I would like to know which you prefer and why please?

I trap as a hobby and to eliminate predators from my farm, which help my deer and turkey. I don't do it to put food on the table, so I don't prepare many traps as some do here.

I have 15 DP traps (8 of them came powder coated), 10 various Conibear traps, and 14 various foot hold traps. So the most I would be dipping or coating would be less than 40 traps total.

For the last two years I have boiled them in log wood dye and waxed them (I don't wax the conibears). It is extremely time consuming and messy for just a few traps.

Is speed dip or full metal jacket a better option for the hobby trapper like myself???

Thanks for your time and comments.

I think FMJ lasts a little longer especially on water traps, I used to die &wax my traps up till last year, had a trappin bud show me some of his traps with FMJ, do all my traps with it now!

I like fmj to. Make sure traps are clean what you do not use put back In jug store inside to prevent freezing.

Can't really go wrong with either imo. If I were you with just a few traps, I'd be tempted to speed em all. I wouldn't bother dipping dog proofs in anything. I like to speed dip my water traps and wax and dye land traps but to make it simpler in your case, and to keep from having to buy two dips, I'd just speed dip em all. Some will argue that speed dip is no good for land traps but if done right and a month or so before use, I've found they work fine. I've also just spray painted them black with no problems. Good luck.

im a fan of speed dip. i havent used fmj tho so i cant speak for it.

Do you guys have good luck with FMJ on the water traps? I thought they warned against it, said it turned milky.

I've always liked Speed Dip, but I'm liking it less and less. It's still tough to beat for any bodygrip traps, it works really well. I am going to try the Acetone/Primer mix to see how I like that. Speed Dip just takes so long to dry.

I've used Speed Dip on my DP's and it didn't work very well for me. When it got cold they were too gummed up. I also think they'd be polished clean first catch and you'd have no chance to redip them since it takes so long to dry. I also used them on my Death Clutch gopher traps. It looks great, but doesn't hold up and it can get gummy used underground in the summer. WD40 is still the best for treating Death Klutch traps. As for the DP's I painted mine, but I don't have very many and may not use them.

Speed Dip worked well in the water traps (1 1/2 coils and MB750s), but a coon will shine it up if it doesn't drown first. I still think it works OK for this. I'm going to Speed Dip these again.

On my MB550 traps I used Speed Dip. You'll see posts on here about the smell. That's probably a concern, but I'm in farm country and I think smells like fuel/oil are all over. I don't think that's why I had avoidance, but I've had some avoidance. You'll have to make up your own mind. Again, it's not very durable and you can't redo it since there isn't time to dry. If you make a catch and then have to use Calcium Chloride later in the season, it's tough on the metal. I'm switching to FMJ to try it. I think it'll be more durable and that I'll be able to more easily redo them.

That's my two cents.

I like FMJ and paint my traps I put a coilspring in the water and nothing happen.But I got some new 750s just painted and will put FMJ on them.I really dont care if they turned milkly or not.I just use it for the protection it provides.

I'm thinking that the FMJ is going to give me greater protection against corrosion using calcium chloride than I was getting from Speed Dip. I can't say for sure, but that's what I'm going to try.

i would keep using logwood and waxing in orderless for canines, never use speed dip on canines.i use speed dip on water traps and land connibears and stuck with it,because started with it and getting off is a job, never use f-1 or fmj,heard good on f-1,not sure if good on canine trapping,heard lot negative on fmj,heard all is something like floor polish

Floor polish or not, it seems to seal them up and not wear off too easy


Easy to apply and no stink or tacky goo.

I prefer FMJ. Simple dries fast.

If your worried about smell I would not use fmj , no one can convince me that when they get wet do to rain and damp soil and start turning milky white that there isn't a chemical breakdown / reaction going on witch would put off an odor, jmo

if water does that to it, i would never use it,no good

Thanks for all the comments thus far

I thought the exact thing before I used it, however, I've used it for 2 seasons on my traps I run for bobcats and they've seen rain, snow, ice with no milky white transformation.

Dip in fmj in the summer and let them hang out till you want to use them.

I have not put fmj on conis or dps. I don't figure it's necessary.

Buy it this year, use it and pitch the rest out.

I've got a new order of canine traps coming and I was wondering what guys are doing before dipping in fmj? Are you logwood dying first or just rust paint?

I'm guessing not all your traps need to be treated every year. A quick coat of spray paint will take care of the ones that do.

Never again with speed dip. A Month dry time is no deal

I like speed dip. If you're having trouble with the drying, either you're using the wrong gas or you're mixing it too rich. Dont follow the directions on the can. I use about half again as much gas. My drying time is about three days and I'm not afraid to dip in the winter. As far as the gas, I use non-ethanol gas right out of the pump. I run a little into my truck first though to flush the regular gas out of the hose. Ive never had an issue with drying. I wouldn't use a gas dip for canines though.