How to Design a Mouse Trap
Mice can be a problem. They can get into the insulation in your walls and make nests. They can get into your cupboards and eat your food. What you need is a mousetrap. Rather than rely on a traditional wooden snap-style mousetrap that may be successful only some of the time, use that trap to design a mousetrap that will work almost all of the time. Read on to learn more. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Empty coffee can Wooden mousetrap Screw driver Small wood screws Needle-nosed pliers Pliers Skewers (bamboo or wood) Aluminum mesh screen Thin wire Glue Drill
Instructions
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Drive three screws into the top of the coffee can's side. The points of the screws should extend into the can's inside.
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2
Press the wooden mousetrap against the inside of the can and against the points of the screws. Make sure the wooden mousetrap's hinge is on the top half. The trap should extend about two inches above the rim of the can.
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3
Take the wooden mousetrap from the can and turn it face down on your work surface. Drill small holes through each of the marks made by the screws. These small holes are pilot holes. They will prevent the wood from splitting when you secure the wooden mousetrap inside the can on the screws,
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4
Turn the trap over so metal parts are facing up. Grasp the tip of the metal trigger plate with a pair of pliers and curl until the tip faces the hinge. Test the curl you made by inserting the end of a skewer in the hole located in the trigger plate's tip. The skewer should stand straight up. If it does not, adjust the curl you made until it does.
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5
Remove the skewer, and turn the mousetrap over on the work table. Squeeze wood glue into the holes. Place the wooden mousetrap inside the can and secure it with the wood screws.
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6
Cut a square piece from a screen (see Resources) with a pair of scissors or snips. The square should be larger than the mouth of the coffee can. Place the screen on top of the coffee can's mouth.
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Open the snapper (the metal killer bar) of the mousetrap until it lays flush against the screen. Pin it in place with a skewer. Fasten the snapper to the screen with lengths of thin wire. Snip off any excess. Remove the skewer that is pinning the snapper to the screen.
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Shorten the skewer with the snips. It should be short enough so that when it stands upright in the trigger it will still fit inside the coffee can. Drive one end of the cut skewer into the table to soften the point. This will allow whatever you use as bait to stick better.
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Set the undamaged end of the skewer into the trigger plate of the wooden mousetrap. Smear the mashed end of the skewer with peanut butter, chocolate, or whatever you think a mouse would like.
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10
Choose a likely place for your mousetrap. Prime the trap by laying the can on its side with the snap bar in the open position and the screen resting flat on the ground. Do not be surprised when you find a mouse in it the next morning.
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Tips & Warnings
You can improve the design of the mousetrap by gluing the end of the can to a wooden board. This can help prevent the can from rolling around. Further modifications can include putting masking tape around the edges of the screen. This can help keep from injuring the mice you are aiming to catch.
