- Joined
- Mar 19, 2007
- Messages
- 7,443
Here is the split stick deadfall that I posted (It was a Ray Mears inspired thing) a while back.
After messing with it a bit - here are some slight modifications to the trigger stick.
1) If you can get a slightly bent stick - use it upturned on the trap. This will help, then the trap leans to accept the weight of the stick, to keep the tip off the ground - but long enough the make a good lever.
The longer the lever - the less the force needs to be at the end of the lever to trip the trap. Of course there is some trade off here. The greater the travel - the more likely the trigger stick is to hit the ground before the trap triggers.
2) Use a large enough trigger stick to be able to flatten the portion that goes against the split sticks. What you want is the split stick edges to be flat and square - as well as the notch for the trigger stick. However, you want to thin the end of the trigger stick to take weight off it so it will stand on its own. If it is too heavy at the tip - it will not hold.
A word of advice. When you set the trap - feel free to partially trip the trap. It is like taking up slack on a trigger of a rifle - you want it to be set hair thin - but not so thin that it will go off with a wind.
I have really come to enjoy this trap. I plan on setting it with a crate in my front yard at night to see what I get.
TF
After messing with it a bit - here are some slight modifications to the trigger stick.
1) If you can get a slightly bent stick - use it upturned on the trap. This will help, then the trap leans to accept the weight of the stick, to keep the tip off the ground - but long enough the make a good lever.
The longer the lever - the less the force needs to be at the end of the lever to trip the trap. Of course there is some trade off here. The greater the travel - the more likely the trigger stick is to hit the ground before the trap triggers.
2) Use a large enough trigger stick to be able to flatten the portion that goes against the split sticks. What you want is the split stick edges to be flat and square - as well as the notch for the trigger stick. However, you want to thin the end of the trigger stick to take weight off it so it will stand on its own. If it is too heavy at the tip - it will not hold.
A word of advice. When you set the trap - feel free to partially trip the trap. It is like taking up slack on a trigger of a rifle - you want it to be set hair thin - but not so thin that it will go off with a wind.
I have really come to enjoy this trap. I plan on setting it with a crate in my front yard at night to see what I get.
TF