lamination material

[Rod17]

I was wandering around the local Home Depot and found some 1/4 inch square steel "rods". Since its square, I thought it may be useful for lamination material and easier to get flush with the inside face of the jaw and, therefore, provide a nice wide jaw face.


I picked up a few lengths just to fool around with. Has anyone here used anything similar? I've seen ads for 1/4 inch flats that are about as wide as the actual jaw. However, I am thinking that what this material would add less wt to the jaw but still provide the 1/4 inch addition to the jaw face that actually contacts the held leg.

I know O'Gorman sells #3 Bridgers with 1/4 inch laminations. Anyone have any of these O'Groman modified Bridgers? Any thoughts about the 1/4 inch squares versus round laminations?

Thanks

Rod17

[ADC]

I'll bet the square lams would be good. Just file the top edge over a bit so it isn't sharp and I bet you'd be good to go.

[Rod17]

When you add laminations, how many of you add it just to the top edge of the jaws and how many add lamination to both sides as well.

Seems that alot of catches get the leg at an angle (or pulling moves the leg into the angles of the jaw) so putting laminations on the whole jaw maybe better. Any thoughts?

[ADC]

If you center swivel then the foot should not slide to the side and laminating around the corners should not be necessary. If don't center swivel the traps it could be benifical though.

[blakcoyote]

One thing you'll find with the lams going over the corners of the jaw is,it makes a nice pinch point for your palm if you happen to slip when setting it.Across the top should be fine.

[Bristleback]

Here is where I've been and where I'm currently with laminations:
Started with the #9 wire, moved to 3/16 round, then moved to 3/16 flat and finally I'm using 1/4 x 1/4 and love it, lots of jaw surface. Might note I run strictly Bridger #3, factory offset and I bubble the inside of the jaws to give upwards of 1/4" offset. I too just laminate the top of the jaws and do not bend them around the corners.
IMHO, I agree with ADC, in that if you center swivel, you are much less likely to see a foot slide off to the side, opposite the side of the trap where the chain is attached. Bristleback

[Rod17]

Thanks for all the good advice. Much appreciated.

With the 1/4 x 1/4 inch laminations on the Bridger #3s, have you found that the dog was long enough to reach the pan? There was a post on another forum about modified bridgers and the lami's required some bending of the shank to accomodate the added jaw width, but then the dog would not reach the pan. However, I dont recall whether that post was about Bridger 2 or 3s.

Rod

[blakcoyote]

I havent had a problem with #2 or #3 bridgers as far as the dog goes,unless they've been filed down too much over the years.