Trap Collecting


No Profanity *** No Flaming *** No Advertising *** No Anti Trappers *** No Politics
No Non-Target Catches *** No Links to Anti-trapping Sites *** No Avoiding Profanity Filter


Home~Trap Talk~ADC Forum~Trap Shed~Wilderness Trapping~International Trappers

Auction Forum~Trapper Tips~Links~Gallery~Basic Sets~Convention Calendar~Chat~ Trap Collecting Forum

Trapper's Humor~Strictly Trapping~Fur Buyers Directory~Mugshots~Fur Sale Directory~Wildcrafting

Trapper's Tales~Words From The Past~Legends~Archives~Kids Forum~Lure Formulators Forum



~ Dobbins' Products Catalog ~


Print Thread
Hop To
Maintaining your trap collection? #6960479
08/10/20 10:03 PM
08/10/20 10:03 PM
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,064
NY
R
rendezvous Offline OP
trapper
rendezvous  Offline OP
trapper
R

Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,064
NY
I am a relatively new to trap collecting. Any information on how you maintain or preserve your traps would be greatly appreciated.


Let's go Brandon!
Re: Maintaining your trap collection? [Re: rendezvous] #6960547
08/10/20 10:43 PM
08/10/20 10:43 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,445
revillo, sd
C
cohunt Offline
trapper
cohunt  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,445
revillo, sd
Are you asking how to protect and preserve individual traps? Way different than preserving a collection.

Re: Maintaining your trap collection? [Re: rendezvous] #6960644
08/10/20 11:28 PM
08/10/20 11:28 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 16,681
north Idaho
W
wissmiss Offline
trapper
wissmiss  Offline
trapper
W

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 16,681
north Idaho
Collector traps should NOT be artificially cleaned - no vinegar, no chemicals, no wire wheels. All of these will lower the value of the trap.

It is ok to wash the trap with warm soapy water. Use an old toothbrush to remove loose rust and dirt. Then dry thoroughly. That is all that is necessary. No varnish. No paint. No trap dye. No trap dip.

Welcome to the world of trap collecting. Have fun.


www.usedtraps.com

Please check out my updated inventory of Native American books.

Re: Maintaining your trap collection? [Re: rendezvous] #6960991
08/11/20 12:12 PM
08/11/20 12:12 PM
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,064
NY
R
rendezvous Offline OP
trapper
rendezvous  Offline OP
trapper
R

Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,064
NY
I'm talking about each individual trap. I'm right there with wissmiss as cleaning traps is minimal, leaving the natural patina. I like a trap that looks like it has been actually used, it has a little history.

I was wondering about preserving or maintaining that natural patina with some type of oil, wax or is there something else? Is that a no-no?

I wanted a small collection of traps to add to my eclectic collection of outdoor items; hunting, shooting, fishing, trapping, camping...

I thought fishing lure collecting was addictive, trap collecting can get out of hand pretty quick!


Let's go Brandon!
Re: Maintaining your trap collection? [Re: rendezvous] #6961038
08/11/20 01:03 PM
08/11/20 01:03 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 16,681
north Idaho
W
wissmiss Offline
trapper
wissmiss  Offline
trapper
W

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 16,681
north Idaho
If the traps are being displayed inside, the natural patina should maintain itself without any coating. I’ve got traps that I’ve had for 30 plus years and as far as I can tell, the patina hasn’t changed. They are inside my house, just sitting around.

Some folks use a light coating of WD40. Doesn’t affect the value. Not sure if it helps or not. You wouldn’t want to use too much as it would make the traps messy to handle,


www.usedtraps.com

Please check out my updated inventory of Native American books.

Re: Maintaining your trap collection? [Re: rendezvous] #6961190
08/11/20 04:37 PM
08/11/20 04:37 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,445
revillo, sd
C
cohunt Offline
trapper
cohunt  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,445
revillo, sd
I suspect that there are as many methods of dealing with collector traps as there are trap collectors. Some folks search for traps that are "from the wild" and do absolutely nothing to them after they are acquired. At the other extreme are collectors, some very advanced, who themselves, or through experienced pros, disassemble every trap they acquire, have every part restored to as near new as possible, have the trap reassembled and then have the finished product coated with any of several dozen products that will prevent it from ageing in the future. Most collectors that I know fall somewhere in the middle. Most do some or quite a lot of cleaning and almost all coat with some preservative.

Last edited by cohunt; 08/11/20 06:09 PM.
Re: Maintaining your trap collection? [Re: rendezvous] #6961452
08/11/20 08:26 PM
08/11/20 08:26 PM
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,064
NY
R
rendezvous Offline OP
trapper
rendezvous  Offline OP
trapper
R

Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 2,064
NY
I do display them inside. Now that you said it, my first ever trap was a Gibbs Two-Trigger Trap that my Uncle Ben gave to me when I was 8-10 years old. I used it till I was able to buy some Victor 1-1/2 coil springs. That trap has been hanging inside for 50 years and it hasn't changed in any way that I could tell. I guess I'm good to go. And too much sentimental value with that trap to change a thing about it, but I may take a toothbrush, soap and water to a new collectable trap? So I guess I fall somewhere in the middle.

Thanks for the help, it is greatly appreciated.


Let's go Brandon!
Re: Maintaining your trap collection? [Re: rendezvous] #6961670
08/11/20 11:46 PM
08/11/20 11:46 PM
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 1,549
MT
S
Slick Pan Offline
trapper
Slick Pan  Offline
trapper
S

Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 1,549
MT
It really depends on the finish and condition of the trap.If they have rust I try to stop that by a LIGHT cleaning/brushing and apply vegetable oil from a spray can and wipe it off so its even coated throughout.Never dye,wax,paint or overclean.Overclean will destroy trap value fast.

Re: Maintaining your trap collection? [Re: rendezvous] #7044918
11/10/20 12:25 PM
11/10/20 12:25 PM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,026
UP STATE NY-Not the city!!!
C
chicken Offline
trapper
chicken  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,026
UP STATE NY-Not the city!!!
I give mine a good soaking of fluid film every couple of years... Then back on the Mantel they go..

Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

Moderated by  snakecollector 

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1