Mole Trap Repairs

[wingnut 27]

Hi everyone just a quick question really and would appreciate if any one could help, went to set some traps this morning and from looking at one of my talpex traps i could see some how i'm not sure how but the setting pin was bent meaning i couldnt set the trap and to cut a story short i tried straighting it a little so i could set it but i snapped it (to heavy handed) i was just wondering if anyone can suggest what metal would be best to make a replacement pin or anyone who sells spares or just to buy a replacemnt trap . Thanks for any feedback i will hopefully post tomorrow with some more results from the traps set to on the golf course.

Edited February 24, 2010 by wingnut

[HEDS 0]

the trap is probably anodised or galvanised mild steel, although i have only seen a pic of the trap i reckon a steel tent peg cut to size would do the job for you, even if this doesnt fit the hole in the plate you could drill the hole bigger .- i definately wouldnt write the trap off!g'luck

[moxy 617]

Depending on the gauge of the steel, 10g +, if your going to make a replacement i would use stainless, the reason your pin bent in the first place was the mild steel its made from cant take the pressure of the spring.

I find flat pack dufus are buggers for this. Cant fault the springs just shite and inferior rods.

Im guessing you dont have an old trap to salvage from so your in to fashioning something up?

Stainless isnt much stronger than the steel the original pins made from but it will last.

The broken pin would have been well galvenised, so to replace with an untreated piece of steel, mild or not, a few months down the line you could be in the same boat, as it slowly rusts.

You may have a bit of fun creating a loop on the end.

Pm me your details and i will post you some stainless rod out. If you have no way of creating the loop or dont fancy the challenge!! i could possibly do it for you.

Hope this helps.

[IanB 0]

Can't ask fairer than that, moxy +1 on his rep

[wingnut 27]

Thank you very much for your replys,its great to hear responses from people like that i really appreciate the help. Moxy i have PM you and thanks again. As promised some photos from some traps i set yesterday set four and caught two, one in the trapline and one in me talpex. happy Trapping and Thanks again everyone.

[furdy 0]

The setting pins get bent when setting the trap. If you dont fully open the jaws of the trap before fitting the end of the pin in the trigger plate, the pin gets bent across the body of the trap. I've seen people use the pin as a lever to fully open the trap which invariably results in a bent pin too.