was wondering how many of you have made homemade setting tongs for 330's..........and if ya'll had pics.

was gonna make up a set of tongs and thought i'd see what ya'll came up with to give me some ideas.

i think i oughta have a pair for safety reasons........i've set them using a rope or by hand for years..........but ya never know when trouble could come a knockin.

Hey "Not Tim" LOL, What sort of tools do you have access to. If you have a grinder or chop saw, you could cut the notches into two seperate pieces of flat stock metal. I'd have to get mine out to get the measurements, then drill a hole to put a bolt and nut in about 2/3rds of the way up, so the arms will work freely. I almost exclusively use setting tongs. If you need measurements, someone on here probably has access to theirs.

i have access to all kinds of goodies............my bro in law builds race cars...lol.

i just didn't wanna build a set only to have them malfunction on me.

I made these setters several years ago. They are 22" long made out of 1" x 1/4" flat bar. Pivot bolt/washers/nut are 5/16 SS. I drilled and pressed the cold roll handles in. After I started using them I discovered they were weak around SS bolt at times the power of the 330/280 springs were spreading the setters apart. I had some JC Conner #2 Hvy baseplates in the shed and decided to do some reenforcing at the pivot point.

2 poor...........did u make those setters?......if so i'd like to know how u built them.

I don't believe 2 poors setters don't bolt together. One handle goes on the ground for your foot to hold and the other handle is for your hands. You pull up and and the springs will compress. (Inner and outer shaft)

I built the setters.

Just a couple of rods that pass by each other. Nothing fancy !


I like the style as I can put one end on the ground and lean on the other, this allows both my hands free to wrestle out frozen critters. It is a push down style setter, not a pull up.

I used sevear home made setters they are worked fine. I've made push down types like 2 poor's as well as setting tongs. Then I got in a trade a pair of Sleep Creek #4 setters. I no longer use any of the others. They are under $20 and are so lightweight, strong and easy to use. I'll never go back to the others. I do keep the one push down type around though in case I loose these, but I'll only use them til the replacements arrive.

~ADC~

the rope method is the best in my opinion. its easier to carry around and when you get used to its faster also. tried the tong thing didnt work too well for me.

I just set them by hand.

I have no problem setting any of them by hand when there empty !

Trying to compress springs by hand with a frozen critter installed is another story though.

I madr a pair along those lines I used 1/4 x 1 inch flat thing is is if ya get yer pivot point to far so it opens much wider than a 330 spring it starts getting to much twist. I used 1 1/2 angle for the handles on mine they work great in the boat with that flat base. Be carefull when compressing those springs one slip a the hand and it will take alot a stiches to patch the cut they'll leave.Dont believe it Ask Wolfer I think he had around 30 stitches from his set tool

I hear ya there. I do have a setting tool, but most of the time I forget the dang thing in the truck and have to set them by hand anyways. I try to preset all of my conie before I go out. If I get any critters I just replace the trap and bring the whole thing home.

I used 1" angle iron for mine I just notched them, drilled them ,and bolted them together .

I just use the rope trick anymore, just make sure the rope is thick enough not to go thru that little gap in the ends!! (ouch)