For the last few days i have been base plating my coon and coyote traps. thanks for the coon plates again wormbobskey.

here is my operation, this is how i do it. It may be right it may be wrong, but this is how i do it.

first look for edges on the plate.




then grind the edges off until smooth



then put a chain over the base plate



then walk to welding area


then take a vice grip and clamp one side of the plate down. make sure that it is centered.



next apply your ground to the trap. make sure it is in a place that is out of the way.




then tac the side without the vice grips on it down







then completely weld down the side with out the vice grips. becarefull around the springs.



then take the vice grip off and tac the other side




do any adjusting then weld it all the way on


then carry it by the chain out to a drying rack.

and hang it up





then walk to the house and look at all the burns on your hand. lol


hope this helps somebody

isnt that a lot of heat to have by them springs? just wondering about them springs losing their strength..

That is what we call a Gorilla Weld (Big, Ugly, and Aggressive) lol But they work.

Good post, it will help alot of people out! It'll be in the archives in no time!

Luke

i have welded them with and without springs and i could see no diffrence.

It is safer to pop the springs off. Defanitely enough weld they are not popping off.

Springs will change temper at anything over 350 degrees F. Never weld with them in place. The cherry red color right next to your springs is well over 800 degrees as it's cooling down. You will be replacing them on coyote traps in a year max.

Great pics and post, wrong technique. If using an arc welder, at least use the chipping hammer to remove the slag. Let me know when you want to replace them with these...

Never stop learning...

I neither have a welder, nor know how to weld, so I have a retired welder do mine for me.The old guy is happy to make a few bucks doing what he's done all his life, and I think he likes to show off too, looks like a roll of coins when he's done. Being a Bridger fan, that is a sweet looking #2 Jason. Your own configuration? Or are they selling them with spring levers now?

how or where do you get springs like that Jason love the looks of that

mb 650...lol

Are those baseplates as good as flat stock baseplates?

Also wouldn't dipping them in oil help keep their strength adter be heated up?

Swivels?

I was also going to mention swivels. I didn't happen to notice any. Two minimum here.

I have welded hundred of traps and only toasted one spring.not sure how it happened as I dont put that kind of heat in them.so i dont disassemble just weld and go.

i put a crunch proof at the end of each one. these are for coon, not coyote

I ran out of swivels, but if you look at the picture of them on the bar you will notice that a few of them have them on them already

up

Good post