DukeSet Tool for #220 / #330 Body Traps

Very helpful for setting the trap.

Bought the trap month ago. Could not set by hand. Bought the Duke set. Placed trap over one active groundhog hole. Two hours later, success.

I don't have a problem with the quality of materials only that it should be longer. I'm not sure if the length is sufficient for a #220 duke but it sure isn't for a #280. Before I bought it I read the reviews about adding some length to the handles to get more leverage and really to operate this in a safe manner you have to. So for the price I bought it to save some time on not having to fabricate the whole thing from scrap. I have a welder and some scrap metal to lenghten it with. I added about another 12 inches to the ends and it made it a ton easier to pull the springs together to set the safety latches.

Can't set the traps without it.

Was skeptical to begin with. I had strength to load previous traps but either these are stronger or my older traps becoming weaker ( Maybe me). Anyway this traps work very well to get past that extra strength needed to get it past point where it can easily be hold open with one hand enabling you to set trip with other. Just keep fingers out of area where trap will snap shut!!!

READ THIS REVIEW FIRST ! I normally don't write reviews, but I think this will be very helpful to you. This product is a set tool for a Conibear #220, #330, or #330 Magnum ! Let me tell you, if you do not have this tool, then "good luck" trying to set your #330 Magnum Conibear. I spent a bit of time with this tool & a #330 Magnum Conibear trap, & here are my findings. First, this tool appears bigger than it actually is. When the tool arrived, I thought they must have shipped me a smaller set tool by mistake...but in fact, it was the right set tool, but it's just not as big as you would think. Next, this tool is not quite big enough to easily set a #330 Magnum...a #330 Magnum is a very powerful trap & requires a LOT of leverage to set it. When I first tried to set the #330 Magnum with this tool, I could not do it alone...I could not use both hands to scissor this tool on the trap spring, & also attach the safety catch to the spring. I had a friend help me. My friend & I are both average sized men of average strength. I even with help, I could not close the trap. I went to Home Depot & bought 2 sections of black iron plumbing pipe, both sections were 4feet long. I slid a section of pipe over both handles of the set tool, which gave PLENTY of leverage to EASILY close the trap spring. My friend got near the floor to set the spring safety, & I was standing & using the pipes & set tool to close the spring. Just as the spring was nearly fully closed, the center nut & bolt assembly sheared off under the pressure & exploded into the garage & was lost. This set tool is made in China & the center bolt is 6mm & probably a cheap alloy. I went to Ace Hardware to replace the broken nut & bolt assembly, & I purchased a set of metric hardware which are "hardened grade 10.9" items, one 6mm bolt, two washers, one nut. I re-assembled the set tool with the new hardware, added the "cheater bars" (iron pipes) to the handles, & we tried again. Using the iron pipes as extensions for the tool, & with the hardened metric bolt, the trap spring closed so easily, that I found that I could do it all by myself & set the spring safety all alone. I spent time getting very familiar with the whole rig, & I finally determined what needed to be done to make this a "professional grade" set tool. I went to Lowes & bought 2 metal flat steel bars of the same size, thickness, & type that are used on the set tool, & about 4 feet long (they have red paint at the end, they cost about $7 each). I welded those bar extensions to the handles, which now made the set tool MUCH longer, with much greater leverage. If you do this, you need to make sure that you only weld at about 2" from the end of the handles, otherwise the extra material will be too close to the center nut & prevent the scissor trap tool from closing fully...you want the scissor action to close nearly completely so that the spring is brought almost completely together. The final touch was when I cleaned & degreased the nut & bolt with some spray on brake cleaner, & applied Red Loctite thread locker & let it sit for a day. After those modifications, the improved set tool will close even the most stubborn #330 Magnum Conibear trap. Note: if you buy the set tool but you do not use any of my modifications, then do yourself a BIG favor & just check the nut & bolt assembly to make sure it is tight EACH time you go to try to set the trap...if the nut & bolt assembly is loose, it will "walk out" as you scissor the handles...each time you try to close the trap, the nut is spinning off, & after a few tries, the nut & bolt will be unstable enough to explosively shear off, & you could get hurt. Wearing eye protection, thick leather gloves & sturdy boots is a advisable. But if you choose to use any ONE of my suggestions here, then definitely use the Red Loctite to prevent the tool from breaking apart during use.

A must have for trapping. Makes setting so much easier.

I had read alot of reviews saying this was made of fiberglass or aluminum. All I can say is the one I just got is solid STEEL, and the very first time I used it to compress the spring on a 220 trap, it was super easy to do. I am a flat out dummy newbie when it comes to trapping. I almost didnt buy this based on reports of it being too flimsy and/or not enuf leverage, but what I just got- its perfect

Works ok but flimsy.

They look ok haven't had a chance to use them yet and are made out of mild steel by the look of them , I basically purchased them for a trial and if they fail will make my own set tool just a lot more heavy duty.

Defiantly worth getting if ur setting a few 330s but be under no illusion even with these you need some strength to compress the springs

It was as described

Happy with this purchase. Heavy Duty, works well on my 220 trap.