Okay I understand why live market guys want laminated jaws to lessen damage, but I want to hear from fur trappers,use?/don't use?, pro's and cons, why you feel they are nessasary or not?

I don't use jaw laminations because I feel it stops the trap from getting as solid a bite on the critter as it could. Being that the springs on the trap are the same, a trap will have half the pounds per square inch holding power as one with a jaw that is half as thick.
An extreme example of what i'm talking about would be take a peice of 1"x12" board and lay the thing flat on your hand and put 50 pounds on it, then stand it on edge and apply the weight.

it is really gonna boil down to what you like. i do like laminations and use them on most if not all of my K-9 and cat traps. some of these traps are offsets and some are not. i do think if a person laminates traps there is a strong possibility you will end up four coiling them. that little bit of weight on the end of the jaw slows them down to where it was noticeable to me.

not necessary, i am just getting a touch softer in my years. i think they are a bit easier on the animal.

just my .02 worth.

I laminate all my traps so it gives them more jaw spread basicly and is easier on the animals on a 3 day check.

this is an interesting question as some claims it increases holding ability, but i dont see how. (other than some coons maybe.)

and adding lams, slows down trap speed and hinders trap coming through covering.

Not when you 4 coil them. I do belive that it increases holding ability as you have a wider surface.

He said the same spring laminated vs. not.

See his 1x12 comment. No way the wider surface helps hold the foot.

Another note: Center swiveling the traps positions the foot in the top center of the trap as well, which is where it is easiest to pull out.

Its all for the comfort of the animal, and strenghtening the trap so it will hold up to what the critters throw at it. Laminations and center swiveling do nothing to help the traps holding power. IMO!

~ADC~

Mine have been laminated for 15 years or more. I wouldn't want to use one with out it. I prefer 1/4" round rod welded to jaw for the full length of the offset jaw area.T.20

Never seems to be a problem for me. Been using strictly laminated traps since around 93. For coyotes I've now gone to 4 coiling them as well. Lams help that occasional toe catch. And there great if your in an area alot of stray animals or just a dog roaming around. I also think they help hold IMO.They also eliminate jaw distortion and flexing while a critter is caught.

I disagree. Center swiveling allows a much more easier swiveling action with NO binding compared to the corner swiveling thats standard on most traps. The wider jaw surface is not smooth it is more like a washboaed and has grooves that conform into the foot which I believe helps hold and prevents slipping. I have yet to see where a center swiveled trap has lost a full pad catch, Toes yes, but you get that with any trap.But I've held more toe catches with laminated traps.

I am with you T.20 A friend of mine that catches several hundred coyotes a year, started laminating and offsetting his traps well before you could ever buy them pre-done. He claimed he had better catches with less foot damage and therefore a better trap. He participated in a number of studies.

It's easier on the animal. They hold better. Most important...they are easier on MY FINGERS....LOL.

anybody else?

I agree completely!

It is easier on the animal. It gives me peace of mind. It is good PR. That is reason enough for me.

I never said they are better if left swiveled off the corner but dead center it where it is easiest to pull out.

BMP's are political bologna that sooths the minds of AR's and people on the fence, like cable restraints. Not that I'm saying that's bad but that their recommendations are taking into consideration the whole picture, animal comfort and all, not just the traps sheer ability to hold the catch, which is what this question pertained to.

I believe a trap left stock if it doesn't pull apart will hold critters just as well as a fully modified one. There really is no in between. Once you start adding mods you'll need to go all the way. Laminations require stronger springs, stronger springs, leads to base plating, base plating most often leads to center swiveling... all stuff most non-professional trappers will never need or even notice a different in catch holding ability.

(note the avatar)
~ADC~

That is the correct answer IMO.

~ADC~

All good points everyone. I think alot of new trappers get on here and soon believe that a stock trap will not catch animals without full modification. They are nice but not a must have for every situation. I'm not saying go out and use junk with weak springs,etc. But not every trap needs modifications before it can be used.

ADC, I believe you are correct, that once the mod's start you'll end up having to go all the way. Sometimes it seems like it would be cheaper to just completly build my own trap instead of buying one then completly modifying/rebuilding it to what it ends up being.

With a smirk on my face and an evil glint in my eye I say..."So Jayme would you say trappers using sharp, thin jawed traps that are looking to trap wild canines should proceed into the field or modify?" LOL

Come on now! Modifications work! Keep in mind why they originated...poorly designed equipment at the time (late 1970's early '80s)....AND COYOTES. They are improvements for equipment that trappers found could not hold up to the abuse of hard fighting animals. AND after using them.. the benefits to other animals were discovered also.

No sarcasm meant just my view point.

MChewk, I understand tounge in cheek,but I have rarely ever seen foot damage with a proper sized trap and a non-laminated jaw,we also have 24 hr trap checks here, so maybe if left longer in the trap it would cause problems. I have seen some damage when an incidental gets in a trap not meant for them, example: muskrat in a beaver foothold. Otherwise where do you get these thin jawed sharp jaws?I've never seen them!Unless of coarse your sharpening yours?