Nite latching an speed

[RiverRat]

Ok now that we are all done argueing weither or not to night latch. I am wondering what is the fastest way to do it. I am plannin on doing over 200 before Nov. mostly 1.5 coils. Any one use a dremmel too? If so what head did ya use an how may can I expect to go throw doing this many.

[Maineman]

RiverRat , I use a dremel to start the groove then finish it with a smooth file...The tip I use looks like a small end-mill (a drill bit without the point) and will rough-out a slot pretty quickly...BE CAREFUL when using the dremil...With the small nature of the cut you're trying to make, you'll have a tendency to get your face right down there by the cutter...The cutter will snap-back from time to time jerking your hand away from the cut you're trying to make...You don't want the cutter hitting your face or worse yet and eye...MAKE SURE you are wearing safety glasses and gloves...ESPECIALLY the glasses...

When finish filing you'll go through several files until you find the one that will make the perfect slot for you...Get a file brush or wire brush and keep the file clean...It'll make your life easier...

Have fun...

Another tip...Start early and don't try to do too many (or all of them) at once...you'll get tired and sloppy...Set up your equipment, and leave it set up then start picking them off alittle at a time... You'll be done in time for the season..

[Ric]

Fastest way I have found is with a file and a vice.Take the pans off ,clamp shank in vice so the top of the file will cut your notch when just touching the top of the vice jaws.Cut notch.touch up the sides of the pan shank and inside the pan post.Slip shank into post and crimp closed with vice grips.Install bolt and tighten nut.Close up eye on dog. Adjust.About 40-50 traps per hr depending on how particular you are

[thebeav2]

I don't even remove my pans I just catch the end of the pan with the vise jaws and proceed from there.
I use a file that Is thicker then the origanal dog notch.I just lay the file on the pan shank and with a few strokes you have your nite latch step formed. Clean It up with a smaller file and your good to go.

But I still think night latching Is a waste of time. My fur buyer can't tell the difference.

Beav

[CoonDuke]

I do it pretty much like MaineMan.

[mtnman]

no, no no ...you should never mix taking drugs and trap modifications.... ;D

[dj88ryr]

;D ;D ;D

[Maineman]

mtnman said:

no, no no ...you should never mix taking drugs and trap modifications.... ;D

[CoonDuke]

If someone could make a perfect night-latch notch without the use of a file to finish it...I would have to see it to believe it.

[Hal]

I do a combination of what Gary and Ric do. I take the pans out of the trap and clamp them in a vice. Then I use the “oversize” file to run a nick in the upper corner of the notch. There’s the night latch. I do clean it up with a thin, narrow file.

Here’s a tip – don’t buy your files at Wal Mart. Go to a reputable tool dealer, or contractor supply house, and look over their selection. You’ll probably have to pay two or three times the price, but you’ll get 10 times the file.

Here’s another tip. Don’t get your night latch too high up on the face of the pan shank. Keep it shallow, vertically, especially if you are using a short notch. If you get the night latch too high up, the dog might “skip over” it when it pops out of the main, long notch.

If you make a mistake: It’s not big deal. Clamp the pan back in the vice, file the face of the notch square, and start over again. You are going to have to recheck the pan level when you put the pans back on the traps any way.

If you do use a Dremel tool, for God’s sake pay attention to what Mainman says about eye protection.

(MM: “Speed” is street slang for methamphetamine. Speed kills.)

-- Hal

[17kiss]

I use the thin cutoff blades in my dremel , just be careful and wear safety glasses. Can do a trap a minute or less. Just hold them in one hand and cut them out. With practice goes very fast. Rough it out first pass and then touch it up . I have done 500 or so traps this way this year alone.The wheels do break sometimes , but the more you do the less they seem to break.

[trappnman]

wheels sometimes break

always in streaks- don't break one forever then 3 on 1 trap

[Clefus]

Hmmm......I've got an air cut-off tool I might have to try......