I got some traps at a convention and some just don't want too rust even after weeks of outdoors and soaking in a bucket of water any ideas.

Also can I use last year's trap dye or do I need too get more it has wax on the surface from last year still.

hydrogen peroxide and vinegar with some salt added will rust most anything quickly


you don't need to rust a trap to make them ready to use , some people just clean and wax , they don't get dark like rusted , boiled and dyed

I'd pull the wax off the top of the dye, toss it, bring the pot of dye to a simmer, put he traps in, bring it back to slow boil for 10min, pull the traps out and they are ready to go set on your line. No added rusting and no wax needed.

No need to rust just make sure all the oil is off them everywhere, even in the springs and run em through your normal prep. They'll rust in a few years. Unless you are using them exposed like in the water then you might get some avoidance issues but even then not necessarily

Rust not required, just makes blacking process easier, The oxydation turns color quicker than bare steel. It's just like bluing a gun. The boilling kills any scent, color doesn't matter when you bury it.

One dip in salt water works wonders.