My favorite deadfall trap.

Diomedes Industries

Diomedes Industries

Joined
Mar 19, 2007
Messages
7,443
I am really enjoying this deadfall. It is easier to set than the figure 4 (for me) and I seem to be able to fine tune it better.

Here it is:

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TF
 
I will have to try that one. There is a shelter belt just out of town thats loaded with cottontails. YUM YUM.:D
 
I know it is made of squared wood - but I wanted to make something that would demonstrate how to make it. Doc has a cool tutorial picture link he will hopefully put up.

TF
 
Nice! I'm going to try that style next time that i get a chance.

I've made traps out of squared wood myself in-field (you can get some very near-square sticks when sectioning a log via a knife/baton). Sometimes the squared edges make construction easier, and since I've only every made traps out of practice and not necessity, sometimes it's nice to build them that way (though it takes longer than using sticks).
 
Damn Talfuchre, you made me get off my ass :D
Great design - not very good implementation on my part (chop sticks), but it worked great and I agree, much easier to adust than the fig 4.

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Thanks for the demo!
 
Your post inspired me to go out back and make one since it is slow at work today.

I am gonna have to agree with you and disagree with you on ease. It is simple and I didn't even need to adjust my knotches once finished. It worked on my first attempt. That doesn't happen much with figure 4's. However I had my Izula and Vic Farmer with me as has been the case lately. With out the saw on the farmer I don't think it would have been as easy to make than a traditinal figure 4.

Either way I like the trap.

Just a note, I used a 3/4" branch for all pieces. My trigger knotch had to be extremely deep so that it would hold the rounded pieces together. I see your knotch is shallow as the other pieces are flat and didn't require much depth.

Great job and thanks for the inspiration.

If you want pics, your gonna have to wait til I get home from work.
 
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I just scaled this up with a piece of pine (stem from christmas tree) and didn't have any of the problems that tonym had. Sorry Tony, all done with just the JK kephart. The notching does require a bit of care to ensure good fit. If you carefully cross batton to start the notches you scoop them out with the right fit.

Batoned this to make the three pieces

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Notching center on of the pieces

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Now I didn't take any photos of notching the trigger, but this one takes the most care. The trigger notch guards the two centre pieces from buckling. Start off by making the notch too small by about 1/4". Then slice thin layers off the inside of the notch until you get a fit that is snug.

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Okay - Talfulchre, first apologies for posting so many pics in your thread. I definitely don't want to hijack it nor take away from giving you proper credit for bringing this up. I was just super enthusiastic by this design and had to try it. I never had a figure 4 work quite this easy and I'm about 25% at getting a fig 4 to work. This one worked out fine in each try!
 
Hey KGD, I never said I had problems, I just said that the saw is easier to make it with. The sawmakes any notch cleaner. The fact that this will require deeper knotches or squaring the wood just means it will taKe longer to make than a traditional figure 4 with out a sak saw. Not a problem at all as I always have at least 1 Vic Farmer on me at all times.

If the top piece wasn't as long do you think that would help stop the buckling on the 1 you made?
 
Wow - you guys are awesome. KDG, Don't think you ever have hyjacked my thread. I am glad to see you make the trap and yours is more 'authentic' I think. Hyjack, in my opinion, means when you take off in a new direction you should have made a new thread for. You guys simply made your own. That makes this thread more awesomer! ;)

Tony,

I said it was easier to set - not easier to make. I think the Figure 4 is easier as it is essentially a bunch of notches.

I agree you have to make the notch VERY deep when using round wood. I have seen a version of this made by ray mears that is essentially two slabs of flat wood. That makes it easier on the notch but a LOT more cutting.

Here is that video - it is another version of it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvRR5MTBBQI

I think this trap is more knife work - but is easier to set and re-set in the long run. I would rather spend more time with the knife than smashing my fingers when setting the danged thing.

TF
 
tonym said:
Just a note, I used a 3/4" branch for all pieces. My trigger knotch had to be extremely deep so that it would hold the rounded pieces together. I see your knotch is shallow as the other pieces are flat and didn't require much depth.
Click to expand...

Yes I agree here, even with my squared off pieces derived from batoning, I still needed a deep notch on the trigger piece. Perhaps a saw would be easier than a knife, but I found the knife easy enough. Notching is one of the things I'm always practicing, and doing a square knotch is definitely more work but also quite doable. Have some belly to make the snap cut down the end of the notch helps.

Anyhow, great design Talfuchre. I'm going to practice this one a lot!!
EDIT - Also credit you with getting to fulfill one of my New Years promises. Now if I can loose 10 lbs and start a friction fire.....First flint and steel I think..
 
i find you can get by with slightly shallower trigger notch the if you make the thinned out joint area longer also thin our the back portion of the round support sticks as well, essentially squaring them at the area where the trigger stick joins them.
 
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Your right TF, I mis read your post....:o
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kgd said:
to fulfill one of my New Years promises. Now if I can loose 10 lbs and start a friction fire......
Click to expand...

If you have as much difficulty as I with the bow drill, the 10 pounds will come off while attempting it:D
 
Talfuchre said:
I know it is made of squared wood - but I wanted to make something that would demonstrate how to make it. Doc has a cool tutorial picture link he will hopefully put up.

TF
Click to expand...

He does? Which one? Are you talking about the alternate split stick trigger that I posted in Rescue Riley's thread?

Doc
 
No - you posted one that was very similar to this one before. It was one of your MS paint drawings and the trigger stick was made all black.

Ring any bells?

TF
 
That one is pretty damn cool. Nice thread.
 
I love this forum! I have to make one of these next chance I get. Very cool. Now for a bit of thread drift, who has used it to success?
 
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