This may be a dumb question
#7790625
02/04/23 08:20 AM
02/04/23 08:20 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,723 Maine
Mac
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,723
Maine
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I did not want to take the question and derail it. ( about whether or not double jaws on a Duke 1 1/2 coil are a good idea or worth it?)
In that thread someone who I assume is a very experienced mink trapper stated they could adjust the pan tension so that the weight of the pan drops on its own and the trap was good to go. I am not questioning that.
I have read on here that some trappers feel that the springs must be heat-weakened to make the Duke 1 1/2 coil useable for muskrats? It seems like a very odd thing to have to do to a new trap. If I had to weaken the springs on a new 1 1/2 coil to catch a muskrat, I am pretty darn sure that I would not buy that trap.
I have never been fond of Duke traps. One of the very first time I looked at some was back, I believe, in the late 1970s. I opened a box of #11 double long springs at one of Olson's conventions. The first two traps I looked at had cracks in the springs where they hook onto the jaws. I don't want to say I am the kind of guy that holds onto experiences (LOL) but I was incredibly unimpressed with the fact someone let the traps through quality control. I have heard over the years that lots of good trappers love Dukes and that Mr. Duke does a lot for the trapping world. With all the used traps on the market I am getting a bit interested in the Dukes. I digress.
What about this heat weakening trap springs?
Thanks
Mac
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Re: This may be a dumb question
[Re: Mac]
#7790704
02/04/23 10:27 AM
02/04/23 10:27 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,725 Rodney,Ohio
SNIPERBBB
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 17,725
Rodney,Ohio
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Weakening springs has nothing to do about catching rats, its about setting the traps. If you're setting multiple dozens of traps a day it will wear your hands out. Especially when you're setting while standing in water. Everyone complained about duke springs being too weak years ago and now theyre extra strong. Most traps are on the strong side out of the box these days.
Last edited by SNIPERBBB; 02/04/23 10:27 AM.
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Re: This may be a dumb question
[Re: Mac]
#7790747
02/04/23 11:24 AM
02/04/23 11:24 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,124 St. Louis Co, Mo
BigBob
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,124
St. Louis Co, Mo
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I'm sure you can find some weak springs somewhere you could put on without destroying the originals. Then you can put them back on when you realize you made a mistake!
Every kid needs a Dog and a Curmudgeon.
Remember Bowe Bergdahl, the traitor.
Beware! Jill Pudlewski, Ron Oates and Keven Begesse are liars and thiefs!
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Re: This may be a dumb question
[Re: Mac]
#7790748
02/04/23 11:26 AM
02/04/23 11:26 AM
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 8,919 Central MN, sort of old
MnMan
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 8,919
Central MN, sort of old
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I have used the Duke 1 1/2's with success on rats and mink without weakening the springs at all. To make them more sensitive, I have replaced the pans with pinch pans and have bent the dogs down slightly to make them fire easily. To further make setting them easier on the hands I have bent the levers down slightly on the ends and when planning to set a lot of traps on opening day, I will pre set them at home by sitting in a chair and rocking forward and depressing the levers with my feet. Then I put a clip on them to keep them open. This saves my hands on a day that is cold and wet and I am trying to get as many sets out as I can with the limited amount of daylight that we have then. I shake the clips onto the floor of the boat and retrieve them with a magnet later. Hog rings work well for clips also and Mike Kelly's Wild River Trap Pans are the cat's meow for light pressure to fire traps for rats and mink. I like the strong springs on these Dukes since I have caught more than a few otter and beaver in them and I even have used them effectively on red and grey fox. Most would not go through the trouble to pre set these but I am old and my hands suffered a lot when I used to do this very much.
I'm just happy to be here! Today I'm as young as I'll ever be and and older than I've ever been before!
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Re: This may be a dumb question
[Re: Parvo1985]
#7790750
02/04/23 11:27 AM
02/04/23 11:27 AM
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 10,757 Iowa
trapdog1
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 10,757
Iowa
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[quote=trapdog1 I have never noticed any defects in new Dukes, but I'm sure it happens. I haven't bought any new ones in several years, and only do so when it's time to replace stolen or lost traps. I like all of my equipment to be the same and set up the same, and I settled on the Dukes a long time ago. The great thing is, though, that there are choices and you can go with whatever you want. Trapdog- are you night latching with that floppy pan as well? Also, are you running a high pan or leveled?[/quote] No night latch, and run the pan fairly level. A little high or low doesn't bother me much.
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Re: This may be a dumb question
[Re: MnMan]
#7790755
02/04/23 11:30 AM
02/04/23 11:30 AM
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 10,757 Iowa
trapdog1
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 10,757
Iowa
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I have used the Duke 1 1/2's with success on rats and mink without weakening the springs at all. To make them more sensitive, I have replaced the pans with pinch pans and have bent the dogs down slightly to make them fire easily. To further make setting them easier on the hands I have bent the levers down slightly on the ends and when planning to set a lot of traps on opening day, I will pre set them at home by sitting in a chair and rocking forward and depressing the levers with my feet. Then I put a clip on them to keep them open. This saves my hands on a day that is cold and wet and I am trying to get as many sets out as I can with the limited amount of daylight that we have then. I shake the clips onto the floor of the boat and retrieve them with a magnet later. Hog rings work well for clips also and Mike Kelly's Wild River Trap Pans are the cat's meow for light pressure to fire traps for rats and mink. I like the strong springs on these Dukes since I have caught more than a few otter and beaver in them and I even have used them effectively on red and grey fox. Most would not go through the trouble to pre set these but I am old and my hands suffered a lot when I used to do this very much. Interesting idea, and I'll have to remember this! I'm 57 and can still set traps all day, but it gets a little tougher every year!
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Re: This may be a dumb question
[Re: SNIPERBBB]
#7790879
02/04/23 02:04 PM
02/04/23 02:04 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,417 Iowa
~ADC~
The Count
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The Count
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 16,417
Iowa
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Weakening springs has nothing to do about catching rats, its about setting the traps. If you're setting multiple dozens of traps a day it will wear your hands out. Especially when you're setting while standing in water. Everyone complained about duke springs being too weak years ago and now theyre extra strong. Most traps are on the strong side out of the box these days. Mac, this is what I gathered as well. The guys doing that (beav was one) were running hundreds of traps on floats.
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Re: This may be a dumb question
[Re: Mac]
#7790894
02/04/23 02:24 PM
02/04/23 02:24 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,595 james bay frontierOnt.
Boco
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,595
james bay frontierOnt.
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I would not buy new traps then intentionally weaken the springs. There are tons of used traps for sale much cheaper than new with springs already weak from years of use.
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
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Re: This may be a dumb question
[Re: Boco]
#7790936
02/04/23 04:03 PM
02/04/23 04:03 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,723 Maine
Mac
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,723
Maine
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thanks to all that responded
Mac
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Re: This may be a dumb question
[Re: Boco]
#7794321
02/09/23 08:12 AM
02/09/23 08:12 AM
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 10,757 Iowa
trapdog1
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 10,757
Iowa
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I would not buy new traps then intentionally weaken the springs. There are tons of used traps for sale much cheaper than new with springs already weak from years of use. This.
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Re: This may be a dumb question
[Re: Mac]
#7794382
02/09/23 09:37 AM
02/09/23 09:37 AM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,413 SD
Boone Liane
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trapper
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,413
SD
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I ran a few hundred new duke 1.5s twice a day for ten days.
Holding the dog down with your thumb while you set the pan with your other hand was BRUTAL!
I was sure cussing those springs by about day three!
During the “rat wars” I could buy new dukes cheaper than anything used. Guys were paying $5-6+ a trap at auctions for just about anything. Rusty old junk. I could get new dukes for $4.
If all they’re gonna be used for is rats, than I say weaken away!
Last edited by Boone Liane; 02/09/23 09:39 AM.
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Re: This may be a dumb question
[Re: Boone Liane]
#7794549
02/09/23 02:48 PM
02/09/23 02:48 PM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 4,069 WI
nimzy
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 4,069
WI
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I ran a few hundred new duke 1.5s twice a day for ten days.
Holding the dog down with your thumb while you set the pan with your other hand was BRUTAL!
I was sure cussing those springs by about day three!
During the “rat wars” I could buy new dukes cheaper than anything used. Guys were paying $5-6+ a trap at auctions for just about anything. Rusty old junk. I could get new dukes for $4.
If all they’re gonna be used for is rats, than I say weaken away! Yup with a standardized trap arsenal to boot! Thank goodness some folks have the ability to think outside the box. Them weakened coils still hold coon very well on drowners, again it’s trap design. The beauty of it is with a bit of practice you can figure out the heat and control how much to take out but we won’t get into that.
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