Aix - those traps look great!
Are the rectangle traps first posted rigid? Do the need a skeleton? I am thinking about removing them with a heavy load - couple turtles.
What dimensions do you use for the double door? Optimum size for entrance, drop down, but no exit?
This look best for where I need to use them. Some access with the truck, but most access with ATV and trailer.
What do you use as a brake or bender?
What do you use to connect the pieces - crimp on cage clamps?
Top and bottom bent with wings?
The two sides just rectangles?
Any spreaders in the throat or simply the edge fastened to the side holds it open?
How does it open for turtle removal?
Great design!
The traps made with the steel panel wrapped in webbing look great. If all available by truck I would build a couple but not suitable unfortunately.
Thanks!
Aquamesh has 2 different wire sizes. The mesh is 12.5 gauge wire, and I’m not sure what size the outer strand is, but it’s larger. Maybe 8 gauge? No frame is needed, it holds its shape well, especially when the outer rows are overlapped.
Dimensions are approximately 24”x24” and the length is whatever I need it to be. For a single throat, 36” length is about right. You could make them a little shorter if you wanted to. For 2 throats, 48” length is about right.
Fasteners are stainless steel rings. Usually 1/2” but anything from 3/8” to 3/4” can work.
I use a board to bend. I place a fence board across a row of meshes where I want a corner, then I stand on the board and make a clean bend. Very important to get straight bends. Simple.
Sides are just rectangular pieces.
The top and bottoms are halves. The top includes the top part of the ramp on each side, bottom piece has the bottom ramps. It’s (4) total pieces plus the door.
The door is just an oversized flap that has more meshes than the mesh count of the hole. This is for bait tending and turtle removal.
The ramps are fastened to the trap’s walls to seal the gaps and to hold the ramps in place. I count everything to keep parts symmetrical. The throat has a 1 mesh gap (1.5”) but the ramp will lightly flex to allow even huge turtles to enter.