Setting Fenn Traps Article

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

NR: We brits certainly did know about dying traps, historicaly. Some, in the old days, would boil their traps in Walnut hulls and so forth. I've also read of at least one bloke, on a forum somewhere, who was using one of the 'SpeedDips' ~ I'm sorry, I don't quite remember the details now.

 

Waxing? I've Never personally heard of Anyone waxing a trap in uk. And I might add that my first mentor was a very old man from a long succession of Gamekeeper / Poachers. He certainly knew and had used his Gin Traps but never once intimated to me that he'd come across the notion of waxing one. Perhaps others may know differantly?

 

Anyway, your post has sparked another - related - question in my mind. But, as I feel this Thread may be veering somewhat, I'll just let my Dogs out then I'll post seperatley. I have a question for you, as an American, about british traps

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Woodga; Ye photo's showed, at last, mate! Cracking results!

 

Things that struck me are that ye are (or certainly appear to be) wearing " Touch 'n Tough " or similar nitrile gloves Aren't they good?! I used to wear a very spikey sort of ring under mine. Never once pierced them though. I always considered that about as much of a test as I needed give them.

 

And ye don't mess about burying ye traps either? Does anyone these days? When I use artificial tunnels, I always incorperate 'Hop Up' battens, either side. But I'd never dream of bothering to bury a Fenn for rodent or mustalid. I'd love to hear more opinions on that point.

 

Talking of tunnels; I don't think I'd like to argue that your gate there constitutes a " Tunnel ", in the legal sense. Not in a british court of law. Smacks a bit closely of the Pest Controller and the Heron case ..... :whistle:

 

 

 

Anyway, I set two of my own traps today - a Kness and a similar, italian trap - alongside a clients pair of cheapo continental, wooden things. They reckon they took SIX rats last week. (From their kitchen sink cupboard, for gods sake!) Baited with .......... Wait for it! .......... Lumps of f*cking Cheese!!!

 

If my traps don't beat theirs? I'll beat mine - with a f*cking claw hammer!

[woodga 170]

glenn waters was using speed wax and dying his traps 25 yrs ago on his mink trapping line you could say he knows a thing or two about trapping :whistle:

as for setting traps in a hollow when setting for rats why make work for your self ?

ditchy if you place plank 6 ins wide 18 ins long over the top of the gate rails as i was doing to cover the trap it makes a legal tunnel only took the pics to show the location, most of the sets are aong side walls of buildings and the road ways are concrete so i was unable to seat the traps but as i found i still was getting the rats so i place the traps now where there is activity and never bother as for me waxing traps well they make the trap fire off faster and water proof the trap i normally just spray paint mine or my good mate peg& gun does the job for me :whistle:

[Mitch 0]

I use Dye and Wax on my Canine Traps. I mainly trap the European Red Fox, very clever buggers and I have just started to overcome Contramination issues so the Dye and Wax gives me a nice clean trap to work with.

 

Im getting there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Its starting to get into winter now So i will be out doing alot more trapping.

[woodga 170]

ill start calling you davy crocket before long nice one mitch

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Woodga; Ye've got me thinking now ..... Ye know we can get away with setting Fenn's on - as ye say - hard surfaces, inside, for rats and catch away nicely? Well, with this in mind, were - in your view - does this leave the theory about the tunnel (when used) roof must be low enough as not to allow the target to be thrown up out of the way?

 

Only, following the examples of annecdote, I've long since taken to religiously building my own wooden tunnel's to exacting specifications. Always making sure there's 'just the right' clearance above. Now I've suddenly stopped dead in my own tracks and am wondering what in hell I've been thinking of!

 

I've caught rats perfectly nicely in buried Fenn's with no tunnel above. I've equelly caught them in naked, just plonked down Fenns, with no tunnel. Yet, through blindly following the hype, I've seemingly allowed myself to be brainwashed into measuring out my own tunnels like an engineer! And I'd never even spotted this glaring anomolly! Weird or what, eh? What do you make of all that?

 

Oh, and for the record; I've also caught perfectly satisfactorally in Juby Traps set inside drains which, while surpassing any legal requirement for a tunnel, were far too high for the 'cieling' to make any differance what so ever. I'm starting to wonder if it isn't time to go back and study that drawing board all over again!

 

 

Regards Mr Waters waxing his traps; Would he not have picked up that idea from his time in US? I've handled a few old Gin Traps in my time and have never once found any hint of wax on one. Paint, yes. Though I usually suspect that's come from a pub landlord rather than an old Gamekeeper. Must say though, a good layer of seventy year old black paint can't half preserve a trap nicely! Get the Nitromors out and it can be amazing what ye find underneath it all

 

Good, thought provoking Thread this is turning into!

[Phil Lloyd 10,739]

Started using a trap dye to protect my Mole traps several years ago.

The British made 'pressed steel' traps can suffer badly when used in acidic soils.

I have found this especialy so when working in coastal areas ,..I suppose its the salt ?

Anyway,.the 'Speed Dip' vastly increased the lifespan of my traps..

My main problem was in 'importing' cans of the stuff,..there was all sorts of problems with the Customs and Excise folk,..they frequently asked,." Is Speed Dip' flammable "?...Er,..I think so..

Edited March 19, 2007 by CHALKWARREN

[NightRunner 0]

Speed dip is not flamable until you add the gas, But if you want a nice coat try using Coleman lantern fuel. Me I like a hot pot of wax, just when is starts to smoke, drop trap in and let it get hot. You'll be amazed at the speed and how well it protects the trap.

 

As for the old time traps. A light coat of rust and using them always helps. After this week i will post a few pics of preped traps.