year end prep

[greenhead_killer]

hey guys, now that the weather is getting nicer and season is over, i am in the process of summerizing(dont know if thats even a word)all my traps. i pressure washed them this morning and while waiting for them to dry had a few questions for you experienced guys. what are you guys spraying on the traps at years end to prolong the life of them? a silicone spray of some sort? or are you just painting them with a good ol rattle can of primer? what other options are you guys using? then storage, i dont have an inside facility large enough to house my traps. will they be ok left out in the elements ? or does that kill the life of the traps? i could probably make some sort of bracket in my garage to keep them inside but they take up a little space. any suggestions and or experience is more than welcome to a newb like me. thanks in advance for any and all responses.

                                  -jed

[Trapper John]

I spray paint all of my traps at least once every couple of years.
Go  grab yourself some Rist-Oleum spray paint either black or brown if your a water trapper.
If you trap on land and around a lot of greenery spray paint them dull green, or brown (landscape dirt color)

Once you have them painted, sure leave them outside they'll do good, just get them off of the ground.
Put a couple of 2x4's on the ground and stack them up on them.
JC   

[greenhead_killer]

thanks for the reply john! ill get them painted up on saturday and stored away for the next few months. i cant wait for next season

[Humptulips]

I'll add something. Ever have a rusty trap. Of course we all have and with cage traps that can be a killer. The paint won't stick well and it just keeps rusting anyway.
I use some stuff called OSPHO by SKYCO. Ace Hardware has it and it is a rust inhibitor.
Basically it is Phosphoric acid and it turns iron oxide into iron phosphate which is inert and hard. Takes about a day to dry and than paint over it.
I would probably steer away from using it on galvanized traps as it eats the galvanizing if left on a long time.

[Norman89]

Saftey apparel required for ospho , can leave chemical burns if you get it on your hands as I found out restoring my boat trailer last year  . But a great product I've been using for years can pick it up at Ace hardware by the quart get a spray bottle to apply it with

[Humptulips]

Yep, I got a good dose of the stuff on my hands and forearms a couple years ago when prepping a bunch of iron for painting.
Now they look like they are 64 years old.

[greenhead_killer]

Great info guys! Thanks for taking the time to pass it on.