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Post by jdpaint on Dec 10, 2009 21:59:58 GMT -5
Tried a small amount and like it.Anyone set up to do a large amount ? Would be interested in going in on the dirt/wax. Thanks.
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Post by bobsamuelson on Dec 11, 2009 10:46:50 GMT -5
Hi JD. I, have in the past, made waxed dirt. I originally bought it from Mark June...many years ago! It was good stuff, but it was too expensive to use in quantity. So, I started making my own. One word of warning:DO NOT heat the dirt/wax mixture in the oven in your kitchen! Dirt has a great deal of organic material in it, such as dead worms, dead insect parts, etc; and if you heat it in the oven, you will stink up your house! This makes the wife VERY upset! (See Von's post on dogs vs. wives!)
I now make mine in a wooden box that has 3 heat lamps in it. If you want more info on how to make the box and all the specs, let me know.*
Also, you don't need to buy special wax to make waxed dirt. I buy trap wax in bulk, grate it in an old cheese grater that attaches to an old food grinder. Mixed at the ratio of 3 cups of wax to one gallon of dry dirt works well for most of my applications. The ratio may need to change depending on the type of dirt you have. Mine is taken from farmers fields, with very little sand, but has a small amount of clay in it. I have tried several types of soil, and most will work, but the amount of wax may need to be adjusted. My box works best with about 5 gallons of dirt and depending on the weather conditions, humidity, temperature, and even wind determines how long the mixture takes to blend. I usually stir the mixture daily, sometimes several times daily. This speeds up the melting/blending process if you are in a hurry.
Another method is the O'Gorman method of using black plastic sheets laid out on plywood. The wax is mixed with dirt and allowed to heat and melt/blend using the heat of the sun. You can do large quantities this way, but you need to watch the weather as rain will set you back a bit.
Hope this helps.
*I submitted this and is printed in the second edition of the Trapperman Book.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2009 10:55:51 GMT -5
JD,
If you already have a metal cement mixer, you can knock out alot of dirt very quickly. Just put your flame from a "weed burner" on the back side of the cement mixer and add mix your dirt and wax in the mixer. You can even remove the heat and let the dirt continue to mix until it cools, avoiding clumps and such. It's a pain to make, but man is it nice.
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traps82
#3 Newhouse
Hope is always alive
Posts: 3,208
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Post by traps82 on Dec 11, 2009 11:25:41 GMT -5
Yeah, if you have the metal cement mixer, you got it made!! Aside from your time. I did the black plastic method, dried out the dirt real good and added the wax. Trust me, that stuff gets HOT!! I like the waxed dirt as it seems you are able to bed a trap nicely in it. Now I have to get a metal cement mixer!!!!!!!! ;D
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Post by jdpaint on Dec 11, 2009 18:37:56 GMT -5
Great posts and info ,thanks.i dont have a cement mixer.Anyone want to go in on one?If not i will try the heat lamps or black plastic . thanks again
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traps82
#3 Newhouse
Hope is always alive
Posts: 3,208
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Post by traps82 on Dec 11, 2009 19:09:19 GMT -5
I did my dirt in July and August when I knew it was going to be hot and sunny. I did sift the dirt as I put it on the plastic. I will see if I got a picture..
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traps82
#3 Newhouse
Hope is always alive
Posts: 3,208
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Post by traps82 on Dec 11, 2009 19:16:28 GMT -5
It works! LOL
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Post by livetrappingbymatt on Dec 11, 2009 19:34:00 GMT -5
JD I have wax from another project. call me? 315-893-7526
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