I'm really thinking of painting my coyote traps this year. I read what is in the archives. Those of you that do this, have you noticed any refusals? If I do this, its going to happen this weekend so they have plenty of time to air out.

Spray painting traps is a lot easier. Just use a dull paint and let them air out.

Just waxing is even easier....and cheaper.

X2, unless you have several dozen to do.

I never painted my canine traps but I've done all my BGs and my other water4 traps by dipping. There Is nothing faster then dipping. And with a lot less waste then spraying.
All my canine taps are powder coated. It's a bit spendy but lasts better then any other coating.

I've always just waxed them. Not sure painting is any better. Maybe I should just stick with the wax.

I painted a bunch of wolf traps white, and really like it. If I want traps dark I like to dye and wax when I boil them, in my opinion nothing holds up after a catch like a dyed trap. On the other hand if you are using calcium chloride or something similar powder coating may be your best bet.

For painting I put a gallon of Rustoleum mixed with a gallon of acetone in a bucket and stir well, submerge the traps, pull them out and hang them for a couple weeks to let the smell completely dissapate. You may want to put a nail between the jaws to allow paint onto the jaw faces, and to keep the jaws from being stuck together with paint. First time I did this I got out on the line and went to set traps and discovered my jaws on several wolf traps glued together so I had to use a shovel blade to slide between them and pop them loose while holding both levers compressed.

Get one of those screw on lids for your bucket and you can save your leftover paint/acetone mix and use it again next year.

I use wax sand. That paint mix is just what I was thinking of. Did you have any refusals, or any more than normal with the paint?

I have some that are painted but most are dyed and waxed and use waxed sand. Never noticed any difference between the two. I've tried almost every way of treating my traps and just prefer the old traditional way of dye and waxing them but everyone is different and needs to find out what works for them.

I've painted my traps for the past 2 seasons, and I've beat my previous coyote records both years, as well as my best bobcat record this year! No, I've noticed zero refusals!

Once you paint them you are pretty much done unless you make a catch or they have been in water for a long period of time. I repaint my stuff in the spring that had catches in them from the previous season. Otherwise they get hung back up.

yup. Same here. But after I paint them I dip in floor wax as well. Dont know if I use floor wax this year though.

I dip mine in oil based rustoleum paint and gasoline. Paint to gasoline mix 50/50. Thins out the paint so it is not so thick. After the paint has dried I dip each trap in full metal jacket or floor wax. Either one has worked good for me. If you are dipping 100+ traps it is a pretty easy process. I mix 6 gallons (3 gallons paint/ 3 gallons gasoline or acetone) and put it in a tuff tote. Then you can dip foot holds, body grips, and snares at one time.

Nope no refusals with painted traps, but I dipped them late spring and let hang out most of the summer. I to use waxed dirt unless I am setting directly in snow. I tried the calcium chloride years ago and besides being hard on the traps I had refusals on it.

Yep! I dip mine in "Bullet Proof" after painting them (it is very similar to floor polish!)

U guys that trap coyotes and have no refusals are my heroes

I'm not saying that I have no trap refusals, but the ones I have I can usually pin it on set construction, or something of that nature. I'm just saying, since I've started painting my traps, I have definitely not noticed an increase in refusals, plus have been catching more than usual. So no, I do not believe I have been having refusals due to trap treatment. Just thought I'd clarify...

About 7 years ago I dipped 3 doz Bridger dogless #3's rustoleum 65% 35% acetone mid summer dipped twice a day apart in above 70 above weather.Worked very well and was very durable,couldn't see any difference in catch rates for coyotes,it would hold up better to non targeted coon catches to boot.Dye vs painted traps pick your posion,both worked very well for me.

I started dipping mine in a 3/1 ratio of acetone and paint a couple years ago. Works great for me. It’s fast and offers good protection. I had to work close to were I store my traps a couple weeks ago so while I was there I dipped them all. Some wax in the fall and I’ll be ready.

Hmm, a couple different ratios in the last two posts. One thick one thin, I'm curious and would love to hear why.

Seems thin would get into nooks and crannies like the springs better but might need multiple dips to build up a thicker film.

I've yet to do the acetone/rustoleum but I'm working up a set now and that'll be the way I go this time.

Thoughts on top coating paint with floor wax?

If you know some one In the Body shop trade look to have your traps done with that type of primer. Maybe a 12 pack would get some traps done.

I used floor wax last year w/o any noticeable difference. I coated them once but might double dip them next time.

I recently dipped 58 traps, a combination of 330’s and larger leg holds (3’s and 4’s) in a mixture of 1 gallon Rustoleum rusty metal primer, 1 quart of flat black paint, and 1 gallon of Acetone. I also bought 2 empty paint cans for storing what was left afterward. Last night I dipped 200 110’s and still have 1 gallon of dip left from that original batch I made. In the future I think I will thin it a little more, maybe try the 60/40 (heavier on acetone) to try and eliminate the dried paint droplets that formed as they dried. The speed of the process and protection these traps are getting is great!

Thanks for the info. I’m dipping 5 dz today. I hear a lot of people like the mix 60/40 . Also heard 75/25 works really well and gives a nice thin coat.

Serious question. How do you handle the paint build up after say 10 years of painting the traps?

I would think a soak in a lye bath should clean and strip paint. Though depending on thickness might need a scrubbing or pressure wash to fully get back to bare metal.

50/50 white vinager and water. I've had some take a week or so. I made a wire rack to keep the traps off the bottom and out of the stuff that builds up in the bottom.
I rinse them in clean water and then neutralize in. 1 cup of baking soda to gallon of water mix.

I don't paint traps. But I've had to remove it from many I've bought.

Thank You!!

I clean them after each year before repainting. Boil them in Southern Snare's "Battleborn" trap cleaner.

I strongly suspect battleborn is some sort of lye based product. Probably relabelled drain cleaner.

Not floor wax...floor polish. It seems to work about the same as Bullet Proof and FMJ. I prefer the Bullet Proof just because I'm supporting the trapping industry by buying it, not Chinese Walmart. It helps keep the paint on longer, and it "lubricates" like wax, without absorbing odors like wax.

I hit mine with a pressure washer and wire brush if I see any steal coming through. Then repaint.

Dipped mine in rustoleum and Acetone mix of 25% primer to 75% thinner. It’s a little thin and had to dip twice. I’m thinking 1part primer to 2 parts thinner would have been perfect. Dipped MB 550s turned out great. I just went with the straight primer and did not add any black like some do. We have red clay dirt so the red is a perfect match. Going to let cure and air out for a few days then dip all in bulletproof.

How many days are y’all letter the painted traps air out for all the smell to be gone ?

I usually go 10 days to 2 weeks myself. Depends of temperature, humidity, etc. What part of TX are you in, Sharkhunter?

I’m between Cleveland and Livingston. About 40 miles North of Houston.

My conibear traps for fisher and marten I always dipped them in brown then spot painted with green from a spray can.

I found that 2:1 with acetone to Rustoleum stayed tacky for quit some time. We have cooler temps with high humidity, so my solution was to go heavier on the acetone. It worked.

10 - 14 days should be good then. You don't have very high humidity do you?

LDW, it works very well for canine traps.
Jim

You don't have to do it all at once.

I've sprayed them all the last five seasons. Give them a fresh coat a couple weeks before season and leave them outside until I set them. I've never noticed a difference. Really nice for the cat traps you want to leave exposed, just paint them a green/brown combo and its easy enough. Plenty of first night catches.