Trap preperation advice.

[Craig Todaro]

I was gonna boil off some traps today while working in my shop. I've had a source for lye up until now. I went to get some this morning and he can't get it any more. I have used sani flush in the past also. I couldn't find it in any of the local stores. I remember reading about dish washing detergent being used. Don't remember the pro's and con's to it. What other cleaners is good for cleaning the wax and rust off?

Thanks,
Craig

[livefreeordie]

Craig...The Dollar store, "Toilet Works " toilet bowl cleaner, I use two bottles per 5 gal. of water, works great, and is cheap.

[bobwendt]

I`ve never used any cleaning chemical, and quit boiling years ago. I think its just not necessary at all after skipping it for about 20 years now ,and so many fox and coyote since then . I do blow them off at a hi pressure car wash however, and very thouroghly.

[billmeyerhoff]

Bob, do you just wax now?

[bobwendt]

that`s all except the excellent power spray. been that way at least 20 years now. I let traps dry well before waxing.

[Maineman]

This post should have been up yesterday before I spent the last several hours (today) boiling off old wax...I had some lye left over but I will check the store the next time I'm in...

I'll probably spend tomorrow waxing...Ahhhhhhhh gotta love holiday weekends...

Dave Z

[trappnman]

No way the pressure wash gets them as clean as boiling.

BUT- it probably doesn't matter. I pressure wash/clean traps a couple of times a season, then wax. And see no difference in canine reactions. But you for sure see the difference in your wax.

[bobwendt]

I been using the same wax for the last 6-7,000 canines. serious, that long. I just keep adding more. I did cut the bottom 1/4" of grit off finally this year.

[mike692]

I quit using lye a couple seasons ago.

Pressure wash when they come off the line, boil in dye, hang to dry, and wax.

[Freak( Jim V.)]

Havent used lye since I was a real youngun. Mine get piled up in one big pile end of season , then I break em down , and clean the real bad ones with the pressurewasher.
Next breakdown is ones that need work and new ones.
When they are all tuned , fixed and hard stuff knocked off they get a good boil starting with the new ones.
Hang til dry , then all get waxed and packed in bins with timothy hay.
Pool skimmer nets make a great tool to skim the gunk off the top before removing the traps from the boil

[livefreeordie]

cracked said:

Havent used lye since I was a real youngun. Mine get piled up in one big pile end of season , then I break em down , and clean the real bad ones with the pressurewasher.
Next breakdown is ones that need work and new ones.
When they are all tuned , fixed and hard stuff knocked off they get a good boil starting with the new ones.
Hang til dry , then all get waxed and packed in bins with timothy hay.
Pool skimmer nets make a great tool to skim the gunk off the top before removing the traps from the boil

I use an old ice skimmer with aluminum screen over it, gets most of the old wax off the top as well.

[walkercoonhunter(Aaron L.)]

well since ya dont return your phone calls....lol....i have some costic soda if your intrested....i will give ya some if ya want it....its the real deal...not cut with anything......

[scott kimball]

i use the same thing a walkercoonhunter (caustic soda)because i can get it free and i boil 2 doz.at a time let them cool pull hardened wax out of pot and repeat step 1. caustic soda is the same thing as lye.

[walkercoonhunter(Aaron L.)]

caustic soda is stronger than lye.....at least the stuff i got is...lol...i know where i work they get caustic in liquid form and its only 20% caustic...but this is the granular stuff and its not cut with anything.....boy what the meth guys would give for some......lol....

[livefreeordie]

walkercoonhunter said:

caustic soda is stronger than lye.....at least the stuff i got is...lol...i know where i work they get caustic in liquid form and its only 20% caustic...but this is the granular stuff and its not cut with anything.....boy what the meth guys would give for some......lol....

I know this guy out in Twin Falls...... ;D ;D ;D

[Craig Todaro]

I guess i should of clarified myself when asking the question. I was in a hurry.

I had a tupperware tote that the lid had come off of. I seen it but didn't worry about it. The tote had filled up with water and the traps rusted up pretty bad. I wanted to clean them up with something that would help remove the rust flakes and such.

Thanks for all the replies. My wife did pick me up some drano. It was in flake form. It worked pretty good. Aaron is gonna hook me up with some of his stuff to clean up the other traps.

[trappnman]

for rust like that, make a solution of bleach water- a couple of cups to a half of washtub full of water, let traps soak for a day or two- really takes off that flake rust.

[tmalone]

I got some bad rusty traps to clean also, thanks for the tips guys!!

[braveheart]

The Menard 's by me sells lye yet.I suppose the crank heads need to get it some place.I know where I work they quit selling lye along time ago.

[Bob Jameson]

The caustic soda and soda ash is actually used in some water treatment injection systems for bad well water. That used with clorox is what we use in our chem mix tank to knock out the iron and other minerals found in our mine water that is basically what we have around these parts.Such as what we have at my place. You can purchase 50 # bags at places that service wells etc. we get ours locally from the univar company and the culligan water people. I believe you can find these companies in the yellow pages.It runs $25 to $35.00 a bag. Will last you a long time if useing it for trap prep only or you can split a bag with some buddies.