redyeing and rewaxing traps

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Thinking about running a small (half dozen) trap line next fall for a few weeks during duck/black powder season. I have a small (again, 1/2 dozen) traps that I plan to use...a hodgepodge of various traps that I have picked up over the years (garage sales, gun shows, ect).
I would like to redye and rewax these traps.....any tips/tricks on how to do it? any advice on how to get the old wax off? Thanks in advance.

BTW: I'm just looking to collect a small amount of fur for muzzleloading and taxidermy projects.....not expecting to collect huge amounts of fur. Guess I'm just trying to get my feet wet (maybe literally?)

[multibeard]

What type of critters are you planing on going after?

Put the traps in a bucket of water and heat the water up enough to melt the wax Then let cool and you can get the wax off the top of the water.

When I started trapping all I used was Staghorn Sumac berries for dye and put paraffin on top of the dye to melt and slowly pulled the traps through it to wax the traps. Worked for me even on my canine traps but now there are more advanced methods.

Now is the time to gather some sumac as it needs to be mature berries to work. If you get them now before they get alot of snow and rain on them they will make a better dye. Just make sure they are dry so they do not mold, then you can put them in a plastic bag till next fall.

[Mr. 16 gauge]

What type of critters are you planing on going after?

Probably coon and muskrat, mostly.....maybe do a few canine sets, but I'm told that they can be difficult to catch. Just want to get my feet wet, so to speak!

[justwannano]

Both coon and rats are easy to catch.
Use water sets.
No need to wax & dye traps to catch a few coon and rats.
Why does the old wax & dye need to come off?
Have a good 1
just

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Why does the old wax & dye need to come off?

Some are rather rusty......I would like them to work properly if I decide to use them.