Has anybody made one that will last multiple seasons and if so how and with what materials? The standard ones are junk and the ones I have made using rebar don't last, Thanks.

I bought one from Southern Snares. It's a great heavy duty driver. I've had it 2 seasons.

I bought a 36” stainless one from Lee Steinmeyer. Ive used it 5 days a week or more since December, and I used it quite a few times before then, so yes, mine has seen lots of use. I’m not gentle with it, either. I only use a 4 lb maul to drive fangs, so I’m pounding the snot out of it. I feel that it’s worth every penny. If I lose mine I will have another one ordered within a day, I guarantee that. I like using fangs and I won’t use them without a quality driver.



For berks I just make my own by grinding a 5/8 grounding rod, but I buy my wolf fang driver

yes I lose mine before I break them I use 7/8 " tool grade round stock grind my point and weld on a t handle they are not lite but will not break or mushroom out on the stake end

What was the price? Isn't Lee on this site? I think I have seen some of his work he or someone else posted a few years ago.

The wolffang ones bend and mushroom horrible,the rebar does the same just takes longer.

I honestly don’t remember exactly, but the 36” one was about $55 or so. I know it was about $70 with shipping, and I’d have no problem buying another.

Yes, he’s on this site. His user name is Lee Steinmeyer

Thank you, I sent Lee a pm to see if he still makes them.

lees stuff is top notch! I'd never be scared to purchase anything from him

Anyone use the end u can buy and weld on your own rod?

I was always nervous that the weld joint would bend due to taking the temper out of your steel

Tony do you know what tool steel you used???
W1 or A2 maybe????

I ran three this year. John Graham makes an excellent driver, but man is that thing heavy to lug around. I couldn't break it, but I found myself reaching for Tom Stalker's when I left the house more often then not. I put both the drivers through heck in the best Nebraska has to offer. Tom's was still driving wolfangs through about 4-6 inches of frost by the end of the season, and for the price you can't go wrong. Other than the paint I chipped off Tom's looks like the day I got it in the mail. I don't think you can go wrong with either of them.

http://stalkerfabrications.webs.com/apps/webstore/

I'll second the one from Southern Snares. Nice driver that holds up to trapline use/abuse.

This driver is a beast! It could be a little longer is my only complaint..

Lee doesn't make them anymore. Has anyone tried the one from sudden valley supply?

Just curious, Has anyone tired hardening them? I had thought of doing a heat treat on mine up to the driving nut to see if that helps with the deforming that I get. I spend more time than I care too pounding into frozen ground on cold days (-20), I do use a 3/4" concrete bit to "predrill" so it makes the driving easier and that has made my driver last the past couple years. Admittedly I do take it and straighten it out as needed.

I dont believe they ever said to be honest its the same stuff they use for drive pins its actually hard to weld

late bite I called the supply house its a version of A-2 or what ever that means my guess is the hardness

Thanks~
Those were the two descriptions I was looking at for that type of application Tony, our tool room uses a lot of the A2 for stamping die components because it does not move much after it is heat treated, plus the depth of the hardness..

W-1 Tool Steel
Heat treat temperature 1450-1600 F
Quench Water or Brine
Hardness Rockwell 56c
Applications Blacksmith tools
Cold Chisels
Hand punches
Cold Forming Tools
Knives
Scissors and Shears
Razors
Woodworking Chisels
Disadvantages Water hardening tool steels tend to experience significant distortion during the quench operation. In addition, the hardening operation applies only to the outer "case" of the material, rather than being "through-hardened".




A-2 Tool Steel
Heat treat temperature 1700-1900 F
Quench Air
Hardness Rockwell 59c-62c
Applications A2 can be used in the same applications as both O1 and W1, but the heat-treated air-hardening steels have deeper hardenability and there is less movement or distortion during heat treatment.

I had heard rumors they make a good one, however I cannot find any info on it. I tried emailing them and never got a response?????

I know the end were the anchor goes has never mushroomed it did chip once but man I drove the anchor thru 2" of asphalt come to find out it was a old r.r drive way! yep that anchor was gone! The end I hammer on. I weld a short section of black iron pipe it helps keep the end from shattering!

late bite can you have your machinist at work whip you up one? The material isn't that high I think I can build one for around 5$ in material. And I make all my driver 32-36" long! I hate standing on my head trying to retrieve them! A guy has 10Xs the leverage when they are sticking out of the ground a foot and a half! And a t-handle welded on the top 8"

Tony,
All of the A2, 7/8" material I am finding on line is $50-$80 plus shipping for a 3' bar, I still am looking though?????

It will be easy to have made up, I can even have it heat treated if I choose

A2 hardened may be to brittle for a driver. We make ours out of 4140 tool steel.

Thanks Ohio, that is $15 for 3 feet, very inexpensive to try out!

I want one for supers too LOL.. I'm serious Whatever the cost is... I own one of Lee's drivers I broke the nut of but Its still drivin' super stakes. His are stainless steel. Dang Dave your a tool steel expert LOL.. And you can trap a few coyotes

Gary I will get some things together we can prototype out

get on it LOL

What about using 5160 steel?

I don't know anything about steel hardness just want a driver that will last at least 4 or 5 years

Going to order a heat treated one this week from fur shed fabrication.

Special order for a 32" with t-handle $42.00 plus shipping
They carry a 24" one for $36.00

I believe that is a spring steel. Should work good.

Got my wolf fang driver from ,fur shed fabrication and it feels solid and strong.
I will put it to use this fall and get back with a review after the season. I got the 32" t-handle one.

Does anyone know how long John Grahams wolf fang driver is?

I got one from stalker, I beat the crap out of that thing. I got a better chance of loosing it before it goes bad. Very well built

been crazy around here. you guys can call either of these #s for the drivers,636 456 5939, or 314 283 7187. my drivers are made of tool steel, handles have a lifetime warranty. mine has 4 years on it. anytime you weld a handle onto a driver it is guaranteed to break due to metal fatigue, especially tool steel. my driver all shock is transferred through the handle. you can put an egg between the handle and your hand and not break the egg, ask Marty smith or Mark Steck. both have seen it and used it on the line.

Carlis has the BEST driver money can buy !!!!

ordered mine from mtp today

I picked up one of Carlis (Sudden Valley Supply)drivers, its a pretty unique design, actually unlike anything else I have found on the market!....

Go out and buy some of the longer concrete forming stakes. They hold up well to the beating you give them. And with a hack saw and a file or a grinder you can come up with a decent slot to hold the disposable.

The Steel I use ends up costing about 6$ for each driver if I buy at least 10 12' pieces at a time. the sawblade used for the slotting is 98$ without the arbor.

Who has a picture of this driver?

click on my new website under accessory's

don’t see it on your site

I too looked yesterday and couldn't find it.

I saw the new website. He had an additional link on his post that is no longer there. Could be a price problem on his new website. It had $60.00 off the purchase of a dozen coon daggers but the price for a dozen was $240.00 . So I think either the $240.00 was wrong or people was using his $60.00 off promo code and going to his old website and getting a dozen of them for a $100.00 . Or maybe the it was considered and advertisement and deleted. But these are all speculations.

Bringing this subject back up. I need a new driver before season. Was set on getting one from Lee, but he isn't making them anymore.

Right now I am leaning towards one from John Graham or sudden valley if they still make them.

Anyone have an update on the driver from sudden valley?

The Sudden Valley driver is advertised on pg.71 of the Sept/Oct. Trapper's Post. Says it's available and to call 314-283-7186.

Thanks for reminding me to subscribe to Trappers Post

I make mine out of stainless 5/8" rod.and weld at out of pipe on top.

Going on my fourth year on one of John Grahams drivers. It's the one on the right. I bought a new one and haven't had to use it yet because the old one is still going strong. Had to touch up the gusset after the second season with a welder, but the thing is a beast. New one is on the left. Also I should mention that I didn't cut the handles shorter, the metal just straight busted off while hammering on the middle point, must have been stressed or fatigued from the welding maybe? Not sure. But while I was beating on it sometime in the second season in the winter when it was less than 0 degrees outside they each on different occasions decided to fall off.

I've seen carlis's drivers first hand they are built pretty stout!

I ordered mine from furshedfab.com. Have not yet received it but Josh makes quality products that last. He is on here but I can't remember his handle at the moment. Can't wait to use it along with the puller I ordered.

Josh (Rednecktrapper) at Fur Shed Fabrication makes some quality trap line tools that are super heavy duty.




All of Josh's drivers are heat treated.

They also come with a one year warranty.

https://www.furshedfab.com/collections/trapline-tools



Fur Shed Fab’s T handle driver on top.

MTP’s standard driver below.

I agree with Texas as I have tried, a few of them .Josh at furshedfabs can not go wrong. Great drivers for both superstakes or fangs.
Tom stalker driver for wolf fangs very good driver also, same results as
wade-ryan.
Either one can not go wrong .

If you can weld and have access to flat stock you can make your own. Get some flat stock that Is the same width as the slot In the disposable. 1/8" thick will probably work. You will need 3 pieces one piece will need to be about a 1" shorter then the other 2. Place the short one between the other 2 then even up the 3 ends and weld them together. No reason to try and cut a slot In a single piece of flat stock.

The only reason drivers get bent Is the operator Isn't using the hammer correctly.

It's like driving a nail If you hit It straight on with the hammer It will never bend but get out of position and It's going to get bent.

I still haven't killed either Graham's or Stalker's, but I definitely still pull for Tom's because of ease of use. It definitely saw more abuse, and pretty late into last year with a pretty solid layer of frost continued to drive the fangs right in. Only thing off on Stalker's is the blue paint on the top from me beating it with everything I have. I wouldn't hesitate to buy either of them again.

I have not tried one of Josh's drivers yet . BUT he made me a SUPER 5.5 lbs hammer and sifter!! Big thanks to Tejas for hooking me up with Josh at Furshedfabs . He make GREAT stuff!!!

nOT SURE WHATS GOING ON, I HAVE THEM AVAILABLE

Someone that makes a wolf fang driver can you PM me with a pic. I'm looking for a spare.

I picked one up from sudden valley and can't wait to put it to work this season

Any chance you can throw some pic's up on here and lengths available? Just picked up some NO-BS Dp's and I'm also looking for a driver.

I still can't find them on the sudden valley site. I would like to pick up a spare.

Try and call him...Maybe he can send you a pic....

I just fired off an order with FurShedFab

I use one longer with wider handles than most use. This way I don't have to bend over as much and can remove it by an upward thrust from my hammer beneath the handle. I use a 12 lb sledge.
You'd be amazed how fast it goes in.

Here is pic of driver I got from Sudden Valley

Cool Thanks