Cookie 125 Your welding is fine It may not be perfect to your eyes but many of those looking would know the difference It is for sure good enough to do the job it is intended to do Plus any Skill you learn to do take some time to get the hang it You most likely where not born knowing how to weld So keep working on it and it will
good luck

Love em absolutely love em!

Saw on Youtube where The Hammer was making brand new CUSTOM stake drivers....they look great!

The Hammer's drivers are legit. He can vouch that I am a good person to torture test drivers, and his will last me quite some time before I bend them over. I've not met a driver that I can't mess up yet, it's just a matter of how long it will take, and his give me the most life

Been two busy at work to do much of anything trapping related but I did figure out that the duke number three is a great base line trap to modify into pretty much anything.

Base plated, full jaw lams, and converted to wire lever.

Sweet Work Hammer! They look great! How'd your beaver line go this year? Hope you guys did well.

Some of you got some banged up fingers..
Nice work!

Thanks! Was way too busy at the shop this season to go up northern pa to trap with my buddies. In my area of pa I did well for only having a couple sets out here and there.

My hands are trashed from shop life and yeah trap modifications don’t always go as planned and hands sometimes take a beating not paying attention haha

That’s some crazy skill Hammer!
I just about bought a new welder, then I thought……I don’t know how to weld! My daughters going through tech college to get here ticket. She recommended getting a mig with gas, dual flux core stuff…….then I knew it was way over my head. I’ll stick with my cheap 120 stick for now…..lol

Nice work

Started working on some duke number 2s pressed out some 3/16 thick base plates on my press. Going to be doing a few dozen of em up. Base plate, bubble tips, and shim the pans. I might laminate a few for the heck of it. Then I’ll top em off with some twist link chain and crunch proofs.

Oh man!!! I’m looking forward to it!

Anyone else tinkering around with there traps with some seasons around the corner?

I bought a Lincoln 140 mig welder almost brand new. Neighbor got me started and I have been working on traps all summer. Wish I had went to welding school and really knew what I am doing. I will be putting a gas bottle on the back in the next couple of months. I got a Miller Auto helmet and just went for it.

I took an Alaskan #9 from the 90's, and welded on "J.C. Conner" everything and copied "Jack Whitman's" chain set-up for wolves. Chain lengths are 15 feet long from the trap.
I used JC. Conner Rod Swivels welded to #7 chain to a J.C. Wolf Shock Spring with Rod Swivels on it, then to #7 chain, more swivels finally welded swivel to a J.C. Chestnut ring. I can use a Sleep Ez caribiner to my giant wolf drags. I like long chains like Jack Whitman. I can hook solid or click on a drag, works for me.

I also rigged up many short chains on big traps like "Steel Traps" does. Short meaning about 6 foot with shock spring and a big swivel on the end.
Welded J.C. Connor Rod Swivel and Wolf Shock Springs and a Swiveled Chestnut ring all on #7 chain. Now I can Sleep Ez to a chain stake, rebar stake, permanent stake or another chain extension. Whatever the situation calls for. In the snow and under water in Spring Pools. Running logs, beaver Mafia sets, Blind, trail sets, pee post, snow hole, bank dens, etc.

I welded up:
25 x Alaskan #9.
15 x MB750.
6 x MB650.
7 x Duke #4.
Sorry to all the collectors, but I started welding up 104 x Oneida #14 Jumps. Welded on P-I-T pans, J.C. Conner everything. I have 104 to work with. Most for wolf, coyote, lynx and wolverine. Short and long chained. Then some just for beaver with drowner locks, HAGZ hardware and P-I-T pans. Huge improvements on the #14 Jump. Really nice traps now. (Thanks Dave G./DUCK45).
6 x Bridger #3 for high theft areas.
A couple dozen 1/2 inch rebar stakes.

I have more to projects to weld. I want to get a gas bottle next. I still wish I went to welding school 40 years ago. But I am able to weld up the trapping things I need.