I have a 20 quart stock pot im going to use for waxing 4 dozen canine traps. I think I will wax 2-4 traps at a time. How much wax is needed to fill my pot, and how much wax will I need in total?

I would try to find a smaller diameter pot or pan etc. You are going to need to use a whole ton of wax to cover a group of coon or canine traps. To me to 10 inches of wax in a 20Qt pot (f gallon pail) you will need probably 20 lbs. of wax. If you would find one 12 inches in diameter you could probably do it with 10 lbs. If you plan to use that pot for years and reuse the wax if you keep it clean and odor free than it probably does not matter much.

Bryce

Order more than what you think you'll need. If you have extra you can save it for next year..

Wax is supposed t be 7 lbs per gallon.Remember,as it melts,it expands so don't get the pot too full.15-20 lbs would probably be plenty.

bblwi, I just leave my wax pot outside. It gets water in it, dirt and leaves. I scoop out the leaves, Pour out the water, and wipe off the dust. None of those things impart an unnatural odor. Wax pops some when you first heat it from water . Wait a bit and the water steams off. Usually have to dip out a leaf or two that was stuck in the wax. Not a big deal. Leaving it outside, up on top the back porch roof in my case, eliminates any chance of adding an unnatural smell from storing it inside. If you heat with wood you may want to put it someplace it isnt getting smoke all winter.

I use one of those big blue water bath canners for a wax pot. Can easy dip two #3 size traps at a time. Tie a piece of wire on the chain. Set two traps in. Walk ten yards to the clothes line to hang up the traps I just took out. Grab a piece of wire I have hanging there and attach two more traps. Walk back to the wax pot and remove the two traps in it, set the cold traps in the wax and carry the two just waxed traps to the clothes line. Shaking them profusely as I walk to remove excess wax.


Put enough wax in your pot to cover your biggest traps by two-three inchs. Buy about twenty pounds. You wont need that much to start but you wont have to buy any for a few years. After you prep a few and you do need more wax you will know how much you want to buy.

I just use a propane burner sold for frying turkeys or large batchs of fish or whatever as a heat source.

I just throw a lb or two of wax in with my walnut hulls when I die my traps after I get the the body grips done. The wax floats on top and coats the traps well when I take them out.

X2 with Danny's advice except I keep my pot of wax covered with Saran wrap on top with a lid in the basement

I’m gonna have to say you’ll need about 20 quarts!!

gonna say you prob don't want the pot full,half full or a bit less will be just fine.

I use a turkey fryer and can do 3 or 4 650’s at at time . A little less than half full of wax could be a big enough fire as it is ! The thermometer on the lid is handy for letting you know when the traps are up to temperature.

about this much...

I like my pot full enough that I can completely submerge my trap in it and allow it to sit there for a few seconds to acquire the temp of the wax and turn clear before pulling it out...

I leave them in until they quit bubbling and then you get a nice very thin coat and I shake them hard as well. If you don't let them reach the wax temp you get a mess. When I dye I pull the traps out and hang, they quickly dry bone dry while they are hot. When I see no wet spots I dip, those hot traps wax up quickly and you can do a lot of traps in short order.

Bryce

Hern, the plywood is a significant part of your setup and very important to give the setup stability. Many of the problems regarding safety stem from a setup that will tip. Boiling is another time when the water softens the ground and disaster can occur. Good Pictures as always. Please share those over at M T also if you would.

That's basically the way I do it except, except I used to filter out the walnut hulls from the dye water and now I just contain them in cloth. I don't see why you would ever need a pot full of just wax. After the pot cools, the wax forms a solid layer on top of the water. I just break the wax off in chunks and store it for next year.

Keith

They get coated lots better. It doesnt flake off when a dry trap is immersed in hot wax and allowed to get hot itself.

Thank you MinkGuy. You have a good eye. Most folks look at pot or Buffalo hide gloves but never see 'the set up'.
When setting up, I had a level on cooker. Had to shim under plywood to level. Good eye, MinkGuy.
In addition to safety, I have lid to pot nearby.

Ive done both ways and the pot of wax does a much better job of waxing...much thinner and better adhesive coat of wax. At least that is my experience with it.

When you go to buy wax, just buy twice what you think you need. That's usually close.
BTW, I wax mine on a hot plate .. people keep telling me it doesn't work, but it works great.

campgrandview , if you have a Hobby Lobby near you look for their 40% discount coupon . Use them to buy large blocks (I think they are 10lbs per block ?) of paraffin wax and get some extra . I got tired of dinking around with one or two traps at a time . Its irritating when you have limited time and several dozen traps to do . I watched for sales and bought a 52 quart pot just for waxing traps . Its aluminum , has a lid , it was fairly cheap and will last a long time . I can do a dozen MB 550s or K-9 X-treme jrs at a time. Also consider heating your wax pot up in a larger sized pot of water . I've burned , overheated and ruined a lot of wax heating directly over a flame . Smelled like burnt crayons . Done the other way that never happens .