Re: Waxed Dirt - Homework
[Re: TONY.F]
#6273632
07/06/18 05:42 AM
07/06/18 05:42 AM
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Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 2,162 N.E. Nebr
LDW
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 2,162
N.E. Nebr
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I don't know about cheaper but if you want it to resemble the ground you trap making it with native soil is best option. X2. Not sure on pounds, but I make about 125 gallons of waxed sand.
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Re: Waxed Dirt - Homework
[Re: dirt trapper]
#6273962
07/06/18 03:38 PM
07/06/18 03:38 PM
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,445 Southern Michigan
trappergbus
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,445
Southern Michigan
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I use the HL candle wax, the 40 off weekly coupon its under 17 for a 10 pound block. I used 200 gallons last year for a 2.5 month 75 trap trapline. I use one local dirt source and blend every set with whatever is there until the snow comes.
Common sense catches alot of fur.. Pay homage to all you harvest..
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Re: Waxed Dirt - Homework
[Re: dirt trapper]
#6274863
07/08/18 12:08 PM
07/08/18 12:08 PM
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,028 West Cent IL
illinideer
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,028
West Cent IL
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I'm going to put up about 50 gal this year I only run about 30 traps.
Coyote 5 Badger 1 Coons 17 Bobcats 2 Released Grinners All of them USN AE2 VF-31 Tomcatters Retired SMSGT IL ANG 183 Fighter Wing Coyote U Class #4
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Re: Waxed Dirt - Homework
[Re: shortliner16]
#6277212
07/11/18 07:16 PM
07/11/18 07:16 PM
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Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 134 Pennsylvania, USA
Zimmer
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 134
Pennsylvania, USA
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Making it is cheaper than buying it, even if you buy the 10 lb bag of wax pellets to do it. I do a 50/50 mix of sand and black dirt which I find blends well with almost everything. If you don't have access to a cement mixer or want to buy one like me, I would use the large clear under bed totes. You can get about 5-6 gallons in them dry the dirt for a few days, mix wax and put clear lid on and in one hot afternoon the wax will melt right in. Works slick I'm liking this - need to check this out!
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Re: Waxed Dirt - Homework
[Re: trappergbus]
#6281792
07/18/18 09:13 PM
07/18/18 09:13 PM
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Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 123 eastern, CT
scott k
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 123
eastern, CT
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10 lb. at Minnesota is 24.95. How long will it take to grate 10 lb from hobby shop? My main concern is their wax going to be odor free? I would hate to go to all that work and find out their wax wasn’t. Hope this helps.
Last edited by scott k; 07/18/18 09:13 PM.
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Re: Waxed Dirt - Homework
[Re: dirt trapper]
#6282097
07/19/18 09:14 AM
07/19/18 09:14 AM
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,222 MN
yukonal
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,222
MN
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Has anybody figured out price wise is it cheaper to make it or buy it. Also on avg how many pounds do you use in a year. Where is the cheapest place to buy good quality waxed dirt. 1) I finally bought a cement mixer last year, so it'd be cheaper to buy it. Until making it pays for itself in several years, to offset the cost of the mixer. 2) I use 30 - 50 gallons per year. 3) For me, Hobby Lobby, because it's close. But, flaking it sucks, as far as labor goes. Gary melts it, then throws it in. Personally, I'm going to buy bulk flaked from now on. I'll just sell a couple more coons to offset the cost.
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Re: Waxed Dirt - Homework
[Re: dirt trapper]
#6282375
07/19/18 03:38 PM
07/19/18 03:38 PM
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,445 Southern Michigan
trappergbus
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,445
Southern Michigan
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I don't throw it I pour it LOL Where you getting bulk flake, whats the cost?? Iv'e used the HL wax for 4 seasons to make waxed dirt and wax traps. They walk all over it no sign off refusals.. Don't over heat it or you'll have problems with any wax.. Don't ask how I know this..
Last edited by trappergbus; 07/19/18 03:41 PM.
Common sense catches alot of fur.. Pay homage to all you harvest..
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Re: Waxed Dirt - Homework
[Re: dirt trapper]
#6285893
07/24/18 09:45 AM
07/24/18 09:45 AM
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,222 MN
yukonal
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,222
MN
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Re: Waxed Dirt - Homework
[Re: dirt trapper]
#6290845
07/31/18 01:00 AM
07/31/18 01:00 AM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,174 Rochester, MN
Teacher
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,174
Rochester, MN
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Never done it before, so I’m starting small. My hotplate and high sided frying pan are slow but I’ll end up with 25 gallons. Maybe more. The under the bed tote with a clear cover would be super fast and very doable. I like this suggestion
Never too old to learn
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Re: Waxed Dirt - Homework
[Re: dirt trapper]
#6294787
08/05/18 09:28 AM
08/05/18 09:28 AM
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 19 ohio union
isaac yoder
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 19
ohio union
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do you have to wax traps after you dye them?
a hunt based on the trophy's taken falls far short of what the real goal should be
fred Bear
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Re: Waxed Dirt - Homework
[Re: walleye101]
#6296294
08/07/18 08:17 AM
08/07/18 08:17 AM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,557 Slaughter Slough, MN
Dead Coyote
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,557
Slaughter Slough, MN
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Using the cement mixer method, do you apply the heat (flame) directly to the dirt or on the outside of the drum? Outside of the drum. Otherwise you will burn the Microbes and Organic Matter in the dirt. And it will give off a burnt smell.
Live everyday like it is the last day of your life! MJPPTA 1%
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Re: Waxed Dirt - Homework
[Re: dirt trapper]
#6298414
08/10/18 05:54 AM
08/10/18 05:54 AM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,356 Firth, Nebraska
jabNE
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,356
Firth, Nebraska
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Been having a bit of a warm spell this week. Made a few batches five gallons at a time in black plastic cement mixing tubs in back of my truck under a black tonneau cover. It gets very warm under that tonneau cover during day, and my truck just sits in the sunny parking lot all day at work so why not put it to work too? Works great! Give it a stir when I get home, dump the load into a clean five gallon bucket and load up another batch into a tray for next day at work. Later I'll transfer the waxed dirt from the buckets to individual clean gallon milk jugs using a funnel. Those are easily carried in the truck during season. I also stash them on location in weedy fencerows and brushpiles near set locations. The jugs stay weather proof (with lids on) and remakes are easy to walk over and grab the jug, putting it back after the remake. Jim
Last edited by jabNE; 08/10/18 05:54 AM.
Money cannot buy you happiness, but it can buy you a trapping license and that's pretty close.
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Re: Waxed Dirt - Homework
[Re: dirt trapper]
#6298562
08/10/18 10:43 AM
08/10/18 10:43 AM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,174 Rochester, MN
Teacher
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trapper
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,174
Rochester, MN
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So far I’ve made 12 gallons. Fry pan method is slow. Being cheap, I’m thinking the pickup method might be good.
Never too old to learn
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Re: Waxed Dirt - Homework
[Re: dirt trapper]
#6298795
08/10/18 06:42 PM
08/10/18 06:42 PM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,356 Firth, Nebraska
jabNE
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,356
Firth, Nebraska
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I walk s lot of our line, so I stash when I can. A couple jugs near location, and we usually get two to three sets at a location. I'm not sure how much per set. Seems like after a few remakes we are hauling in New jugs to keep going. Maybe three our four sets? I guess depends on size of trap and bed, I think. Jim
Money cannot buy you happiness, but it can buy you a trapping license and that's pretty close.
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Re: Waxed Dirt - Homework
[Re: dirt trapper]
#6298797
08/10/18 06:45 PM
08/10/18 06:45 PM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,356 Firth, Nebraska
jabNE
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,356
Firth, Nebraska
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I did find temps need to at least be in mid to upper nineties to really get a good melt on the hobby lobby candle wax. 10 lb block at about $24 less the online 40% off coupon. Can't beat that. Jim
Money cannot buy you happiness, but it can buy you a trapping license and that's pretty close.
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Re: Waxed Dirt - Homework
[Re: dirt trapper]
#6298883
08/10/18 09:28 PM
08/10/18 09:28 PM
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Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,132 Kingston, PA
TheBig1
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,132
Kingston, PA
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My old man told me another way to test it. Put some in a Ziplock sandwich bag and put it in the freezer overnight. It shouldn’t freeze.
You can't cheat the mountain pilgrim. Mountain's got its own ways.
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Re: Waxed Dirt - Homework
[Re: dirt trapper]
#6301430
08/14/18 07:16 AM
08/14/18 07:16 AM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,356 Firth, Nebraska
jabNE
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,356
Firth, Nebraska
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10 block of wax from hobby lobby, and with the online 40% off coupon I only paid about $14 for it. I used one of these sure forms to make nice little wax shavings out of that block. I'm always a little disappointed afterward though...looking in the mirror you would think my arms would be more jacked after working that sure form on a big block of wax...but they aren't. Sigh...I guess I will never be a well built dude, oh well... Then I dump a full five gallon bucket full of dry, presifted dirt into one of these old thick black plastic mixing tubs I bought from menards a few years back. Add the right amount of wax shavings and mix it all up with gloves on and a little garden trowel, looks like this when all mixed up. The white wax flakes are showing in the dry sifted dirt. And after a hot day in sun under the truck's black tonneau cover, with truck sitting out in parking lot at work all day, mix it up again to make sure there are no clumps and that all of the wax was melted. If needed, let it sit another hot day to get rest of the wax melted if necessary. Sometimes it takes me a day or two but on a good hot day one day does the trick. Mix it all back up to make sure all of the wax was melted in. Once the dirt is cooled, I cut the top half of a two liter soft drink bottle (clean) as a funnel to transfer the dirt into clean milk jugs I've saved throughout the summer. With two boys, we go through plenty of milk around here. The opening on the two liter soft drink bottle fits nicely into the opening on top of a gallon milk jug, and a darn cheap funnel for this purpose. You can carry a gallon of dry waxed dirt very easily in these clean milk jugs, and they pour very well into a trap bed, too. I stash these jugs ahead of time at each set location. Put them nearby in a weedy fencerow or brush pile. Easy on remakes to walk over, grab the jug, do the remake, put the jug back afterward. Be sure to pick them all up at end of the season. I learned the stashing dirt trick from Charles Dobbins' land trapping book, and have done this since probably about late '80s on our winter coyote line. After season is over, you can keep the leftover waxed dirt already put up in the jugs in a dry shed or garage and good to go for the next season, too. Anyway...your original question of cost savings to buy or make your own, it's way cheaper to make your own. I ran out one season and bought a couple bags from a dealer. It cost me about $24 for each bag plus shipping was about $10-$15 on top of that. I can make my own with hobby lobby pure paraffin candle wax 10 lb. block is about $24 but with the 40% off online coupon I think I paid about $14-$15 for the block. That coupon is for purchase of one item only so if you go in and buy two blocks they only apply the coupon to one of the blocks. Make a second trip for the second block and use another online coupon or have a friend do this for you for the second block. I already owned the sure form tool but those are not very expensive either. I've seen postings where guys used block planes to shave the wax, or even putting chunks of wax into an old food processer to make shavings. As for melting the wax, you've read all the postings of heat sources. A cement mixer and weed burner, or a heat lamp, heat gun, oven, frying pan, electric roaster, you name it. I learned this tonneau cover trick from F&T guys and it works just fine you just need a nice hot day in mid 90s or so and several hours of the truck sitting out in direct sunlight. Mine does this sits in a hot concrete parking lot all day at work so I take advantage of hot days by making wax dirt while I am at work. Dirt, get that from wherever you can locally and sift it before adding the wax. I have probably never used the same dirt source two seasons in a row. Sometimes I get it from under local farms and under bridges in summer, you name it. I had access to some nice pulverized dirt this year and I dried and sifted about 40 gallons of it at the time. I loaded a lot of five gallon buckets I recall, and after sifting had about that much of good useable sifted dry dirt. I tossed a lot though, big chunks, rocks, stuff I didn't want to use. Five gallon bucket of unsifted dirt is not same as five gallons of sifted dirt, if that makes sense. Point is, it is a WHOLE lot cheaper to make waxed dirt yourself, but you do have to do a little planning and put some work into it. Jim
Last edited by jabNE; 08/14/18 07:44 AM.
Money cannot buy you happiness, but it can buy you a trapping license and that's pretty close.
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Re: Waxed Dirt - Homework
[Re: dirt trapper]
#6304178
08/17/18 04:49 PM
08/17/18 04:49 PM
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 4,369 N.C MO
TONY.F
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 4,369
N.C MO
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must be nice al all we have here is that sticky hard gumbo clay
Last edited by TONY.F; 08/17/18 04:49 PM.
LIVE LIFE LIKE THEIR IS NO TOMMORROW
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Re: Waxed Dirt - Homework
[Re: dirt trapper]
#6304875
08/18/18 03:49 PM
08/18/18 03:49 PM
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,445 Southern Michigan
trappergbus
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,445
Southern Michigan
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Just add an extra cup to your mix to get it to pack well. Test the first batch then go from there. All soils take different ratios of wax to dirt. You may not need to double the wax. I get better distribution by melting the wax before adding to the heated dirt/sand mix. I also let it cool in the mixer before I dump so I don't have to stir it to avoid clumps.
Common sense catches alot of fur.. Pay homage to all you harvest..
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Re: Waxed Dirt - Homework
[Re: dirt trapper]
#6304906
08/18/18 04:35 PM
08/18/18 04:35 PM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,356 Firth, Nebraska
jabNE
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,356
Firth, Nebraska
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We had a week where it didn't get very hot but was sunny. Put the tray on sunny side of house or shed, and cover with either glass or even clear plastic like painters drop cloth stretched tightly over the tub and some time in direct sun did the trick. Gets incredibly hot under that plastic wrap. Completely melted all the wax and dirt was hot. Cool it down later, stir well, and put it in jugs. Jim
Last edited by jabNE; 08/18/18 04:36 PM.
Money cannot buy you happiness, but it can buy you a trapping license and that's pretty close.
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Re: Waxed Dirt - Homework
[Re: dirt trapper]
#6305319
08/19/18 07:54 AM
08/19/18 07:54 AM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,356 Firth, Nebraska
jabNE
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,356
Firth, Nebraska
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Hasn't seemed to. I'm a cheapskate and dont put much cost into this other than wax If I'm home and puttering around here I'll make a batch or two in trays up on our deck that gets full shot of hot sun. Otherwise I use my tonneau and let it cook in there while I'm at work all day. I satrt with absolutely bone dry dirt and maybe that helps with the condensation? I know that when I remove the plastic it's really hot under there and I give it a good stir. If all the wax is melted in I move the tub to a place to cool down, stir it again, and usually put it in my garage overnight to completely cool. That next morning I transfer it to the milk jugs. Maybe that stint overnight took any condensation moisture out? It always seems bone dry in AM. Has always worked well in our dead of winter, and especially rain/ice or freeze thaw. Best stuff I've ever used for those conditions and definitely worth the summer effort to put it up. Make hay in summer, right?? Jim
Last edited by jabNE; 08/19/18 07:55 AM.
Money cannot buy you happiness, but it can buy you a trapping license and that's pretty close.
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Re: Waxed Dirt - Homework
[Re: dirt trapper]
#6305322
08/19/18 07:56 AM
08/19/18 07:56 AM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,356 Firth, Nebraska
jabNE
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,356
Firth, Nebraska
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I love the idea of a wax dirt party though. Would be a fun day to drink, maybe grill out, get a whole bunch of dirt put up and split with the buddies that show up to help. Jim
Last edited by jabNE; 08/19/18 07:57 AM.
Money cannot buy you happiness, but it can buy you a trapping license and that's pretty close.
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Re: Waxed Dirt - Homework
[Re: dirt trapper]
#6312446
08/28/18 02:32 PM
08/28/18 02:32 PM
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,445 Southern Michigan
trappergbus
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,445
Southern Michigan
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Now your cookin!! When you add melted wax the temp will jump to 150-160. Don't freak just shut the torch off. Tilt again after the wax is added too. I always a add bit more wax so its packable..
Common sense catches alot of fur.. Pay homage to all you harvest..
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Re: Waxed Dirt - Homework
[Re: dirt trapper]
#6314763
08/31/18 03:49 PM
08/31/18 03:49 PM
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,445 Southern Michigan
trappergbus
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,445
Southern Michigan
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It should look wet. Feather it out and blend with whatever is at the set site, to break up the outline . The sun and weather will fade it out over time.
Common sense catches alot of fur.. Pay homage to all you harvest..
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Re: Waxed Dirt - Homework
[Re: dirt trapper]
#6316836
09/03/18 06:14 PM
09/03/18 06:14 PM
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Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,076 Maine
mainer
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,076
Maine
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I'm giving heat lamps a try this year. Any tips or advice would be appreciated for those who've used this method.
"...in a very few days we succeeded in taking over one hundred beaver, the skins of which were worth ten dollars per pound." Jim Beckwourth (1856)
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Re: Waxed Dirt - Homework
[Re: dirt trapper]
#6316897
09/03/18 07:47 PM
09/03/18 07:47 PM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,356 Firth, Nebraska
jabNE
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,356
Firth, Nebraska
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I got a small batch of five gallons done today with just the mixing tray and clear plastic used sun on the deck for heat. Was only in mid 80s today and just not hot enough to use the tonneau cover on my truck. The plastic and sun worked really well got very warm and melted the wax very well. I didn't have musch luck with heat lamps couldn't get 150+ degrees temp out of the unit I have at my home. That's about melting point on this hobby lobby wax, amybe a little less like 140 degrees. Jim
Money cannot buy you happiness, but it can buy you a trapping license and that's pretty close.
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Re: Waxed Dirt - Homework
[Re: dirt trapper]
#6316919
09/03/18 08:07 PM
09/03/18 08:07 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,947 Central Pa. 62
bic
"Mr. Sensitivity"
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"Mr. Sensitivity"
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,947
Central Pa. 62
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I made a 30" x 36' frame out of 1x6 with plywood for a bottom. I put my dry sifted dirt in it, put the wax on the dirt and cover the frame with a piece of glass. Set it in full sunlight and it gets hot enough at this time of year to melt solid chunks of Gulf paraffin.
Life always offers a second chance. It's called Tomorrow
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Re: Waxed Dirt - Homework
[Re: dirt trapper]
#6317103
09/03/18 11:22 PM
09/03/18 11:22 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 976 Western Colorado
coloradocat
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 976
Western Colorado
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John Graham showed his solar method at the WY convention. Pretty slick system.
Colorado Search and Rescue- Interfering with natural selection since 1976
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