I just picked up a pile of used victor 1.5's....over the weekend i dipped em (parker duck boat paint and mineral Spirits. 50/50 mixture). I wanted a OD green color... anyhow after prob 2 dozen I wasn't happy with the coating I was getting. I did do several new traps i had (witch were decreased) and some others i had and they came out good. After looking at the Victor's I think they had a thin coat of wax on em. Prob a few seasons old. I couldn't even tell they were waxed till I painted em. Now what is the best was to get the paint amd waz off so I can re dip. Was hoping to boil in lye..... also was going to try fmj on them this year. Anybody ever use full metal jacket on water line traps???? Thansk

If you know someone with a cement mixer, either borrow it or have him do it for you. Put a dozen traps at a time into the drum. Shovel in about 2-gallons of 3/4-inch clean gravel. Let it revolve for 5-10 minutes. The gravel should have removed most, if not all of any coating on them.

If they are functional the way they are just use them.

Amen Beav, color and coating means little on water traps. You are protecting them from Ma Natures elements and they are probably good for 2 years of normal use. ...................the mike

I use FMJ and I’m ok with it. Not on my small stuff, but my wolf footholds get the wax block rub down on the contact points after the FMJ treatment. If done properly, waxing is awesome! It’s tough, traps are lightning fast and you can’t tell it’s there. I’m going to start die and waxing when I’m retired and got more time…lol

keep em as they are catch a few coon with each and youll be good to go lol

This^^^^^ just make sure they are turned the way you want them
A properly waxed trap doesn't look like it has wax on it
At least that's what mine looks like after waxing

The trapps even rusted up pretty decent. That's why I didn't think they had wax in em. But I was worng. I can scrape the paint off with my thumb nail..

As was said use em, but it you want to take the wax off, boil em. Let the water cool and pick the cold wax off the top.

i agree run with what you have and a few coon will definetly polish them up but if it is really bothering you i have used a strong lye bath to remove fmj but be sure to rinse very well i have used baking soda afterward to neutrilize
the lye good luck