for this is the make them less likely to 1.crack when hammered on. 2. Softens the threads and reduces the chance of cutting the cable.[url="http://www.hunt101.com/?p=509686&c=500&z=1"][/url]
#5 Dig em up and they are ALL DONE!![url="http://www.hunt101.com/?p=509687&c=500&z=1"][/url]
Hope this post helps someone out!!
lynx

Neat! Thanks for taking the time with the pics. I'll use the first method on some chain.

Works good and does it in SECONDS.. just make sure you have the "rinse" to neutralize the acid..then just toss em on the grass and they rust NOW..
lynx

Good info, AGAIN!

I always annealed, but was told it was unnecessary by somebody on a different forum because he dais he had never had a nut break. I decided to do it anyway, just makes them softer and easier to smash. I never thought of digging a hole in the ground, I just threw them on the charcoal grill and left it or heated them with a propane torch and let them cool for a few hours.

OK, Ive often wondered about anealing nuts for snares and cable stakes etc. Would this method work equaly as well as say heating the nuts red hot with a cutting torch then throwing them in a shallow pit and covering up? Just wondering as the torch would heat them up super fast and with little or no mess. Thanks, Rob

The heating up is only PART of the equation..they need to SLOW cool as well.

right lynx, Im with ya. Do you think that heating with a cutting torch, then cooling in a dirt pit like you have pictured would work? I know charcoal isnt expensive, and if your gonna leave it all night anyway why worry about the time, Im just thinking turn on the bottle, flick or a striker and in 3 or 4 minutes super hot, into a dirt pit cover and cool. Maybe it would cool too fast without the slow long buring heat of the coal?

another great demo thanks and keep the threads coming.

Just a few questions I have. Is it ok to skip the acid wash and just anneal them with the heat up and slow cool down process you explained? Why is it necessary to remove the plating? In your last picture why is one set green and the others brown? Thanks for the great post. Nut

MANY believe the plating emits an "odor"..remove it..it's gone. ALSO removing the plating allow the chain to be rusted/dyed easier.
lynx

Great info Lynx.

Thank you Lynx

Great info! I will give it a try.

Can this be done to the chain you find in hardware stores? I've always wondered if you can use that chain for trapping.

Great information to know! ,,,,,,, but work, work, work.
I'd rather barbeque a steak and rip open a package of aluminum ferrules

STEVIE...is that YOU STEVIE!!!

Ya Brent, it be me

Good to see you back here!

SHHHHHH... dont let the boss know..

Like anything escapes the boss

Great post and pics. I gotta get stocked up to do this.