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Cable stake longevity #7793877
02/08/23 01:12 PM
02/08/23 01:12 PM
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 256
Southcentral Nebraska
tate67 Offline OP
trapper
tate67  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 256
Southcentral Nebraska
How long will a 3/32 cable stake for coons last in the ground before it becomes unusable? I'm talking about leaving them year round. 1, 2, 3 years? Most of my coon locations are set in the same spots every year and was looking to get away from rebar. I'm sure there are lots of variables but I am just looking for other people's experiences.

Re: Cable stake longevity [Re: tate67] #7793881
02/08/23 01:27 PM
02/08/23 01:27 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,424
Georgia
warrior Offline
trapper
warrior  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,424
Georgia
I wouldn't trust one more than a year in my soils. This Georgia clay is acidic and will eventually eat the cable.

In wet soils or in or around water it's worse.

Thats for galvanized, no idea on stainless.


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Re: Cable stake longevity [Re: tate67] #7793904
02/08/23 02:21 PM
02/08/23 02:21 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Law Dog Online content
trapper
Law Dog  Online Content
trapper

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Soil make up would have a impact depending on the area.


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: Cable stake longevity [Re: tate67] #7793908
02/08/23 02:28 PM
02/08/23 02:28 PM
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 10,723
SW Georgia
W
Wanna Be Offline
trapper
Wanna Be  Offline
trapper
W

Joined: May 2018
Posts: 10,723
SW Georgia
Pull one and look it over. Twist the loop and see if any strands crack or break. I went to chain for a that very reason.

Re: Cable stake longevity [Re: tate67] #7793983
02/08/23 05:19 PM
02/08/23 05:19 PM
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,684
Henry Co, IL
3
3togo Offline
trapper
3togo  Offline
trapper
3

Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,684
Henry Co, IL
I wax all of mine, just like traps. But I'm sure they could also be dip painted or full metal jacket type coated to get more life out of them.

Re: Cable stake longevity [Re: tate67] #7793997
02/08/23 05:41 PM
02/08/23 05:41 PM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 510
Utah
foxhunter52 Offline
trapper
foxhunter52  Offline
trapper

Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 510
Utah
I would suggest hooking your trap, standing up and giving it two or three good hard tugs, I'm mean hard. If you cant break it chances are slim a coon will be able to. 3/16 cable is the key. It will last twice as long as 1/8" I've use cable stakes for 4 or 5 years before replacing them on coyote. I use the yank test every time and also have shock springs in my chains. You'll never regret going away from rebar.

Re: Cable stake longevity [Re: warrior] #7794053
02/08/23 07:48 PM
02/08/23 07:48 PM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 6,004
alabama
steeltraps Offline
trapper
steeltraps  Offline
trapper

Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 6,004
alabama
Originally Posted by warrior
I wouldn't trust one more than a year in my soils. This Georgia clay is acidic and will eventually eat the cable.

In wet soils or in or around water it's worse.

Thats for galvanized, no idea on stainless.

Thats it ^^^^^ for most of the Southern states. 6 to 9 months on coon. Less on big coyote. Acidic soil and water down south KILLS cable. And Im talking good = Korean cable. Caught a coyote in February. Was returning after Turkey season May = Reused cable I left. Rolled up at 8 am on big male coyote. Shot it. Looked at cable. Got luck. Was on 30 inch chain from cable. I like long chains. Saved me that day. I thought to my self ==== cable looks awful. Rusty frayed. Can I pull it. Strait up a few timea and it still holded ??? 1 pull. Loop snapped. NEVER again. Cut and run !!

Re: Cable stake longevity [Re: steeltraps] #7794055
02/08/23 07:51 PM
02/08/23 07:51 PM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 6,004
alabama
steeltraps Offline
trapper
steeltraps  Offline
trapper

Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 6,004
alabama
Foxhunter52 is right. Spent many year with = 2 or 3 full 5 gallon buckets of rebar in back of truck. DONT miss the old days at all LOL!!!

Re: Cable stake longevity [Re: tate67] #7794058
02/08/23 07:55 PM
02/08/23 07:55 PM
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 839
Colorado
Raptortrapper Offline
trapper
Raptortrapper  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 839
Colorado
I've got some 18" long cable stakes made out of 5/64" stainless steel with wolf fangs on the end that are now 5 years old, and still going strong. Didn't wax them or anything. Spent a little extra money on stainless cable, but waited till I could find the best deal possible, then jumped on it. I've only been trapping 5 years, but those original stakes are still in use this year. I do exactly as mentioned above though- hook into one, and try with everything I've got to get it to break. If it holds, I trust it. So far, none have broken. I'm 6'2" and 230#, so if it holds me, I'm pretty confident it will hold my coyotes.


Why do I carry 10mm? Because shooting twice is just silly.
Re: Cable stake longevity [Re: tate67] #7794292
02/09/23 07:21 AM
02/09/23 07:21 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,253
Port Republic South Jersey
N
Newt Offline
trapper
Newt  Offline
trapper
N

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,253
Port Republic South Jersey
Being close the brackish or salt water . I build all me snares and other cables out of stainless steel.
While testing the 6" Belisle foot snare in east Texas. I had galvanized cable rust .from 1 year to the next.
I build everything out of stainless steel cable. Even if I'm snaring/trapping inland.
When using Stainless Steel cable Allways use Copper Ferrules and Stops


South Jersey Trapping and Snaring School
January 19-20-21 2024
NEWT -----------------OVER----------------









www.snareone.com
Re: Cable stake longevity [Re: tate67] #7794297
02/09/23 07:31 AM
02/09/23 07:31 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 20,958
St. Louis Co, Mo
B
BigBob Offline
trapper
BigBob  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 20,958
St. Louis Co, Mo
I left some 3/16 galv cable in the ground just to see how long they'd last. 7 yrs before failure. Boiled with baking soda to remove oil. SS not allowed in Mo.


Every kid needs a Dog and a Curmudgeon.

Remember Bowe Bergdahl, the traitor.

Beware! Jill Pudlewski, Ron Oates and Keven Begesse are liars and thiefs!
Re: Cable stake longevity [Re: tate67] #7794387
02/09/23 09:44 AM
02/09/23 09:44 AM
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,355
SD
Boone Liane Offline
trapper
Boone Liane  Offline
trapper

Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,355
SD
Months to years.

Alkali soil here will destroy an aluminum double ferrule in just a few months.

Sandier ridge tops I’ve used anchors that have been in the ground three years without issue.

Re: Cable stake longevity [Re: tate67] #7794522
02/09/23 01:38 PM
02/09/23 01:38 PM
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,684
Henry Co, IL
3
3togo Offline
trapper
3togo  Offline
trapper
3

Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,684
Henry Co, IL
For states that allow stainless cable, the hot setup would be to use copper ferrules if you want to leave them in the ground. Boone is correct, aluminum doesn't hold up well left in most soils.

Re: Cable stake longevity [Re: tate67] #7794525
02/09/23 01:44 PM
02/09/23 01:44 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,424
Georgia
warrior Offline
trapper
warrior  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,424
Georgia
Stands to reason. I know aluminum doesn't play well with lye. Something keep in mind if you use lye to clean up traps and gear.


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