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Post by GaTrapper on Jun 16, 2010 18:17:13 GMT -6
Hey Y'all,
Where do y'all who use steel mesh screen for pan covers buy the screen in rolls?
I have been to Lowes, Home Depot, 2 feed stores, and Tractor Supply.
Only thing I have found close is aluminum screen but its doesnt hold shape at all.
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Post by 17HMR on Jun 16, 2010 18:32:21 GMT -6
Small town lumber yards and ask them to order it for you.
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Post by stickbowhntr on Jun 16, 2010 20:11:06 GMT -6
mine has none to get so I just do the O'Gorman thing
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Post by Bristleback on Jun 16, 2010 20:46:08 GMT -6
I've always bought mine from OG, first the steel screen then the stiffer black.
I did find a source for the screen and they would actually cut it to the width I wanted, but their minimum order was several lifetimes worth of screen.
Just a friendly tip, you need to know how to use it, cut it correctly, otherwise it will cause you plenty of frustration.
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Post by bluegrassman on Jun 16, 2010 20:57:42 GMT -6
i have seen quite a few posts on here and other sites on how to use it and tips about it but i have never seen any pics or vids about how to use it. come on any body got any pics or vids?
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Post by Bristleback on Jun 16, 2010 21:23:21 GMT -6
Absolutely.
Strictly from my experience.
One reason I only run 1 trap for bobcats and coyotes, it speeds things up when setting and I only cut one size of screen.
*BEFORE you go and cut 500 screens, be absolutely sure they're the right size, if the screens are not the right size, you're gonna get frustrated and you won't realize all the benefits of the screen.
*I measure between the jaw posts and add maybe an 1/8" as my pan is a bit higher than my pan posts and the pan being a pinch high will take up just a bit of width. This is your width measurement.*One thing I guarantee you, if you cut your screen even 1/8"+ too wide, it will absolutely bubble over your pan....grrrr
*Measure from outside jaw to outside jaw....add maybe 1/4", this will be your length measurement.
Cut a screen to this size.
*I put the screen below my jaws (unset trap), stand on my levers and, quickly square up the pan cover and press the pan notch up through my screen, wobble the hole a quick second, this will keep the screen from interferring with the dog/notch. Give the screen a slight tug towards the loose jaw and set the trap. I'll continue to pull on the screen to lay the loose jaw down. I and I repeat I want the screen pinched down between the jaws and the levers. Usually the screen lays nice and tight and flat. Once in a while I'll get a bit of a bubble, hump over my pan. You can flip up the loose jaw and keep your thumb under your pan and sort of form fit the pan and screen, but I've found if I cut the pans correctly this just doesn't occur very often. *Another thing I like to do is cut the square corners off my screen covers, especially the loose jaw end. The screen I use is very stiff, I like a tight trap bed and these corners will often catch on the sides of my pan bed and want to raise my loose jaw, I've found nipping the corners virtually eliminates this. *As to a small space between the pan and screen.......as long as it's not a spongy bubble I don't worry about it, I learned long ago to bury my traps and cover them up.......vs the very thin layer of dirt. I know some need help setting the traps when using screen, I'd simply suggest that's what the offseason is all about, practice, try things out. I know Bob and TC don't use screen while RW, think 17 does,Beav? all are very accomplished coyote trappers, I simply started using steel screen several years ago and it's sure worked well for me.
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Post by GaTrapper on Jun 16, 2010 21:38:46 GMT -6
Awesome Post Bristleback!! Thanks.
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Post by GaTrapper on Jun 17, 2010 9:07:27 GMT -6
I used some wire pan covers last year and they would handle rain a heck of a lot better.
Just wanted to find small rolls locally so I could cut my own and have them in bulk.
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Post by last chance on Jun 17, 2010 15:17:09 GMT -6
check at your home town glass and glazing shop, they should have heavy screen.
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Post by trappincoyotes39 on Jun 17, 2010 15:27:40 GMT -6
a coffee filter and well packed and using sufficant covering will take plenty of rain and still work. AS they are designed to take hot water and not break down.
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Post by trappnman on Jun 18, 2010 8:47:01 GMT -6
wax paper, coffee filters, etc are PAN COVERS. Screen does more than that- as such, you cannot compare the 2.
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Post by garman on Jun 18, 2010 9:47:36 GMT -6
What I have found, with my limited screen use is this (this is when I was using montanas, monty's, even my coyote cuffs last year), what I found is if you can get the darn bubbles out of the screen that forms over the pan they work great, I got tired of the hassle. So I am using cupcake cups and sterlings, solved the issue.
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Post by makete on Jun 18, 2010 10:13:07 GMT -6
So how do all you people who use screen pan covers, cut them? One at a time seems tedious.
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Post by trappnman on Jun 18, 2010 10:21:42 GMT -6
some type of band saw seems to be the preference-
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Post by trappincoyotes39 on Jun 18, 2010 10:27:23 GMT -6
yes tman it can add to the kill area of the trap but with a proper pan design I see zero need for making a larger kill area and screen weight/stiffness can add or subtract to the overall increase in so called kill area.
I personnelly don't want everything inside the jaws as a potential firing spot for a coyote foot. I have tried it and don't care for it from the large kill area aspect, the time to cut cover and the time to apply to the trap, when a coffee filter and a correct pan works as well and in my case I have found better, as I guide every trap I set in some fashion so see no benefit from the screen what so ever.
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Post by claytoncarr on Jun 18, 2010 10:34:03 GMT -6
I used them for two seasons and was ok with them. Except most were chewed up and had alot of toe catches. I used mainly dogless traps and could never get the pan tension I wanted. If the cover wasn't chewed it had saliva on it or blood or lure and if I reused it it was dug up the next day. I went to wax paper and peat moss and have had very few dug traps. I could clean the blood and etc.. off the trap by scrubbing with dirt but never could with the screens. Awful expensive as well. IME
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Post by trappincoyotes39 on Jun 18, 2010 10:38:52 GMT -6
pan tension is critical as you increase kill area or you will get what you found more toe catches unless your guiding and as I mentioned if I'm guiding the body and the foot then why need a large kill area?
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Post by Bristleback on Jun 18, 2010 10:44:19 GMT -6
A CHOP SAW is what I and several others use, it works great. Measure 2x, cut 1
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Post by renny1 on Jun 18, 2010 11:27:13 GMT -6
What I have found, with my limited screen use is this (this is when I was using montanas, monty's, even my coyote cuffs last year), what I found is if you can get the darn bubbles out of the screen that forms over the pan they work great, I got tired of the hassle. So I am using cupcake cups and sterlings, solved the issue. Have you tried using a rubber band from jaw tip to jaw tip over the pan to hold screen down? Not my idea, and I haven't tried it. Can't remember where I saw that. FWIW
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Post by garman on Jun 18, 2010 11:46:07 GMT -6
renny no I have not may try that though good idea
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