New to the forum and new to trapping,hope I am posting in the right place.starting to buy traps and supplies,going to trap mainly coyotes on my 3 acre land.they have seemed to multiply like rabbits and have become a problem
My question pertains to what type and size pots I need to dye & wax traps,I will have 4-5 traps.So many opinions on google and youtube and dont want to overthink this.I was going to just go to my local Walmart and pick up a couple but have read you want stainless steel and not aluminum,also you want quality pots .08 thickness & that will not burn the bottoms or give off a odor,then I see some people say clad pots,I am more confused now then before
Any help appreciated.If you have a link or a place to buy you can foward me would be great

Also a recommendation on a propane burner would be appreciated.The pots and burner will be stored in a outdoor shed so maybe stainless stuff so it does not rust.thanks

Your overthinking it.

Go to Walmart (or a thrift shop/garage sale/) and get the cheapest one they have with a lid that will fit your traps. The enameled canning pots work really well for size and cost.

For propane burner - Turkey fryer type set up will work well. Coleman stove will work just fine too.

Couple 5 gallon tin buckets will work good.One for blackening and one for waxing.
Do it over an outdoor wood fire.

Or, even an open fire has worked for a couple of hundred years! I use a steel 5 gal bucket on a propane fish/turkey cooker. And a SS ice bucket for wax.

Use a double boiler system for waxing & don't put the traps in the wax wet.

If you want to simplify it, be aware dye is not necessary. That said, I'm not trying to discourage you from dying your traps.

Don’t worry about dyeing and waxing your traps. Wait to do that in the next 2-5 years if you decide trapping is something you want to do every year and if that’s the way you want to treat your traps.


For now, take your new traps and wash them with hot water and dawn dish soap to get the oil off. Either use them like that or give them a light spray with spray paint.

Boiling and dyeing traps is not necessary. It’s something people do because they like to tinker around with traps.

Have fun trapping! If you decide to boil and dye your traps, do that during the summer.

Dye and wax if you like. But for 4-5 traps, I would scrub them in hot, soapy water. Dry them in open air and then paint with a rattle can. Leave them air dry to allow the paint smell to dissipate. No need to wax if you're not so inclined.

Definetely boil them.

This. If you have new traps run them through the dishwasher, then spray paint them. Nothing else necessary.

Where you at in NY? Someone may be close enough to give you some help if you want.

Everyone tries to burn down their house once with a turkey fryer and then gives them to Goodwill. Check resale shops, Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, you then have the stand, pot and just need gas grill propane tank. I have one pot for wax and one for cleaning- I mainly Rustoleum dip my traps and I use a tote for that.

I would also suggest just washing and spray painting. When you do get set up to wax I suggest a cheep stock pot from Walmart and I use a cheep hot plate to heat the wax. Takes a while to get it to temp but it works and I enjoy the process.

Absolutely this.
No need for the traditional trap prep for 5 traps.
Clean, rattle can, and you’ll be good.

I got a question. I’ve always just put the wax in with the log wood crystals and when you take them out they are waxed No need for 2 buckets / fires . Boco you are the man when and why is this not a good way to do it ? Worked for decades and how Stanley Hawbaker told me to do it .
As for fire propane burner is faster but just get you a metal grate and 2 concrete blocks. Dig small hole place blocks on each side lay the grate across then build fire under it

Just did these last week got a bobcat and 4 coyotes visiting my corn pile . Thought I might try to catch couple

Great info everyone.Wouldn’t spray can paint give off a odor?I am leaning to the dye & wax,My son(15)is very interested in trapping with me.We hunt together and I think getting him out of the house and spending quality time with him doing the whole dye & wax would be great.So any old pots or some cheap ones at goodwill or Walmart is fine,stainless steel or aluminum no difference?

You don't need 2 pots. I put a bar of wax in my die pot. It makes a layer on top and coats the hot died trap as I lift them out of the pot. I was given my 1 burner turkey frier. I also have two burner cooker on a stand I got from bass pro or academy for 135 or so. I mainly use it for heating scalding water when I butcher chickens.

I did mine my first few years on the rocks around my fire pit.

You can wax with the wax on the top of the black water,but you will get some moisture trapped under the wax .Not a big deal if you wax each year.
I wax snares and traps so I want the wax to be hotter than 212c to boil out any water left inside the snares and get into the spaces between the strands (you know all the water is driven out when the wax stops sizzeling in about 30 seconds or so).I leave my snares out on the line(closed and hung on a stub) for several years sometimes since I dont activate all the jackpots every year,some are on a 3 year rotation and they dont rot from the inside when waxed this way.
Traps too will get a thinner harder more complete coating of wax if the wax is hotter than 212 with no water trapped in the crevices or under the wax.
I want my wax hot enough so it is not starting to smoke.
You can do what is easier or what works for your own situation.
Whatever way you do it protects your investment and lubricates your equipment to make it more efficient.Bodygrips especially are much more efficient for certain species when waxed.

Lol