Matt 160 Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 After months of umming and ahhing about it, I decided to fork out for some genuine Talpex traps for those annoying trap blockers we all have from time to time Anyway, following a recommendation from Mr Wasp, in the early hours of Friday morning I ordered 10 from Ratbait, and within hours I had a text message confirmation that my order had been dispatched and would be delivered on Monday. At 10am today, APC knocked the door with my box of traps. Outstanding service! Anyway, it's been a few years since I've handled these traps, and I have to say that they stink of quality. They are well built and strong and should see service for a good few years. Previously, I ordered Talpex via the normal pest control suppliers, but as I'm no longer a pest controller, and they don't even bother sending me catalogues these days I needed a new supplier. I'm not sure what prices Killgerm and the rest are selling these for now, but I paid £85 for ten including delivery For those of you thinking about buying new traps this season I'd strongly advise you not to penny pinch to much; you get what you pay for in life and I want traps that are going to take lots of abuse over a long period of time. Anyway, as it's sleeting and hailing sideways at the moment, I thought I'd hop on here and share that with you all Link to Ratbait Quote Link to post
mazperks 18 Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 (edited) I can't believe you get trap blockers Matt, apparently it's all about how you set and fine tune your traps. You'll find some good advice on this forum --- (snigger) Seriously though, as I said in my prev post I've been having problems in one area with blocking. The Talpex trap jaws look to be a bit wider when open compared to scissor jaws, does this mean they are set back further into the tunnell wall and less likely to be felt by the mole. Edited February 23, 2015 by mazperks Quote Link to post
Mr Wasp 187 Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 I think with all traps it pays to buy the best, ive pissed about with the cheap knock offs, once bitten twice shy. Having handled the originals and comparing them to others, there is no comparison. 1 Quote Link to post
Matt 160 Posted February 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 I can't believe you get trap blockers Matt, apparently it's all about how you set and fine tune your traps. You'll find some good advice on this forum --- (snigger) Seriously though, as I said in my prev post I've been having problems in one area with blocking. The Talpex trap jaws look to be a bit wider when open compared to scissor jaws, does this mean they are set back further into the tunnell wall and less likely to be felt by the mole. Mate, we all get blockers from time to time usually I pick the little blighter up in a different trap, but it's nice to have an alternative Yes, the jaws on these traps are quite widely spaced, so in theory, they'll be hidden within the walls of the tunnel. Talpex work in a different way to normal scissor type traps; the mole isn't pushing forward to trigger the trap, but upwards. That's why the lend themselves to backfilling so well The spring power on these traps is simply awesome, plenty strong enough to power through the backfilled soil and catch the intended victim As Mr Wasp says, it pays to invest in the best you can find, especially when you are trying to make a living at this ere ole mole game Quote Link to post
J Darcy 5,871 Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 I started off with the Talpa's, but I had a frustrating year of not catching in them despite the trap being triggered. I was told by a certain person on here to set them so fine that 'a goldfinches fart' would trip them. I bet they had some chuckles thinking about me wondering why i couldn't catch. It took a while, but I sussed the Talpa, but I wasn't keen on them. Enter the Talpex. Suddenly I was catching lots more, and any blocked duffus types were soon swapped for the Talpex. I now have 50 of them, most are in the ground, or will be by the end of today. I still use duffus types as my mainstay, but for gardens I wouldn't want to be without the Talpex. ratbait is a fantastic company, well worth dealing with.... 2 Quote Link to post
Mr Wasp 187 Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 I started off with the Talpa's, but I had a frustrating year of not catching in them despite the trap being triggered. I was told by a certain person on here to set them so fine that 'a goldfinches fart' would trip them. I bet they had some chuckles thinking about me wondering why i couldn't catch. It took a while, but I sussed the Talpa, but I wasn't keen on them. I believe that the issue with the talpa firing and not catching has nothing to do with spring strength. Alas, our strict non educational policy does not allow me to elaborate 2 Quote Link to post
J Darcy 5,871 Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 I started off with the Talpa's, but I had a frustrating year of not catching in them despite the trap being triggered. I was told by a certain person on here to set them so fine that 'a goldfinches fart' would trip them. I bet they had some chuckles thinking about me wondering why i couldn't catch. It took a while, but I sussed the Talpa, but I wasn't keen on them. I believe that the issue with the talpa firing and not catching has nothing to do with spring strength. Alas, our strict non educational policy does not allow me to elaborate I dis-agree..... Quote Link to post
Phil Lloyd 10,736 Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 (edited) I started off with the Talpa's, but I had a frustrating year of not catching in them despite the trap being triggered. I was told by a certain person on here to set them so fine that 'a goldfinches fart' would trip them. I bet they had some chuckles thinking about me wondering why i couldn't catch. It took a while, but I sussed the Talpa, but I wasn't keen on them. Enter the Talpex. Suddenly I was catching lots more, and any blocked duffus types were soon swapped for the Talpex. I now have 50 of them, most are in the ground, or will be by the end of today. I still use duffus types as my mainstay, but for gardens I wouldn't want to be without the Talpex. ratbait is a fantastic company, well worth dealing with.... Cannot see why you had problems.... I gave you that advice, because the style of trap was new to you.. I wanted to impress upon you, the need to set the pin so that it would not fall back into the wee hole on the trigger plate.. I only meant to help you,.nothing more than that,...and I have certainly never laughed at you.. I don't find anything about you funny.... Edited February 25, 2015 by Phil Lloyd 1 Quote Link to post
Mr Wasp 187 Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 Anyway! You guys should get yourself some of this Then the moles wont be able to see your traps Nor will any two legged theives. Magnumtrap is the goto place for this stuff 1 Quote Link to post
shropshire mole 190 Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 As I read these threads, have just thought that I put my cheque in the post this morning to Magnum Traps for 20 of their Talpa traps, Need to conquer my poor catch results, so every job can have a couple of talpas Quote Link to post
mazperks 18 Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 Darcy you say you started to get better results with the Talpex over the Talpa. Looking at them both, other than the top handles on the talpa, they look pretty much the same in operation. What do you reckon the advantage is with Talpex?. Quote Link to post
mole trapper 1,646 Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 Well I'd like to have been out using any kind of trap today, but no, my sodding van decided it wanted to have a day off again! So that's bloody it, I'm off to Bolton of all places to pick up my new van tomorrow. But that's fine, I'll only be another three days behind than I already was. Grrrrrrr Might get meself some of them talpex when I can afford it again "about 2020" Quote Link to post
Butler 396 Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 I purchased a batch of talpex copies last week just to give them a go really....... They have earned more than there keep already and I've noticed no diffrence at all with their catch rate compared to that of the real thing.... But at £3 a trap they are easier on the pocket. Quote Link to post
Nicepix 5,650 Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 One of my local garden shops does genuine Talpex at €9.99 and with the current exchange rate that works out at £7.35 so quite a bargain at the moment. I've got just over twenty but I'll stock up on another ten before the exchange rate drops again. Most of my trapping is either in claggy clay or stony ground and so I can't use them as much as I do the Flatpacks Quote Link to post
shropshire mole 190 Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 Magnum Traps sell their own "Talpa" traps at £5:88 inc vat with a £5 carrage charge per order, min of 10 traps. Want 40 traps then its £4:90 each and no postage Quote Link to post
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.