Is there a trick or tool for setting the victor wood base rat size snap trap.....with either small metal treadle....or yellow plastic. Dealing with chipmonks that....due to warm temperatures have not gone into dens for winter yet....and are getting into engine compartment. What I'm asking how to set trap....that I fastened to a 1x8.....and not get fingers banged up. I tie an almond on for bait.....they're easy to trap......but do damage to my fingers in the process....have tried plastic push and set traps......but feel they're not strong enough for fast dispatch

On the plastic pans, there is a difference between which side of the trigger notch you put the trigger in. One side is firm, one is sensitive. I believe they are marked F and S. And the plastic pans wear out after time.

I use pieces of corrugated plastic to turn the metal triggers into pans.

I know the problem and hate snapped fingers too!
For the metal pans: I take a pair of needle nose pliers and slightly bend either or both the wire trigger or bend the dog over just a touch so it is a little tighter on the release.

The easiest trick I know is… don’t put your fingers in a spot where they’re going to get struck.

Practice on mouse traps until comfortable. You’ll be able to tune them to a hair trigger once you figure it out.

If anyone is interested in rodent trapping, there's a guy on YouTube called........mouse trap monday ..........he tests every conceivable known .....live catch and lethal.........rodent trap made......don't know for sure, but I think he's in pacific northwest USA

I only use the big yellow pan. On any new one I adjust the dog as they are often short by just a touch. If you look close you'll see an ever so slight upward bend over the length leftover from the forming process.

Go to set it but with it under tension with thumb on top of the dog and tip resting on the pan staple give it a gentle push to straighten the curve. This should lengthen it just enough to set it and have the pan sitting level.

Other than thumb on top when setting your fingers should always be clear and you handle the trap by it's corners.

It becomes second nature after awhile.