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Dying Traps #6251375
05/31/18 08:05 PM
05/31/18 08:05 PM
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 5
WI
DP trapper Offline OP
trapper
DP trapper  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: May 2018
Posts: 5
WI
Hi, I am new here. Can you use canning salt to dye your traps? I had heard that it would help make them rusty but when I put them in the salt water, where they were rusty spots, the rust turned pitch black.

Re: Dying Traps [Re: DP trapper] #6251400
05/31/18 08:57 PM
05/31/18 08:57 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
SNIPERBBB Offline
trapper
SNIPERBBB  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,548
Rodney,Ohio
What is likely happening is that the rust is turning to black rust, happens when rust forms in low oxygen. So it's not actually dyeing and protecting the trap. Still needs to be dyed using something that has tannic acid(most plant derived dyes).

Re: Dying Traps [Re: DP trapper] #6251402
05/31/18 09:00 PM
05/31/18 09:00 PM
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,446
Houghton Lake, MI
strike2x Offline
trapper
strike2x  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,446
Houghton Lake, MI
Don't worry about rusting traps, clean, dye, wax. The first year they won't get very dark but after a few seasons of use they will take the dye better. There is such thing as too much rust, that is why I do all mine this way.


Wish I had more time to trap....
Re: Dying Traps [Re: DP trapper] #6251437
05/31/18 10:02 PM
05/31/18 10:02 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
T
The Beav Offline
trapper
The Beav  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
Why even dye. It really serves no purpose.


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: Dying Traps [Re: The Beav] #6251458
05/31/18 10:33 PM
05/31/18 10:33 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,165
Central NC
T
traprjohn Offline
trapper
traprjohn  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,165
Central NC
Originally Posted By: The Beav
Why even dye. It really serves no purpose.


agreed, wax only

and more input in the Archives:

https://trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/forums/13/1/Trap_Preparation_Archives


www.sevenoakstrappingsupplies.com for trap mods and gear
The 10 Commandments are not suggestions.
Buy a soldiers meal EVERY chance you can.

Re: Dying Traps [Re: DP trapper] #6251704
06/01/18 12:40 PM
06/01/18 12:40 PM
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 9,132
SWMo.
T
tjm Offline
trapper
tjm  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 9,132
SWMo.
Dye as in food coloring does serve no purpose, a tannin treatment converts rust to a rust inhibiting coating (tannic ferate) and turns the rust blue or green in the process. Because tannin is used to dye cloth, the term dye is sometimes used for any tannin process. The tannin treament is similar to the process of Parkerizing a gun or blueing a gun.
None of those processes are necessary, yet each is useful.

Wax is equivalent to dipping in mineral oil. It protects to a degree and lubricates a bit. Wax is no more necessary than tannin treatment for traps. Both help extend the life of a trap, but using a trap for a couple (or a few) years and replacing it will work fine.

Re: Dying Traps [Re: DP trapper] #6251731
06/01/18 01:23 PM
06/01/18 01:23 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
T
The Beav Offline
trapper
The Beav  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
Let's see I clean all my traps of factory oil. I let them rust because if I don't the dye won't adhere to the steel. So know I dip my traps In hot dye. I guess you can cold dye them but I never saw where that worked to good. Back to the hot dye. It's been my experience and I use to do this every year. That once the traps come out of the hot dye bath they start to rust as soon as they hit the ground.
So what's the point?

The other thing Is that the dye we use today isn't the same stuff we used 20 years ago. From what I'm told the real LOG WOOD dye Is hard to come by.


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: Dying Traps [Re: DP trapper] #6251793
06/01/18 03:07 PM
06/01/18 03:07 PM
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 9,132
SWMo.
T
tjm Offline
trapper
tjm  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 9,132
SWMo.
I did not mention "log wood dye", Beav, I mentioned tannin. I would not use "log wood dye" at all nor would I recommend it.
And as the "Cracker Jack Trapper and Predator Enthusiast" guy on here a year or so back pointed out a trap will last a life time just letting it rust. 'OXIDATION-trappers friend' was the name of his thread.

@OP, read this thread for varied opinions: https://trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/3341335/1

Last edited by tjm; 06/01/18 03:18 PM.
Re: Dying Traps [Re: DP trapper] #6251805
06/01/18 03:18 PM
06/01/18 03:18 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
T
The Beav Offline
trapper
The Beav  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
Yep that's called browning. In the old days the old front stuffers were browned.
My first muzzle loader was finished like that. I cleaned the steel with carbon Tech (SP) then I placed It In the bath room with the shower running. It took about 5 trips to the shower before I got a real nice rust base where It wouldn't rust anymore.
I've had traps that ended up like that But It wasn't something I tried to do.


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: Dying Traps [Re: DP trapper] #6252843
06/03/18 02:24 AM
06/03/18 02:24 AM
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,168
Rochester, MN
Teacher Offline
trapper
Teacher  Offline
trapper

Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,168
Rochester, MN
I’m going to go out on a limb here and suggest something both simple and effective. Clean traps in a bucket of warm water and Dawn dish soap to remove oils. Rinse, dry for a day and spray paint the color you want. I have at this point used them as is. Or dipped in wax. Or used Full Metal Jacket. I’ve also dipped in speed dip after cleaning but that takes a while to lose the gasoline smell—-but it works. The days of boiling for hours, hot dipping in wax, etc for the sake of tradition are over for me. I’ve got better things to do with my time.


Never too old to learn
Re: Dying Traps [Re: DP trapper] #6252900
06/03/18 08:33 AM
06/03/18 08:33 AM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,817
central arkansas
T
the Blak Spot Offline
trapper
the Blak Spot  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 4,817
central arkansas
I use speed dip, but i do it early amd hang underneath the shed roof out side so they air out completely


the just shall live by faith

member FTA, ATA, EAFT
1776 - the year we told a tyrant we weren't to be under a dictator
Caveat ater macula
Re: Dying Traps [Re: Teacher] #6253111
06/03/18 01:54 PM
06/03/18 01:54 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,459
Montana
Taximan Offline
trapper
Taximan  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,459
Montana
Originally Posted By: Teacher
I’m going to go out on a limb here and suggest something both simple and effective. Clean traps in a bucket of warm water and Dawn dish soap to remove oils. Rinse, dry for a day and spray paint the color you want. I have at this point used them as is. Or dipped in wax. Or used Full Metal Jacket. I’ve also dipped in speed dip after cleaning but that takes a while to lose the gasoline smell—-but it works. The days of boiling for hours, hot dipping in wax, etc for the sake of tradition are over for me. I’ve got better things to do with my time.



I never get why people say dyeing takes time.You just put them in the pot,then go work on something else.Come back in 1 hour and pull them out.It takes no more time than dipping,Put in,take out.You don't sit there and stare at them boiling.If you dip more than once,it can take more time than traditional dye.You are missing the point if you think dyeing and waxing is for the sake of tradition.If it is done properly,and from what I've seen,often it isn't,it holds up very well,is cheap,non toxic and non flammable.

I've set rusty trap, dyed and waxed,waxed only, dipped etc and a good dye job followed by a proper wax job holds up best and isn't a lot of work.Another thing many don't understand is that you don't have to dye and wax all the traps every year.I have gone several years between treatments.I only dye and wax new traps and ones that made catches and are shined up.Often,after a catch,they still don't need it.

Let's face it,these days with all the devices and conveniences we have,people have short attention spans and want everything done at warp speed,especially new trappers.Trapping is work.Traps may need to stay in a pot for one hour,to dye but that's chronological time,not one hour's labor.If you can't find some work to busy yourself with for an hour,you are more fortunate than me.Just my opinion after 57 years of handling traps.These days there are many ways to treat traps.Dyeing and waxing is just one of them.Other than maintaining a flame,it isn't a lot different than other methods.

Re: Dying Traps [Re: DP trapper] #6253123
06/03/18 02:12 PM
06/03/18 02:12 PM
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,311
Indiana
K
kyron4 Offline
trapper
kyron4  Offline
trapper
K

Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,311
Indiana
This topic comes up every 3 months. Always two camps that argue a moot point. I dye in walnut hulls and wax. Right, wrong or otherwise I enjoy the process and I catch fur.

Re: Dying Traps [Re: DP trapper] #6253156
06/03/18 03:02 PM
06/03/18 03:02 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
T
The Beav Offline
trapper
The Beav  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
I still paint (latex) all my traps other then canine traps. The paint holds up pretty good. I might re do them every 4 years or so. It's fast and cheap.
A long time ago I went with powder coating My BGs It worked once I found out that I should leave them In the sprung position.
The powder coating you find on these DPs Isn't a real powder coating. IT seems like some type of paint. Anyway It doesn't look like the powdered coating I have On my canine traps.

A few years ago I went to having my canine traps powder coated. It's a bit expansive, well not if you know someone. LOL But It solves all your cleaning and trap prep. After the season power wash and put away for the next season.


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: Dying Traps [Re: DP trapper] #6253203
06/03/18 03:55 PM
06/03/18 03:55 PM
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 839
McCurtain Co. Oklahoma
O
OKforester Offline
trapper
OKforester  Offline
trapper
O

Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 839
McCurtain Co. Oklahoma
Whatever Kendall does to his traps (no bs extremes) looks good and holds up real well.

Re: Dying Traps [Re: DP trapper] #6258480
06/12/18 10:27 AM
06/12/18 10:27 AM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 190
S.W. Iowa
B
braveheart Offline
trapper
braveheart  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 190
S.W. Iowa
I use to just wax my traps and no dye. But now since I found the real deal Black dye I don't wax. This year 304 coyotes thought it was cool not to wax!!!

Re: Dying Traps [Re: DP trapper] #6258553
06/12/18 01:06 PM
06/12/18 01:06 PM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,947
South metro, MN
C
Calvin Offline
trapper
Calvin  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,947
South metro, MN
I'll never run another rat/mink trap without adequate wax. Its more important on my rat traps than my coyote traps. And nothing blends in better than a dull rust color. About nothing sticks out more than black.

I'm with beav on this one. I'll never boil/dye another trap again. Oh the time I wasted dying traps over the years.

Re: Dying Traps [Re: braveheart] #6258596
06/12/18 03:08 PM
06/12/18 03:08 PM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 448
S.W. Michigan
L
late bite Offline
trapper
late bite  Offline
trapper
L

Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 448
S.W. Michigan
Originally Posted By: braveheart
I use to just wax my traps and no dye. But now since I found the real deal Black dye I don't wax. This year 304 coyotes thought it was cool not to wax!!!


No wax here either, however I can only add about another 1/3 to your count...... wink

Re: Dying Traps [Re: DP trapper] #6258602
06/12/18 03:20 PM
06/12/18 03:20 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,835
Pa
W
Wright Brothers Offline
trapper
Wright Brothers  Offline
trapper
W

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,835
Pa
So now I need a pressure washer and an adequate GPH pump tp run it, A cement mixer, a weed burner torch, and a building to store all this.
Lol, the beginners reading this stuff must a "little" overwhelmed.





Re: Dying Traps [Re: DP trapper] #6258611
06/12/18 03:37 PM
06/12/18 03:37 PM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,445
Southern Michigan
T
trappergbus Offline
trapper
trappergbus  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,445
Southern Michigan
So much for the profit LOL ... wink


Common sense catches alot of fur..
Pay homage to all you harvest..
Re: Dying Traps [Re: braveheart] #6258612
06/12/18 03:39 PM
06/12/18 03:39 PM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,445
Southern Michigan
T
trappergbus Offline
trapper
trappergbus  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,445
Southern Michigan
Originally Posted By: braveheart
I use to just wax my traps and no dye. But now since I found the real deal Black dye I don't wax. This year 304 coyotes thought it was cool not to wax!!!


You have the real stuff??


Common sense catches alot of fur..
Pay homage to all you harvest..
Re: Dying Traps [Re: DP trapper] #6258616
06/12/18 03:52 PM
06/12/18 03:52 PM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 448
S.W. Michigan
L
late bite Offline
trapper
late bite  Offline
trapper
L

Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 448
S.W. Michigan

Re: Dying Traps [Re: DP trapper] #6258620
06/12/18 03:56 PM
06/12/18 03:56 PM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,445
Southern Michigan
T
trappergbus Offline
trapper
trappergbus  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,445
Southern Michigan
Yep that's it, thought you was a floor wax guy grin


Common sense catches alot of fur..
Pay homage to all you harvest..
Re: Dying Traps [Re: DP trapper] #6258623
06/12/18 04:00 PM
06/12/18 04:00 PM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 448
S.W. Michigan
L
late bite Offline
trapper
late bite  Offline
trapper
L

Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 448
S.W. Michigan
Previous life G....... lol

Re: Dying Traps [Re: DP trapper] #6258919
06/13/18 05:52 AM
06/13/18 05:52 AM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 190
S.W. Iowa
B
braveheart Offline
trapper
braveheart  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 190
S.W. Iowa
With water traps never could figure why everyone wanted black traps. I always felt brown was the best color to blend in if set in shallow water.
But for land trapping I want the best rust prevention I can get. The traps get the deepest blue black I have seen and keeps the rust back real good.

Re: Dying Traps [Re: DP trapper] #6259392
06/13/18 08:57 PM
06/13/18 08:57 PM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,445
Southern Michigan
T
trappergbus Offline
trapper
trappergbus  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,445
Southern Michigan
cool


Common sense catches alot of fur..
Pay homage to all you harvest..
Re: Dying Traps [Re: The Beav] #6260359
06/15/18 10:18 AM
06/15/18 10:18 AM
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 146
Idaho
IDTrapman Offline
trapper
IDTrapman  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 146
Idaho
Originally Posted By: The Beav
I still paint (latex) all my traps other then canine traps. The paint holds up pretty good. I might re do them every 4 years or so. It's fast and cheap.


Hey Beav, I'm considering painting my cat traps this year. How do you go about re-doing them? Do you boil them to remove the old paint and then paint them again?

I guess what I'm wondering is... If I decide I don't like the paint and want to remove it and go back to dying and waxing, is it an easy process?


Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads.
Re: Dying Traps [Re: Taximan] #6260390
06/15/18 11:28 AM
06/15/18 11:28 AM
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,781
Mi, Mecosta
A
ambush32 Offline
trapper
ambush32  Offline
trapper
A

Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,781
Mi, Mecosta
Originally Posted By: Taximan
Originally Posted By: Teacher
I’m going to go out on a limb here and suggest something both simple and effective. Clean traps in a bucket of warm water and Dawn dish soap to remove oils. Rinse, dry for a day and spray paint the color you want. I have at this point used them as is. Or dipped in wax. Or used Full Metal Jacket. I’ve also dipped in speed dip after cleaning but that takes a while to lose the gasoline smell—-but it works. The days of boiling for hours, hot dipping in wax, etc for the sake of tradition are over for me. I’ve got better things to do with my time.



I never get why people say dyeing takes time.You just put them in the pot,then go work on something else.Come back in 1 hour and pull them out.It takes no more time than dipping,Put in,take out.You don't sit there and stare at them boiling.If you dip more than once,it can take more time than traditional dye.You are missing the point if you think dyeing and waxing is for the sake of tradition.If it is done properly,and from what I've seen,often it isn't,it holds up very well,is cheap,non toxic and non flammable.

I've set rusty trap, dyed and waxed,waxed only, dipped etc and a good dye job followed by a proper wax job holds up best and isn't a lot of work.Another thing many don't understand is that you don't have to dye and wax all the traps every year.I have gone several years between treatments.I only dye and wax new traps and ones that made catches and are shined up.Often,after a catch,they still don't need it.

Let's face it,these days with all the devices and conveniences we have,people have short attention spans and want everything done at warp speed,especially new trappers.Trapping is work.Traps may need to stay in a pot for one hour,to dye but that's chronological time,not one hour's labor.If you can't find some work to busy yourself with for an hour,you are more fortunate than me.Just my opinion after 57 years of handling traps.These days there are many ways to treat traps.Dyeing and waxing is just one of them.Other than maintaining a flame,it isn't a lot different than other methods.


X2 taxi
I really enjoy getting a fire going under the barrel, working outside while it heats up the water and when it’s time just place the traps in the barrel and get back to whatever I was doing. Pull the traps out hang them up, place more traps in and continue doing whatever.
Sometimes I’ll just be making another fire to cook some good meats and listen to the radio.


Thought I was a good trapper until I started trapping coyotes......
Thought I was a good bowhunter until I targeted mature bucks....
Re: Dying Traps [Re: DP trapper] #6260401
06/15/18 12:08 PM
06/15/18 12:08 PM

M
MsgRet
Unregistered
MsgRet
Unregistered
M



Since I am a bachelor I get away with putting new traps thru a dishwasher twice with some good degreasing soap powder. Then let them rust.

Re: Dying Traps [Re: DP trapper] #6260420
06/15/18 01:07 PM
06/15/18 01:07 PM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,445
Southern Michigan
T
trappergbus Offline
trapper
trappergbus  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,445
Southern Michigan
If you live close to me just dip in oil base dip or latex and for goodness sake don't wax....... Iv'e seen the effects of all this stuff. Tannin boiling kills bacteria, turns rust into a nonrusting compound and the boiling cleans all the cracks and crevices. What more could you ask for.. I do like ambush, put a bunch in the pot walk away, on to another chore. Come back pull em out, hang then rinse. Put another bunch in.. Mow the lawn whatever.. The only traps that get retreated are the traps that make catches, the rest hang in a tree until season in the weather..


Common sense catches alot of fur..
Pay homage to all you harvest..
Re: Dying Traps [Re: DP trapper] #6260631
06/15/18 08:22 PM
06/15/18 08:22 PM
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,672
Ohio
W
Willy Firewood Offline
trapper
Willy Firewood  Offline
trapper
W

Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,672
Ohio
Trappergbus - Great advice for trappers who live near you! Hopefully the trappers who live me will also take that same advice.

As far as putting traps in the pot to boil, I do the same thing. There is always something to do - work, a chore, clean up and organize something, or even fishing or something else fun. Actually, when i make stew in the kitchen i do the same thing, ha. It would be very boring standing there watching the water get hot.

In modern terms, they call that behavior "multi-tasking". i always thought it is just a good efficient way to get things accomplished and enjoy living life.

best wishes.


FRAC LIVES MATTER
Re: Dying Traps [Re: DP trapper] #6260975
06/16/18 11:34 AM
06/16/18 11:34 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,459
Montana
Taximan Offline
trapper
Taximan  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,459
Montana
It's a good time to check trap tags,check the next batch of for mud,etc,check chains,swivels and pan level.I also straighten stakes and mess with snares and supports.There's always something to do.I enjoy those days.

Back in the day,there were 3 of us that got together on a weekend and boiled and waxed all our traps together.We had a feed,swapped trapping stories and had a great time.We looked forward to that.

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