Am I doing this Steel screen right ?

So got my hands on some actual steel screen ,gotta say it's much nice then aluminum. Got a 3'x7' roll from these guys shippings crazy fast
https://www.mcmaster.com/insect-wire-screens/



Anyway reading through old posts I think I got this set up right. Pans below jaws screen has been shaped to the pan to remove the bubble.these look right ?


These are duke fours I'm about to be setting so guess we'll see but figured I'd ask

I like the screen level with the trap. 2nd pic shows a clear depression around the jaws for coverings to settle into, especially when covering gets wet. As long as the inside jaw area is covered to hold the grass (in grassy areas) or crushed leaves (in wooded areas) , or whatever covering you use. I try forfor a level, but not heavy trap covering that is natural looking. Good luck and have fun.

Go have fun wolfy!
Jim

I use fine hardware cloth, it’s stiffer, and I cut it to fit inside the jaws, no need to tuck it under.

There is a post somewhere on making a plywood pattern for these. Looks like the a absolute best way to do it!

I think it's in the archives I believe.
I've made the forms and put a hinge on them.
It also adds a little pan tension when formed this way.
I went with a little heaver s/s screen, it added3 pounds pan tension to my yote traps.

how do you guys cut them? i can never get them "clean" i use side cutter but maybe somethign better out there.

I would use tin snips

https://trapperman.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/6499683/all/screen-pan-covers-another-way
Here you go Wolfdog!

Scissors. Strong sharp ones.
Or a paper cutter.

I always make mine from used Nylon screen, so that it's very limp. I think stiff wire screen might interfere with the trap closing and allow a pull out.

Thank you that's on the list

Sooo more like this then ?

Paper cutter

I did much better with them formed to pan and under jaws, than the one that is bubbled in last pic. Try em both and see.

I like to keep the screen flat across the the pan to the jaws and then formed down. Tucked under the jaws or not, my objective is a flat screen across, jaw to jaw. .........without the screen interfering with the jaws. No pockets or low spots around the jaws for coverings to settle into that may change the appearance of my set.

"I always make mine from used Nylon screen, so that it's very limp. I think stiff wire screen might interfere with the trap closing and allow a pull out."


Big Bob, The animals foot is on the pan and on the screen when the trap fires. Foot placement holds down the screen in the middle(trap pan) to keep it out of the jaws. IMO

In a perfect world!

Cut the roll with a chop saw. Then I have a holder that I put the small roll on and use a paper cutter. Works great for me.

To cut a few use straight cut (yellow handle) tin snips or heavy duty scissors.
To cut a bunch, I use Milwaukee M18 straight cut shears. This tool cuts fast so keep track of all fingers and other appendages.

Ttt

I cut a screen and tuck the corners so to speak inside the jaws. Once I get one the way I like it, I straighten everything back out and cut all the exact same and bend all back to fit. I’ll store them in a ziplock bag and use when needed.
It’s extremely rare to get to use the same screen after a catch. Bobcats especially love to roll that steel up in a ball, lol. Coyotes seem to chew on it pretty good. And fox will shred it.

Like to hold mine flat with a rubber band lever to lever, learned that trick lurking on this forum

My way may not be the best but it works for me, especially with the Zagger method. Ultra stiff 1/8” hardware mesh with a pocket of mesh stapled to the back of that slips over and under the pan and holds it securely in place. Everything is inside the jaws. It’s so stiff that it’s easily reusable and doesn’t interfere with the jaws closing. Everything lays perfectly flat.




The white stuff is salt before I give it a light converging of grass, leaves or dirt.



As you can see, no interference with the jaws closing. I’ve had no issues with it.

Oh yeah, the finished pipe dream set. The leaves are chopped up and the covering of the screen is much lighter that it appears.


11 days later..

Pure genius! I think that!

Are you using just a regular stapler like you would for paper?

A good one will work, not the little red ones.

[quote=Wanna Be]Are you using just a regular stapler like you would for paper?[/quote

I ended up using 3/8” or 1/4” T150 staple from a staple gun. I laid the screen on some building insulation foam, shot the staple in then just bent the points over. Much faster than it sounds and the staples are heavy duty. Don’t use arrow staples as their junk. Stanley worked great.

I use a heavy pair of scissors but I get my screen from No BS lures can’t seem to find anything I’m happy with otherwise

https://www.amazon.com/IRWIN-Tools-...hy=9015873&hvtargid=pla-450525185271

These are what I use for screen and hardware cloth

Archeryguy, I make & use a similar screen cover. I call it a 'slip on screen cover'. These have worked great for me the past several years.
I use O'G's or Kendal's screen.
For the pocket, I use window screen because it's flexible and easier for me to slip pan into.

Make templet for pan cover & pocket-


I use paper cutter then trim with scissors-

Making em with that pan pocket is a GREAT IDEA!!

Great minds think alike. Lol
I found if I outline the pattern with red marker I’m less apt to cut into it with my snips.

Thank you.

I got the idea when a friend sent me camo'd pan covers aka Bob Jameson style pan covers.

As you can see below, I incorporated Bob Jameson slip-on pan cover idea into slip-on screen pan cover.

p

Hmmmmmmm I kinda like this slip on idea. Ive messed with the forming to pan and tucking under jaws, etc and gave it up. Always fighting with it. But I dont use much screen so it was never a big problem and in cases when I really wanted screen I just used a Jake since its set up for screen to begin with. But I can see this as option on other traps that I might give try

Why is the steel so much better?

I like steel pan covers because it expands the kill area. It also allows moisture to come up and down through the trap instead of trapping water under or on top of the trap. And, of course, it keeps dirt from getting under the pan. It is all I use anymore.

Dirt can still get down in there. Or is yours just for something to step on? The only reason I ever use screen is when I’m going to have forecasted weeks of rain and I’ll bed even with the deck and use grass clippings as cover instead of burying and having washouts.