Glad to hear vinegar worked so well. I'm curious how one gets that strong vinegar smell off of their canine traps

I've used oak leaves off a tree right here in my yard with good effect. Black as night when I was done boiling them.

Clean and wax, anything else is a waste of time.

Boiling in water with some oak leaves thrown in will degrease them, say 30 minutes. Let them lay outside for a few days to get some fine rust on them, then simmer them for 1-2 hours with lots of oak leaves, a few pine boughs thrown in. They will be almost black. Then wax them and hang them to dry for a couple hours.

Dying a land trap which is gong to be covered is about as much help as wearing camo underwear when you go deer hunting.

you might think so, but the tannins in the dye do help resist further rusting. Nowhere near as good as wax or whatever, but just another layer of protection, and helps remove foreign odors as well.

Dyeing traps has nothing to do with color and never has.The tannins neutralize rust.Wax seals and gives added protection.Only 60 years experience here so take all this with a grain of salt.I have waxed only,dyed only and I can tell you,the combination of the two protects better and lasts longer than either by itself.I do it to prolong the life of my investment.One thing the color does,is show you when the trap is shined up and how much.It is harder to see with wax only.I only have to treat most of the traps,every few years.It is a way more simple process than some think.

I could not agree more.

I also dye and wax and have for 50 years in some form or fashion.
Reason: I want to use traps as long as possible before prepping again - regardless of the soil acidity, animal catches, weather temperature (wax speeds them up), etc.

But then again, I'm married to a wonderful woman who likes to dye and wax traps! Who am I to keep her from her passions?

I’m guessing 215 , what did I win ?

A 1 oz bottle of Wind Walker, Golf Ball, lol.

Mark, thanks. I enjoy your posts. That is a cool photo.