"pinch pans" for mink/rats

[trappnman]

never have used them, and to be honest, never saw a need to use them.

the only advantage I could ever think of was to increase the size of the pan. But evne so, never saw aneed for it on 1.5 size traps, becasue I believe the stock pan, is large enough to cover the entire trap.

Steven49er even states size of the pan, is the last reason he uses them-

so- inquiring minds would like to know- what advantage does using a large pan, over a smaller pan, give you?

convince me to try them....................

[braveheart]

They are more sensitive and bigger area.When I took my mink lesson from Bud Hall when I got a trap from him he would not give me a flopper pan.Plus less messing when waxing.On the normal trap I bend the dog down some what to make it fire faster and with wax on it is a pain to get the wax all off so trap will stay set.

[lumberjack]

I have used both for many years and dont like 1 any more than the other. whatevers on top gets set. Probably caught more in the bolt on pans-just by chance Id say?
I surely wouldnt pay extra for a pinch pan trap.
I will say I have never, ever lost a pinch pan like some do after a coon catch, just lucky, Im sure.

[trappnman]

braveheart- I don't understand what oy umeant by Bud not giving you a flopperp an.

So size is the reason? that I can see, and larger size means more sensitive-

so I do understand the mechanics of it then.

so it comes down to ease of use (I never wax water traps) and a conviction that it being more sensitive, gives you more mink?

braveheart I know you trap much like I do in winter- do you think it gives you more mink?

calvin- you mentioned you went all to them? what convinced you?

lumberjack- I wondered about the coon thing myself- so it seems thats not much of an issue?

[braveheart]

I would guess Bud preferred them over the reg pan trap.And he liked them and the old good ones are hard to come buy.So I think he gave me a regular trap.With the dog flipped upside down and bent down ward it made them more sensitive.

[calvin]

I switched over to them based on what I saw trapping rats in SD (both winter and spring....more so spring). SD water is wicked stuff... Rusts traps pronto. Toss a wet trap on a float and let it dry and you have rats walking all over traps without getting caught. Trap treatment is a big deal there but so is having the proper parts that wont rust so much or are floppy enough not to make much of a difference when rust hits. I never thought a floppy duke pan and a tilted down dog could end up being so heavy a tension in the wrong environment. I got tired of seeing rats walking on my traps or having rat dung piled high on my pan the next day.

I also liked the larger pan. Bigger is better after watching rats walk on traps. I also like being able to set on a hair trigger or not due to the notch/sight window on the top of the pan where it meets the dog. There are times I want a hair trigger and some times I want more drop.

I also saw other guys methods in SD and soon realized the guy who was using pinch pans was outcatching everyone else. He did have the trap treatment under control as well but it is easier with the pinch pan system I believe. No more trying to get wax out of the nightlatch notch... And was the reason I didn't wax my traps as I should have. However, I have not used this system yet. All of my rat/mink traps were converted over, however. Maybe I won't like them as much as I think. Time will tell.

The only complaint I have so far is that these pinch pans should come pre bent and exactly the same uniformly. Depending on how you bend these things, you can either add quite abit of tension or get it so light that it won't stay set. There is a system to getting it right and I was lucky enough to have someone help me with the correct setting via the correct bend BEFORE installing them. I also went with a 1/4" longer bolt than was originally sent with the pans. I believe the stock bolt length is too short and adds a little tension (under poor conditions). The manufacturer gladly traded me stock bolts for longer ones.

I see a guy out of iowa sells a heavier pre bent pinch pan. A little smaller, however.

[thorsmightyhammer]

Northern MN bog water can be wicked to calvin.

Thats one of the of the main reasons I went to the pinchs. Dont have to deal with rust causing extra tension after and extended period of time.

Main reason I really like em is because they are quicker and easier to set for me.

Add in bigger kill area, less pan tension, less pan tension accrued over time it has convinced me for now.

I just powder coated 5 dozen new dukes and they dont have pinchs on em yet. I'll screw with them a bit and see.

[trappnman]

do these pans go over the original pan, leaving the dog/trigger as stock? or is there a different latching system?

[calvin]

I do believe they make some that attach to the stock pan (Barkers maybe?). The ones I purchased (and most used, I/d say) the dog latches under the pan itself. An all in one deal. No separate latch that comes off (under) the pan. The dog rides on the same plane (or just under)as the top of the pan. There is a notch made into the top of the pan (dog side) so you can see where the dog is in relation to the trap firing from an overhead view...as your setting the trap. This notch is one of the big pluses for me, personally.

The pan size difference is also a plus but if you hold stock up to the pinch pans they are not ALL that much bigger. But any addition is welcomed. They are smaller than a Duke 1.75 pan. They do have a different feel, however.

[trappnman]

ok- got it- there are two different types-

the ones I was thinking of, just went over the pan and used the same latching system as stock.

I've never seen the type you are talking about- if anyone going to Hill City has any, bring them and I'll try a doz.

[kelly]

Here are the Original pinch pan Victors.


And here are the replacement "pinch pans" that can be installed on any trap with a bolt/nut pan attachment. You will also see a 1.75 pan on a 1.5 coil-something that I much prefer to use for a larger pan.

[dpomm]

Kelly,

I can see where you coming from on the 1.75's but I have a few questions for you.

Is there any problems setting up, adjusting, or using a 1.75 size pan.

I know you run a lot of 1.5 so do you see a big difference in cost between pinch pans and 1.75 pans when using them to replace the stock pan.

[kelly]

No Problems setting them up. Here's a little tidbit-there was one year that Victor made the 1.5 coil with the 1.75 sized pan only it was stamped 1.5. It was not liked for land trapping as the pan could be set off while the fox/coyotes foot was on the jaw. But for a water trap for mink/muskrats I preferr it. If I ever part with my several 100 oringinal "pinch pans" they will be replaced with the newer type 1.5 coil(w/bolt-nut pan) and the 1.75 sized pan.

As far as cost is concerned if one shops around the 1.75 pans are just slightly more than the reploacement pinch pans.

[braveheart]

I also use to run the 1.75 pan on all my mink traps till the new add on pinch pan came out.

[trappnman]

oh, ok- now i understand-

I have some old victors like that, plus the SC are similar if not identical.

I persoanlly don;t like that system, but do understand why some like pan travel, cause you almost have to with these.

and i guess the reason I don't like them, is because you DO have to mess aorund a little getting them set right, whereas a short notch is the same every time.

interesting though that so many prefer them-

[jim]

I don't like them, is because you DO have to mess aorund a little getting them set right, whereas a short notch is the same every time.


Thats the reason I got rid of some I had, with a short notch a blind man could set them. Jim

[trappnman]

Thinking more about this, I guess I was under the impression that you were adding a much bigger, floppier pan so to speak.

is the little bit of extra you gain having a square vs a circle, enough to warrant changing over?

I can't say I've ever seen any difference in checking traps- while I have not kept records of such, things like that jump out at you given enough time.

but as I stated earlier, I can see why those that use them were talking pan travel vs hair trigger- because with that setup you its either or.

could be it takes less tension to fire the trap with that set up, again, nothing jumped out at me over using both. short notches don't take much to fire- I don't think I'm loosing mink because of it, but its something I'll keep in mind and think about this season- who knows, in a few years, I might be using nothing but pinch pans.

I am however convinced I'm not loosing any rats, because of success rates on consecutive checks. but I'm now trapping 100% small stream rats, and that might matter.

Steven- you mentioned more hind foot catches with them in houses- with the more sensitive pan, you would think more front foot catches- unless you think that the front feet aren't putting on enough pressure to fire the trap- just take out the pan ravel?

I can also see the reasoning behind using 1.75 pans, and have thought of doing that as well. or as WB pm'd me, cut a piece of tin and either clamp on or run a small bolt through the pan to hold it on.

but I always come back to in my mind, I just don't believe you loose enough mink to a stock 1.5 pan to matter, and for me, if I miss him once, I'll be there when he comes back.

the outer edge of a loose pan 1.5, unwaxed for me, has less, far less, than .5 lbs, you just touch it with the tester, and it fires.

a mink needs to touch that pan with at least one front and one hind leg, to get by it if set tight or guided. and maybe 2 feet at a time if certain types of sets- how many can you miss? and if you do- its got to be a tiny mink.

some good minkers replying here, so am not dismissing their views- indeed, I have no doubt they, as I, have every confidence in what they do and why-

how can one believe 'there is more than one way to skin a cat" was not invented by trappers.....

[thorsmightyhammer]

Me pesonally, I dont want a short notch or a hair trigger, fall winter or spring.

All I want is a level pan with the minnimum amount of tension I can get on it on a consistent basis and in my view the pinch pan is filling that better.

The best mink trapper I know uses pinch pans and the list of guys who do is long and getting longer every day.

Summerville is having a pretty good run on his product lol.

Best way to find out if you like em is to try em.

I bought 5 dozen last summer, last winter I bought 40 dozen more. I think I'm good for awhile.

[calvin]

likely the same mink trapper who showed them to me. He does pretty well on rats as well. I saw the results (side by side with my traps) before I purchased them.

Whatever works for a guy. I think this product with be better for "Me", however.

[trappnman]

me personally, I want a short notch, but not a hair trigger.

and I want zero pan travel.

to each is own- I'm not against the bigger pan, but again, I simply don't like that pan trigger connection