Speed dip is the one trap treatment that I have yet to try. My main concern when treating traps is rust prevention. 6 or 7 years back I dyed a few 1.5's and then dyed and waxed the remainder of my 1.5's. These were water traps. The difference in rust buildup on the two sets of traps made it apparent that some sort of coating was essential to prevent rust. Some of those dyed and waxed 1.5,s are still good to go after several seasons of use and multiple catches on drowners. Of course not much will hold up to a live coon but the waxed traps still faired much better than the traps were just dyed, especially the springs. The traps that were just dyed had to be retreated after 1 season.

I have a couple dozen new 1.5's. I think I will speed dip half and wax half and see which set work best to prevent rust water trapping. Whichever way works best I will use on all my water footholds.

On bodygrips I have been using FormulaOne for 5 or 6 years. I like the green color that the dip dries to on those. It seems to help hide the outline of the trap better than a darker color. That comes in handy on public ground to hide the traps from people and it seems to cause less refusals than a dark black trap. I set a lot of dry or partially submerged bodygrips and I feel like having a more neutral color helps hide the trap from the animals. That may all be in my head but I am more confident with the green than the black.

Top pic is an MB 550 on left after Coyote cleaned it up and fresh dyed and waxed on right. Second pic is of a dipped Bridger on left and dyed victor square jaw on right. Only point of the pics is that all of these traps are several years old but still in great shape. So as long as what you are doing is catching critters and protecting your traps you're doing it right.

I speed dip BGs and DPs. Wax K9s without dip or dye. Never a problem. They’re bedded in dirt. What’s the point of coloring with dye?

I don't know where this post is supposed to go, but I've used Speed Dip in the past. What I found was that it dried best and faster using Coleman fuel rather than gasoline.

I'm a water trapper only. If I were trapping dry land, I don't think I would use Speed Dip because of concerns about scent. I would consider something like oak bark, sumac, logwood crystals, etc.

Been using speed dip for years on water and land traps. It’s very humid here on the island during the summer when I dip. Gallon of Coleman gas with half a can of Andy’s dip works great. I pressure wash used traps from the season before and redip. No build up . Very easy.

Exactly. Someone tell me why it is necessary to dip or die traps that will be covered.

No reason.

Larry said you shouldn't:
https://trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/5878099/1

I have 2 new cans of KBL dip in Brown for $20 + frt.

Ifn it ain't Stoe's, it ain't "Speed Dip".

I don't care for speed dip because of seeing too many traps that were either sticky, or stinky, usually both. I would have no problem with painting all my traps, but dye and wax works fine and isn't difficult at all. It's not even all that time consuming. Don't you have to get all the old dirt and junk off the trap before dipping anyway? Seems like you'd have to boil or something similar and boiling is the most time consuming part, waxing is quick and easy.

I dye mine in walnuts and wax. After a few years of use traps will begin to develop rust; the dye retards the rusting. It has nothing to do with color. Again to each his own.

The tannic acid in sumac, walnut hulls, leaves or logwood crystals, whatever you choose to use, causes a chemical reaction. Tannic acid, reacts with iron oxide (rust) and chemically converts it to iron tannate, a dark-colored stable material. ... The overall chemical reaction converts rust into a stable, black protective polymeric coating.

Dying is not about color....it is to convert rust to a stable compound that helps seal the surface and prevent further rust. Wax provides another barrier to prevent rust.

Well put QBD.

True, but dips/paints cover up the rust and let it grow undisturbed. "on a quiet night, you can hear it"

Rust prevention?

A dip that keeps oxygen from reacting with the metal prevents corrosion. Same with wax.

I just like to build a fire, pour in walnuts and enjoy the traditional smell of doing the job. I have waxed a many a one without the dye though.

Me to. Sometimes you just go to slow down and enjoy the simple traditional ways. The kids love to gather walnuts too.

Maybe tomorrow we can argue coke and pepsi or ford and chevy. And you better like what I do or I'll tell you your wrong

Wish I had a container big enough to dye my truck