Dip and Dye?

[Hank]

Is it necessary to dip or dye your cage traps like conventional trappers do?  If it is how and what should I use? Thank you in advance for helping out a newbie.

Hank

[Humptulips]

So no it is not absolutely necessary. The traps will work without any treatment at least for the first year.
And no it shouldn't make any difference in your catch percentage.
What it will do is make your traps last especially if you are near the coast or using them in brackish water.
I recommend it as your traps will deteriorate quick without any sort of treatment.

What to use?
I have tried three different methods. Rattle can which is the cheapest and the poorest IMO. The paint does not last that good and it is hard to get every nook and cranny. If you do choose this method buy some good paint.

Spray gun, I used this with some expensive marine epoxy and it is better but still hard to get a complete paint job. the marine epoxy= $$$$ but it is good stuff but you waste a lot. If you use something like rustoleum it's not much better then rattle cans.

Dip, I used some speed dip and this is the best IMO. Problem is it takes a lot of dip even if you turn the trap in a shallow vat. You should let it drip over the dipping vat for several hours to conserve dip so it is slow. I used a thin dip and dipped three times in hot weather. Looks real nice but not a last minute operation. You can save left over dip in a gas can 'til next year.

I don't think there is a good easy way. You either do a good job or an easy job IMO. Pick your poison.

[Hank]

Thank you. I don't plan on trapping until November, so I think I will try the.dip.

[Magnum_Willys]

Get large pot ( turkey fryer setup works but aluminum may tarnish ) and boil couple gallons of water with gallon or so of old alder leaves.  The water will turn black.  Soak your traps in it on simmer until rust is gone and they are black ( 212 degrees wont effect the traps ) .  They will come out a rust-free - scent free.  Now get some canning wax and melt in a bucket of water so you have a 1/8 inch layer of wax on top.  Dip trap.  You have the perfect trap ready to go.  And yes coyotes will smell a rusty trap, beavers, racoons it doesn't matter.  An old-timer who trapped 100-150 beaver a year showed me this method.  Handle traps with rubber gloves once treated.

[Humptulips]

I think the Op was asking about treating cage traps. Take a big pot to make that method work but maybe one trap at a time.

[Magnum_Willys]

I think the Op was asking about treating cage traps. Take a big pot to make that method work but maybe one trap at a time.

Oops !

[Trapper John]

Okay my two cents 

I have been using cage traps because of my Commercial ADC Business for 30+ years.  I have used only two methods.  First go and have a sheet metal tray made.  Make it 1" longer and wider than your largest trap that you want colored.  Make the tray say 1-1/2" high.

Now use either paint or speed dip your choice: (put on disposal latex gloves)

"PAINT" ~ If you use paint buy"Red Devil" Polyurethane Oil ENAMEL paint and get a couple of quarts of it.
Pour the paint into the tray and lay your trap into the tray and let it run over all of the metal bars, etc.  Flip it around until you have the whole tray covered in paint.

"SPEED DIP"
Same process except get away from the gasoline.  I use "Mineral Oil."  The reason is gas makes the speed dip sticky and the mineral oil does not, plus it has "no smell" period.  Follow direction on the speed dip can for how much gas to use and use mineral oil instead.  Also you can store the left over in a bucket.

I use this method on all of my trap including my foot-hold and bodygrips.
Let us know how or which one you tried and like.
John

John Consolini CWCP
I might as well use it, I earned it:  CWCP ~ Certified Wildlife Control Professional

[ouchfoss]

Thanks John! That really helps.  I haven't been able to find any info on dipping for cages.
Which dip seems to work better for drown-set cages?

[Trapper John]

Which dip seems to work better for drown-set cages?

  I don't think there is one better than the other.  Just remember that there's not one that last forever, you do have to re-do them from time to time, but I find this way works the best for dying or coloring cage traps.
John 

[ouchfoss]

Well, I figured I'd ask anyhow. My dry set cages I built 2 years ago are still in really good shape with just some surface rust on the 1/4" bracing even though I never painted them at all. My drown sets however are not in anywhere near as good a shape. The mesh on the first one I built two seasons ago completely fell apart last year and now I have to completely pull it apart and re-mesh it. That means that all the ones I built last year arent too far away from meeting the same fate.

[Humptulips]

Okay my two cents 

I have been using cage traps because of my Commercial ADC Business for 30+ years.  I have used only two methods.  First go and have a sheet metal tray made.  Make it 1" longer and wider than your largest trap that you want colored.  Make the tray say 1-1/2" high.

Now use either paint or speed dip your choice: (put on disposal latex gloves)

"PAINT" ~ If you use paint buy"Red Devil" Polyurethane Oil ENAMEL paint and get a couple of quarts of it.
Pour the paint into the tray and lay your trap into the tray and let it run over all of the metal bars, etc.  Flip it around until you have the whole tray covered in paint.

"SPEED DIP"
Same process except get away from the gasoline.  I use "Mineral Oil."  The reason is gas makes the speed dip sticky and the mineral oil does not, plus it has "no smell" period.  Follow direction on the speed dip can for how much gas to use and use mineral oil instead.  Also you can store the left over in a bucket.

I use this method on all of my trap including my foot-hold and bodygrips.
Let us know how or which one you tried and like.
John

John Consolini CWCP
I might as well use it, I earned it:  CWCP ~ Certified Wildlife Control Professional

Sure you don't mean mineral spirits? That's what I use. Never heard of using mineral oil.

[Trapper John]

 :bash:Yep, your right Bruce...................spirits 
John