I have not been happy with the condition of the feet on my fox and coyote catches. I plan on installing t bar spring and thought laminated them would help. What would you use to laminat them and why. 9 wire for ease or flat plate/bar stock how thick?
Do you think this will solve the problem. Should I sell them and buy mb 550s or all ready fully modified bridgers?

I'm planning on picking up a dozen or two mb 550s to try regardless but I'm not sure if its wort spending time on the bridges I all ready have or dump them for convenience I only have 15. They hold well except I had a coon pull out leaving a few hairs on the jaws but attribute that to a tapered paw and off set jaws. I had a coyote leave 2 pads and nails in in one and it held. I have also been impressed with my mb 750s so assume i would be with the 550s as well.

I have both 550s and bridger 2 dogless and love them both. Laminating should take care of your issue I think. Are they 4 coiled? I'm sure some would argue me all day, but I don't feel like 4 coils are necessary and that extra pressure from the helper coils could be causing a little damage. I have some 4 coiled bridgers, as well as 2 coiled bridgers and 2 coiled 550s. I have yet to have a coyote pull out of a 2 coiled trap, so long as the springs are good strong springs. Also, I have laminations from square stock and round stock and I prefer round. If anything, they just look and feel cleaner without possibility of sharp edges, etc.

I've caught critters in #2 Bridgers with no damage, why do you think it's a problem?

They are 2 coil sorry I should have included that. They are newly purchased this year since I couldn't find many of my old ones. I had not trapped in 15 years. My boys showed intrest in the middle of January so that got me back into it. I have really enjoyed it and cant believe I ever quit.

Forget the #9 wire.Use 3/16 or 1/4 round rod.I like the 1/4 inch round rod.Once you laminate them replace the springs with music wire springs if the springs are weak.

So to answer my question, being your an albeit trapper on sabbatical, why do you think the stock #2 Bridgers are causing damage as I'm curious? Mine never have.

Well not wanting to post things that could be negative or used as negative about traping on an open fourm I will leave it at I'm not happy with the results I have had. It's not something I "think " I will have an issue with Hence the question on laminating. Not every catch has had issues but I had a few I could have had better results with.

Nuff said for me any how.....

I just laminated a few new Bridgers this afternoon. I've been using 2 coiled OS MB550's and OS MB650's and am very happy with my but wanted to try some dogless Bridgers. I laminated them just because they are new and easier to weld to clean metal. I used 1/4" SS as that is what I had and it seems to be work fine. A bit more pre work with Bridgers than the MB's but then I don't mind tinkering.

I have also had the same problem with Duke #2 sq jaw. Most of them are just what you want. But there have been a few with some damage.

Yep.

Laminating should take care of any issues, but if youd rather just sell them than modify them, PM me. May be interested in buying them from you.

For what it’s worth, I run MB 550’s and Bridger Dogless #2’s, both offset with 2 springs. What I believe is that the Bridges are a bit more sensitive than the MB’s. I have no complaints on either one. I guess what I’m saying is “Is it possible that if the Bridgers are more sensitive, could that be causing your problem?”

More sensitive to what?

More sensitive meaning less pan pressure required to trip. . At least out of the box.

Just got to ask since I didn’t see any other post that did, did you smooth up the inside of the jaws with a file and sand paper? I think laminated helps. If you want really nice preformed flat lams J.C.Conner has them for not a bad price compared to cold roll at the hardware store plus measure cut and fit. I run threes and 650s all are offset and OL so can’t speek to the #2s good luck. Never heard a bad word about the 550s either.

That won't have anything to do with foot damage.

No it was the 2nd week of Jan when the boys and I got started. All I did was de grease them and attach cable ground anchors and adjusted pan tension to around 3lb.

I think that will be a good idea along with laminating, adding springs, and swapping out the cable anchors for chains and welded s hooks. Maybe filing the pan a bit shorter so it fires without having to move as far. They are fine traps I was just not prepared ahead of time. I'm trying to get prepared for next year now before the farm, work and kids eat up all the trapping prep time. Need to secure permission for more locations also. That's part of the off set laminated jaws, and springs. I want to have them to show land owners that think trapping is cruel that that's a common misconception. Being able to point out these advancements vs spiked jaws ect. Also pointing out tha no traps don't break their legs and I get snapped in my traps from time to time and I wouldn't use something that would break my fingers.

1/8-3/16th is all you need for the jaws. You could go quarter inch but its a bit much . 9 gauge wire is too soft and you have to get the wire straightened before you can use it or things get goofy.