Holding Strength?

[sherppa]

Is there a test, one can do to test a traps holding strength to ensure that it is strong enough to hold critters?  For example how much hold strength or jaw strength is needed to hold onto a muskrat?

thank you,

sherppa

[Bogmaster]

 I have never seen anything to test the holding strength of a trap(That I can remember) .Spring strenth is what determines a traps holding capabilities.
 While a muskrat does not need a super strong trap, you will lose any coon or beaver that happen into your rat sets.
 Tom

[sherppa]

thank you,

I am debating between picking up some more #1 1/2s or # 2 coil, do you think I should go #2 and they can pull double duty between muskrats and coons?


sherppa   

[fishdaddy]

a 1 1/2 coil is all you need for coon and muskrats.and ive held 2 45 lb beavers in them

[Bogmaster]

 I prefer #1 stop loss for rats,Have held hundreds of coon and beaver that have gotten into my rat sets.
 I would never set the #1 stoploss for beaver(I have at times set them for coon), but when staked to hold the largest animal around, they have added a lot of larger animals to my catch--53 pounds was the largest beaver in a #1 stop loss.
 The trap you decide on-- has a lot to do with the areas you are trapping in. I have a lot of vegetation where I trap rats and A stop loss does the job for me.
 A #1 1/2 coil is a much better coon trap than a #2.
 Tom

[trappnman]

I know of no test either-

until you just "know" by feeling the traps spring strength best way would be to open and close new trapsthat way, you get a feel for what is acceptable.

I would guess thats  most trappers do it- when a trap "feels' weak, it usually is and springs get replaced.

if in doubt, i'd buy replacement springs- tom here i know sells such for most traps.


one thing to keep in mind-  esp double longsprings, can be "weaker than their counterparts in coilsprings- because you need to break both springs down past the jaws, to loosen the trap- coils you just need to "start" them before tey open up.....trappnman

[watershedman25]

I've got some older #2 and the springs feel differant on some, I was thinking on putting them on a bath scale and pushing on the springs until the jaws relaxed and check the weight applied, then do one of the weaker traps just to see the differance but have never done it. Guess you could check a new one and go from there.

[sherppa]

You guys are the greatest!

Thanks for the information.

sherppa