30-6 Posted August 12, 2017 Report Share Posted August 12, 2017 I'm pretty new to trapping, had a good read of Steve Caple's book and learned a lot. So, after reading in a magazine about resting and rotating traps, wire brushing them and leaving them un-set to re-juvenate their spring, how best are they stored ? Having caught 13 rats in the same trap in 6 months in the same location it's a bit germ infested I would imagine. What can be used to clean it, just boiling water or what and any form of lubrication ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul223 Posted August 13, 2017 Report Share Posted August 13, 2017 ? Why, it's working, the rats don't care about germs, but will care about smells from cleaning and handling. One of my best traps has been in use for several years, in a feed storage bin, rusty as you like, kills regularly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panoma1 Posted August 13, 2017 Report Share Posted August 13, 2017 I just tip boiling water over them, after they have caught a rat....no maintenence required! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30-6 Posted August 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2017 I think what the piece I read was getting at was traps left un-fired for a long time rust up rendering them less effective, and firing them occasionally helps keep them more effective. I done a search on the subject and found numerous theories and ideas. A wire brush and a rub over with a candle to help combat corrosion and lubricate contact points seems good to me. Why I asked about de-germing was, when in service I wear gloves for obvious reasons, but if stored germy there's going to be times they could be handled without thinking without gloves on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted August 13, 2017 Report Share Posted August 13, 2017 Had two now for longer than I can remember, caught numerous rats and squirrels plus one itinerant ferret. I have never ever done anything to them, just re set and away they go. When not in use, which is rarely, I hang them unset in the workshop. I do have a bottle of vet's scrub liquid soap in the Landie and always wash my hands with this after handling anything suspicious or after a gralloch. The only thing I might apply to them is a small amount of peanut butter :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBW Posted August 15, 2017 Report Share Posted August 15, 2017 Fish oil is about the only thing I'd use to lubricate them, a good going over with a wire brush and stored sprung, not much else worth doing to them, theyre pretty much maintenance free apart from that, if you are concerned about germs as said previously a dook in boiling water, or run a blowtorch over it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bumble Posted August 15, 2017 Report Share Posted August 15, 2017 I've had 20 out constantly in wooden tunnels near my feeders (and the chicken run) for rats and squirrels for the last 3 years. Never cleaned/maintained any of them, just empty each day and re-set, and they keep on working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loki Posted November 28, 2017 Report Share Posted November 28, 2017 Hi Fellahs As chatting Fenn traps I wonder if those in the know wouldnt mind directing me to good option(s) for acquiring a dozen Mk6's please? I have been running 12 odd in tunnels for Squirrel, and half seem to have 'walked'......... L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teal Posted November 29, 2017 Report Share Posted November 29, 2017 I just bought a set from molevalley, should be a popup on the link with 10% off if you subscribe to their newsletter and its your first order: http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/mvf/store/store-home There are plenty of fakes out there, and with the discount it seemed the cheapest place where you know they are genuine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loki Posted November 29, 2017 Report Share Posted November 29, 2017 Hello Teal Thank you for the link - as you say better a tad more and genuine. L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rheth Posted November 29, 2017 Report Share Posted November 29, 2017 fenn traps are going to be made illegal soon they are deemed inadequate for killing stoats they are working on a new type of trap and as soon as it has been approved goodbye fenn trap.this is something that is going to happen soon according to my latest copy of keeping the balance magazine if it were me I would save my money till the new traps are out if possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisheruk Posted November 29, 2017 Report Share Posted November 29, 2017 I understand the new EU reg. only refers to stoats. I understand you will still be able to use them for rats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rheth Posted November 30, 2017 Report Share Posted November 30, 2017 lets hope so hopefully be out of E.U. by the time the ban comes in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigbob Posted November 30, 2017 Report Share Posted November 30, 2017 When i first get them i weather them then boil them up in oak leaves which makes them nice and dark and threw time the patches of surface rust only helps blend them in , if i touch them at all its a touch of olive oil over the spring then wipe off any surplus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamekeeper1960 Posted December 24, 2017 Report Share Posted December 24, 2017 I use both genuine and copy fenns (as my governor is a bit of a tight wad) and I've running them(the cheap version) now for the last 3 years and have success with both. this is around a chicken site and farm yard. first year I started had over 200 rats now down to around the 150ish but they kill as good as each other. .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul1966 Posted December 24, 2017 Report Share Posted December 24, 2017 I got a what i thought was a genuine fenn mk4 off ebay but its that stiff its never caught anything so far, is there a way to alter the sensitivity of the foot plate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panoma1 Posted December 24, 2017 Report Share Posted December 24, 2017 1 hour ago, paul1966 said: I got a what i thought was a genuine fenn mk4 off ebay but its that stiff its never caught anything so far, is there a way to alter the sensitivity of the foot plate. Just bend/adjust (and/or file?) the brass trigger plate and use a file to angle the footplate part of the release mechanism to make the release more sensitive........That's what I do before putting them into service! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strimmer_13 Posted January 15, 2018 Report Share Posted January 15, 2018 Used to get mine from molevalley farmers. Proper jobs. Also from new I didn't feel they would work as it probably stank of us 'humans' so on a string the lot went and in a duck pond for a few days. They come out coloured from **** and rust. Never worried about germs as I'm sure what I was wearing was lethal, being such a scruffy *** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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