Howdy, I want to make a couple of multicatch cage traps for squirrels. Anyone have a good design for the door and or know where to buy small torsion springs.
Thanks,
Dan

If you only need a couple probably be cheeper to buy them off one of the dealers on this site

Most hardware stores carry a few torsion springs, but I don't know that they would be light enough for that application.

I have not had good results using multicatch squirrel traps unless set in a positive catch situation. For open areas, such as a roof or lawn, I prefer a small single door cage trap. Multicatch traps are very effective, when used with a nosecone, to cover entrance holes into soffits, walls, etc. I have made some similar to the Tomahawk M-80 http://www.livetrap.com/cgi/search.cgi?u..._option=1&0=M80 I have made them in both gray squirrel size and flying squirrel size.






I make the springs out of single strand, stainless steel, fishing leader material. It comes in various diameters and will last "forever".

Ron Fry

Thank you! Thats what I was looking for. I wouldn't have thought of leader material.

McMastercarr.com is a good source for small quantities of spring temper wire in almost any diameter. Making the torsion springs is relatively simple. Basically, you have to wind a length of spring the wire onto an arbor(hardened bolt). You need to make yourself a little spring winding jig. Go the the torsion spring section of the following website for details of what to do. I've made thousands of torsion springs with a home made jig for a type of gopher trap that I designed and produce in my shop.

[url]http://home.earthlink.net/~bazillion/intro.html[/url]

Those are great pictures of the same trap I use, however usually I don't find a need for springs. The door design I perfer, however has 2" of wire turned to lay flat on the floor of the trap though so that any animal trying to get out is standing on the door while trying...

Barkstone, that is a good idea... Ya'll are just too smart...

That is a great idea Barkstone!
Thanks.

I can however see the need for springs if the trap is not going to be horizontal... If it is set at an angle or even vertical, the doors would need springs to close them.

what do you do with the squirrels after yuo catch them?

where you getting the cage wire?

I purchase welded wire from a couple of local lumber yards. It is also carried by most of the farm supply stores around here.

Ron Fry

I made one last weekend. Working on another. Will post pics when I get a chance to take them. Thanks for all the info here. I had a few one way doors, but never made a multi catch trap before, so I'm glad I saw this.

Bad pic but I finally have a digital camera (on my phone)...
BTW- The digital phone camera is a great way to enter an attic, come back and show your client the damage done by whatever was in there...