What is best way to laminate 9s to stop severe foot damage. Flat bar, rod? What size? I was looking at what I believe was 5/16 rod. It seemed very malleable. I figured 3-1” beads should stiffen it up and keep it from snipping off wolf feet. Figured I would ask first. I have also been trying to touch base with JR without luck to maybe get some replacement dogs and/or laminations if he had any. I’ve tried email but maybe someone knows a better way to get ahold of him.

He will be at the Fling in Fairbanks.

If you have his phone number, text him.

I laminated with 3/16 cold roll. Inside and outside, skip welded . Weld 1/2” skip 1” weld 1/2” . Way overkill on the welding but it looks good.

Thanks. Made huge difference?

Laminated or not? I use both. I caught many wolves in both. I seen the same amount of foot damage at times, in both. My thoughts are on the wolf being caught and how it reacts to being trapped. What i can say and seen for myself is. A toothed is the best trap for less damage and swelling.

I’ve recently came out of “retirement” as my son is showing interest in trapping. After catching a few marten his bar went up so we put out a few wolf sets. All three caught in 9s were hanging by a shred of meat. They are nuclear scissors and am remembering why I pulled them out of circulation years ago. I had same result. They have shown some physical damage as well, bent bases, spring guards are gone, dogs bent almost every catch. I don’t recall receiving them like this, but the “apex” of the jaw is only about 1/8” offset now. Bone crushers. I was going to put a small bead down low on the jaws to get everything squared up and finally laminate them after all these years as I do like their size. Just was curious to get some answers from someone that may have already done it. Hoping to get a positive report.

The ones I have are laminated with flat stock. I bought them that way. I have other models of traps laminated with both flat stock and round stock. Some say round stock is better on feet, personally I haven't noticed a difference as long as you make Sure edges on flat stock are rounded over. I find flat stock easier to do and make look good so that is what I use myself.

I would laminate them if it was me, but take a file to them and make sure all the edges are well Rounded first. Older models in particular tended to have sharp jaw edges, and those are the biggest culprit of foot damage. That and trap check intervals.

I haven't found a dog on trap that wolves don't bend the dog up on more often than not. One of the big reasons I prefer dogless design on wolf traps.

Are yours baseplate? A couple of mine were older models and were not, and had the chain attached to the end of the crosspiece. That attachment angle can also cause more foot damage as well as giving them more leverage to bend bases. I've been going to baseplate and center swivel them but haven't done so yet. I had a moose bend one of them up enough I had to take it to anvil in order to get it usable again.

Thanks for the response. Yes, they are old, oldish. I ordered from Dean. The chain is attached to cross piece. As luck would have it I was at a friends today and he was welding some teeth into a couple new 9s. The new ones have many improvements and look great. Biggest difference is the offset looked to be about 3/8 compared to the 1/8 mine are at the top of the jaws. I’m going to have someone put a bead down lower and square them up. Like I was saying I’ve been away for a while, curious to what a new copy goes for these days. I was unable to find a website or Facebook for # 9 trap company. Good to see some old names still around here. I was around 12 or 13 years ago as Sleepycreek 4.5. Got locked out of my account. Time is flying by.

Good to see you back on the forum!

Alaskan #9 Trap Company
JR Pederson
PO BOX 58226
Fairbanks AK 99711
cell# 907-378-7291
pedersonjr@yahoo.com