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Post by tctrppr on Oct 29, 2008 5:16:55 GMT -5
Made wax dirt with the cement mixer a couple days ago instead of buying it or making it by another method. Started about 9:00, finished about 3:00. Made over 400 lbs. Thats the real way to make it. Lots faster, once you get used to it.
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Post by scansy on Oct 29, 2008 5:34:57 GMT -5
Did you pour in melted wax? Or did you heat it all in the mixer?
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Post by riverguy50 on Oct 29, 2008 6:58:29 GMT -5
were did U get the granulated wax?
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Post by tctrppr on Oct 29, 2008 23:29:02 GMT -5
We tried putting the flake wax in with the dirt, and heating the whole mess with a rosebud torch, but the air temp (37 deg.), and the wind ( 15-20 mph) was stealing too much heat. So, we pre-melted the wax, 1-2 lbs. at a time, and preheated the dirt with the rosebud, and we could whip about a 30 lb. batch at a time in 15-20 min. or so.
The dirt was a mix of red clay/topsoil from a construction excavation on the Ohio river( been dried since July and stored in totes), and the flake wax was purchased from our local sporting goods store. I believe he gets it from MTP.
All the totes were 100 lbs minimum, before mixing-some closer to 130 or so. We used 60 lbs. of wax. Probably next year, since we are pre-melting the wax, we'll try and use block wax in bulk, instead of flake wax. Flake wax is $19.99 for 10 lb. bags. Block wax is about half that price.
I think next spring, we're going to buy a new mixer (small one), just to have for wax dirt, de-rusting traps, etc.
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Post by scansy on Oct 30, 2008 7:20:49 GMT -5
I haven't used waxed dirt. What's the big advantages? Are there any disadvantages?
When we get freezing weather, I used peat moss, but it was hard to get a really solid bedding in peat.
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Post by tctrppr on Oct 30, 2008 23:20:32 GMT -5
Disadvantages: Cost to make and time to make. It cost us $120.00 for between 400 and 600 lbs. of dirt. Took most of a day to wax. Another day earlier in the year to gather and sift the dirt.
Advantages: Wax dirt does not absorb moisture, if made correctly. ( but still packs like regular dirt) If you bed in wax dirt, and pack/cover in wax dirt, your traps won't freeze down in freeze/thaw weather. Wax dirt won't "settle" if it gets rained on. Have you ever bedded a trap, and had it rain overnight, and found your trap partially uncovered the next day?( because the fluffy, dug up dirt "settled" as it got washed over with rain) Don't happen with wax dirt. It can snow/freeze/thaw/rain/freeze again, and your trap will not freeze down and still fire. Two years ago, I had a pair of BMI K9 Wolfers set out in January on a trailwhere I had seen bobcat tracks. It snowed 2-3 inches, then got cold and froze, then a warm front came through, and all the snow melted, followed by an all-day soaker rain. Then. it got cold and snowed again. When I snapped the traps off, through an inch of snow, I had dry dust fly up in the air when the trap snapped. After 9 days of the worst conditions, the trap bed looked like it did when I made it.
I don't use it untill late December, on through till the end of the season, when the weather is nasty/wet/freeze/thaw. During the more moderate weather of November/early December, I use regular dirt from the trapbed, or dry dirt from on the line. But, it's a real lifesaver when the weather gets wet, cold and nasty. I usually use 3-4 bags of the commercial stuff, at 19.95 for a 20 lb. bag. Now, I have enough for a couple seasons, and don't have to skimp on it when making sets.
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Post by scansy on Oct 31, 2008 6:07:41 GMT -5
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Post by tctrppr on Nov 1, 2008 7:07:16 GMT -5
Used peat till I tried wax dirt. Dont use peat any more. Regular dirt early season-wax dirt after the weather turns nasty. Over the course of the next few days, I'll try and post you a video of setting with wax dirt, if you like.
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Post by tctrppr on Nov 1, 2008 7:14:57 GMT -5
Trapper Art Simmerman uses dry dirt with propylene glycol and 20% peat moss ( by volume )mixed in a mixer for his trapping dirt mixture. Tried that a few years ago-like wax dirt better. To each his own. I'll try and get you the vids, though, so you can try it both ways, if you want.
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Post by scansy on Nov 1, 2008 15:11:33 GMT -5
Yeah, where I'm at, I get a lot of nights later in the season below freezing, but only to like 25 or so. I did OK last year with PG - spray some on the bottom of the bed, partially cover trap, another spray or two and then final cover with another spray.
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Post by Sunshine on Nov 5, 2008 0:08:14 GMT -5
anyone ever hear of using salt to keep your traps from freezing?
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Post by scansy on Nov 5, 2008 5:42:49 GMT -5
Sunny, I used salt for a while last year - only during the coldest time of the year. Very, very quickly, any bare spot where my dip had come off started to rust. The salt worked great - no freezing at all. But if you use it, keep an eye on your traps. And clean them off really good at the end of the season before putting them away.
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Post by Sunshine on Nov 5, 2008 6:04:27 GMT -5
yep i know or theyll keep rusting whre the salts been on them.
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Post by scansy on Nov 5, 2008 6:08:52 GMT -5
Yeah, I pressure washed mine very thoroughly at the end of last season.
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Post by tctrppr on Nov 5, 2008 16:36:19 GMT -5
Throw them in the creek for 8 hrs. after you pull them. I don't like salt because if you have sets out for many days, and it rains every day, every rain is diluting the salt. On a 9 or 10 day line if you get rain 7 or 8 days(like I've seen before) your salt is diluted down. Wax dirt just lays there, letting the rain roll off of it, at least in my experience. Plus, the corrosion factor I'm not terribly keen on. Plus, depending on the type and amount of salt you use, it may be attractive to deer, rabbits, and rodents. JMHO, I like wax dirt better. It's a pain to make, but it cuts down on remakes due to not settling and/or washing away after a hard rain, plus no trap corrosion to worry about. Once again, JMHO, others may differ.
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Post by Sunshine on Nov 8, 2008 8:02:41 GMT -5
thanks for the info
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Post by samuelhasguns on Nov 16, 2008 18:39:57 GMT -5
I gota try that.
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Post by trapper82 on Nov 22, 2008 15:11:48 GMT -5
I got wax dirt that I am going to try right now.. I always used dry dirt I found along the way. Mostly from uprooted trees. That stuff is DRY!). I got 4 5gal buckets made up. It is going to be in the low teens tonight.. I made mine on the top of a picnic table with solar power!! ;D ;D
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