I bought half a dozen Duke #2 traps and my cousin said that it’s a good idea to base plate them. So I ordered base plates and better chain and swivels. Any thoughts on welding or bolting them on. I can weld them on, I have a mig machine but it will be a couple weeks before I can get up to my other house where my equipment is. I can bolt them up here at my regular house too.

I've done it both ways. If you need them now bolt them
If I bolt them on I make sure to peen the threads so the nut won't back off at all

Mb550 is bolted

Your cousin is right. Make sure to bend the jaw tips up or put a bit of weld on the end. I know from personal experience. When I first started off I spent 3 months trying to catch a coyote, I’d caught fox, coon, fisher, and a couple possums but one mornings I watched the coyote tracks going right to my set. There was a small catch circle and the jaws of my duke #2 popped out of the frame. Baseplates will help but also bend or weld the jaw tips. That was a very frustrating experience and happened close to 10 years ago. By next year I had all my duke #2s modified and haven’t had a problem. To answer your question, it depends on your situation. Either will work. I prefer the welding simply because I think it’s easier. In order to bolt, you have to drill 3-4 holes in each baseplate and each trap. That’s 18-24 holes you don’t have to drill if you weld. The drilling would take the most time but I understand the feeling of wanting them sooner.

This late in season I'd shorten chain add swivel tune boil and run em well staked.
Then take time in off season to tinker.
Ran a lot of 1 3/4 (same thing) modded and stock and never the problems claimed on here.
44 lbs was biggest one that was weighed.
Tractors are a different tune lol.

Must be the old style Duke #2s because the new #2 dukes are base plated and center swiveled.
If your base plating for strength then I would use the whole base plate but If you base plating for a center swivel then just drill 2 holes. In fact two holes might just be enough In both cases.

Good one Beav I forgot about the newish square jaw 2,
My comment was toward the round jaw 2.

These are the round jaw offset taps. I drilled and bolted them with 1/4-20 hardware. Didn’t go with stainless though I was tempted. I peened them over real tight. I’ll get them prepped and set them later this week.

One more question. I used two 1/4-20 bolts. Is that enough or should I put one more closer to the middle of the base plate?

I would have one closer to the center to keep it from being bent out.

This. Two will work but id put at least 3.

Thanks. That’s what I’m gonna do. It’s pretty easy.

i did 2 dozen base plated welding fully then actually plated with a heavy zinc plating. trap prep is as easy as spraying them off and hanging to dry then put in totes for next season.

Never seen zinc plating come in a can like that.

Yep! It comes in a different can! But, that’s a fine job! Looks great!

How did you zinc plate?

i work for a bolt manufacturer and we have plating done at various venders. the owner asked midwest rust proofing to do it. plating has to withstand over 700 hours of salt spray. i wanted to see how it would hold up and so far its holding up great. was 50 bucks a dozen is what midwest charged owner wouldnt let me pay for it. i work for a great company. they are on there 3rd season now and i havent done anything other than power wash them during the summer at some point when i get around to it.

thats that good Old Milwaukee light in that there can.

I like my Duke 2s, I welded the frame where they connect, and bent up the jaw ears.