For all of you who laminate you own traps without using store bought lamination kits, how do you get the correct bend in the steel to fit the trap jaw precisely. I've done quite a few and found pipe that's very close and just worked it around that. Seems to work great but takes a while. Is there an easier way without buying the kits. I don't have a problem buying it but I work at a Steel Fabrication company and I get anything I want here for next to nothing. I'm actually thinkin' of making baseplates on our burn table. Run a program and it's exact every time.

i use 3/16 round, i use a vise-grip and clamp it in the middle and tack, then slide down and clamp one endit should pull down pretty good but if not you may need to add another clamp between the weld and the end, then i weld the end, repeat on the other side

thats how i do it

you could program the laminates too and make them out of flat stock, just program them so the curve is cut right in.

I took a jaw off the trap and traced it on a board cut it out like a template and bent the lams around it.

TrappinK-9's,

Harbor Freight sells a small roller, that you hand crank the stock through, bending a little more with each pass through the machine.

Krusty

You can build a jig that would fit in a vise or hydraulic jack press and form your own laminations with the bends. I think KY had some pics on here from his outfit awhile back. I have just clamped in a vise and hammered them over to what looked right to me and they worked fine.

i use #9 wire it bends on its own when you weld it plus its cheaper

Depends on the trap. Some trap jaws won't clear the dog and frame with 1/4". Best check first.

I use 1/4" rod on all of mine, you can usually adjust the trap to get around the height or grind some off where the dog goes.T.20

Try to find a blacksmith's swage block. You can bend your laminations to fit any trap with one.

Here's a link to one.

http://www.blacksmithsdepot.com/Template...ts/SWAGE_blocks

I use Bob Custers "tool" to bend 3/16" rod for lams.

The frame probably warped when you welded the base plate on. Try whacking it with a large hammer to flatten it out again.

Get a PLANETARY RING ROLLER from "wholesale tool" for under $60.
IT'LL PAY FOR ITSELF IN NO TIME!!!!!!!!
hope this helps
John-the trap mod guy