How to Improve Foothold Traps

Steel traps are made from high quality tempered steel. As with any steel product, they are subject to rusting. A light rust coating on a trap is necessary, as it gives a base for dyeing and makes the trap less obvious. Severe rusting from years of neglect can pit and weaken the steel. Over time the spring temper of longspring traps will weaken, causing the trap to snap slowly and ineffectively. You can restore old traps and keep new traps in good shape with proper care.

Things You'll Need

  • Wire brush
  • Metal pot, 5 to 10 gallon
  • Logwood dye crystals, 1 lb.
  • Trap wax
  • Pliers
  • New springs
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Instructions

    • 1

      Brush rust from old rusted traps with a wire brush prior to dyeing them. Work all flakes of rust and deteriorated metal off the steel. Clean the springs thoroughly, getting all caked dirt and hardened debris off, especially with coil spring traps.

    • 2

      Strip grease off of new traps by boiling them in a pot of water. Allow the traps to take on a light coat of rust prior to dyeing so they will take the dye.

    • 3

      Boil 5 gallons of water with 1 lb. of logwood dye crystals in it. Boil traps for 10 minutes in the dye to give them a black color. The dye also prevents rusting and imparts a natural wood smell.

    • 4

      Add trap wax to the top of the boiling dye water. Pull the dyed traps up through the melted wax so they take on a light coat of wax. Wax will help protect the traps from rusting.

    • 5

      Replace old weakened springs on longspring traps with new springs. Remove the old spring by depressing the spring, popping the jaws out of the base and taking off the old spring. Put on a new spring and reset the jaws into the base.

    • 6

      Adjust the level of the trap pan by bending the dog holding the trigger out or in. The trap pan should be level with the top of the set jaws. If the pan is too high, use pliers to bend the dog toward the jaw; if it is too low, bend the dog out, adjusting until the pan is level.