Anyone use tubing for snares instead of whammys?

[northwestern]

I am thinking of trying surgical tubing instead of whammies on my snares next season. Was just wondering if many on this forum do this. Would like to hear the pros and cons anyone has on this. I use 7 x 7 3/32" cable with #9 wire for support. What size tubing would be required and how does it hold up from season to season on snares that do not make a catch? Thanks in advance to all who reply to this.

[k9]

Have not used surgical tubing. Aqaurium tubing is OK when it is warmer out, stiffens when it gets colder. Some auto tubing does not stiffen when it gets colder.

Thats the bottom line for me, is how is the tubing to work with in below freezing conditions. You can still work with it when it gets stiff, but some types may have a more tendancy to rip when cold.

[justwannano]

I tried the clear plastic stuff and didn't like it.
Too much trouble in the cold and in november december and january its usually cold.
Whammys are easy to make so thats what I use.
Tools needed are a variable speed drill and a phillips screwdriver of the right size.
just

[riverbandit]

I've used the clear tubing for many years now.

When bitterly cold, I just wrap my finger around the tubing for a few seconds and its pliable enough to insert the wire.

[Pinky "P"]

I like tubng and do the same thing you do dave when it gets cold. It seems like i'm always getting a few whammys that dont fit tight. The tubing is always tight!

[cooncatcher47]

I used the plastic tubing for along time and it worked just fine. Switched to wammys a number of years ago and have never regretted it. I think the wammys hold the cable better, but in the end both will do the job well.

[corporal]

I've used the clear plastic tubing for years. Its a little stiff when colder but stiill works great.

[hvtrapper]

If your using a standard set up like you described wammies are the way to go. Like Bob said, they are easy to make and last a long time.
My only knock on wammies is that they are cable size/support wire specific. The same wammie built for 3/32 cable and no. 9 wire does not work as well if you change cable or support wire sizes. The tubing will work in either case.

[rob]

I use whammys as well, but I also carry a roll of electrical tape with me. If I'm having trouble with the whammy I just tape the snare to the support. Works great.

[~ADC~]

Mar 4, 2013 8:19:35 GMT -6 rob said:

I use whammys as well, but I also carry a roll of electrical tape with me. If I'm having trouble with the whammy I just tape the snare to the support. Works great.

x2 The tube just didn't hold as solid as I liked. With the wammy I just twist them and I hang the snare 90 degrees to the trail even on the steepest banks.

~ADC~

[Deleted]

I use clear tubing and it works great. All my traps/snares ride in the back of an suv so that maybe why ive never had a problem with cold.

[4fur]

Whammies and #9 pig tail support wire for me but I stake everything with 1/2 rebar. Occasionally I set dig unders on fence lines and I just use #14 wire and make a "W" and I also find myself just splitting a pencil sized weed or stick when snaring spooked beaver, too. What ever works. What does not work for me is the goofy watch spring things the Snare Shop sells. Does anyone like them?

Also, does anyone know who invented the Whammy? I got my first from Craig O. maybe 25 yrs. ago and think I'm still reusing some. And Neil B. always equipped his SS snares with them as long as I can remember.

[LLLTrapper]

Whammies are great. I have used tubing but as some have said are not an all weather friendly tool. Lock that whammy by a simple twist using a # 9 pigtail and you can put it anywhere. Even in water. Wayne your defenately right on those watch spring pieces of S8&$!! LLL

[justwannano]

I guess I never even considered warming up the plastic tube with my hands. I have been trying to keep human scent off my traps and snares for so long that it never occured to me.
just

[Wiley Coyote]

I thought the late Ron Hansen of Brayton Iowa invented the wammy. He also invented the iowa disposable stake that so many have copied over the years.

[billallenisu]

Where do you guys get the surgical tubing? I use polyvinyl tubing from the hardware store and think its $.19 a foot.

Bill

[Bristleback]

Lots of tubing out there for the food industry that is rated say 160 degrees to minus 40 or -60...............there is enough flexibility to allow for the different support snare wire, say #9 vs #11 and or 1/16" vs 3/64". One thing I do anymore is cut my "whammys" longer.........the tube that it.......say 1" does wonders.
Another thing I've started doing is often times I'll put 2 whammys on a snare.....its' mere pennies..........sometimes when you get a snare knocked down it will "tear" the plastic whammy.......that really is the only down side to the plastic vs metal that I've experienced, once you get the wide range temp tubing.

Totally agree with the cone shaped whammy's, grrrrrrr, I'll leave it at "no thanks"

[bradphillips]

Whammies and #9 wire for me.

[rugersinglesix]

Number 9 and whammys also

[snareman29]

been useing vinyl tubeing for more than 10yrs now. cheaper and alot faster to make. just unroll from box and cut with some scissors, vs deal with wire and wire coil cutting afterwards, but wire wammis are reusable more times, to each there own kinda thing lol if your use to what you have and it works keep useing it

[grinnergetter]

We have used tubing for a few years and are happy with it until it gets cold then it can be a bit tougher to get the wire into it. We have found that the tubing off oxygen set ups that people use works well and you can usually get it for free if you check around. It has to be replaced every six months to year for people to keep using it.

[doubster]

i use the clear tubing,but ive found that the black vacum tubing works even better. cold weather has no effect on it. you can buy it at napa auto parts stores.

[TexA]

WHAMMYS & #9 Black WIRE !
Here's an idea that I tried (and it works) if you are using something other than 3/32 cable, #17 wire or #9 Wire for supports, one size Whammy probably won't work on the mixture you're using.
----------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
Take the upper-end of the support wire, lay it on a heavy piece of steel and lightly FLATTEN the end of the support wire. Turn the support wire a quarter-turn and whack it a couple more times, forming a square sided point on the end of the wire.

You will then be able to start the whammy over the support wire a little easier.
--------------------------------------- ----------------------------------
That would probably help if you used the plastic tubing too but I gave up on that stuff a long time ago.......
WHAMMYS are the way to go !

[justwannano]

If you used a whammy made for 7/32 with #9 and have a #11 support wire just stick some grass or a leaf stem into the whammy first. Then the #11 fits tight and all will work out OK.
Problem is when you've made the whammy for #11 wire. It just don't fit with a #9 support. I've got about 50 made that way .
just