Beaver Dam quality

[prospector]

What do you guys think? Are the new dams still smoother than any other trap on the market? Thinking of getting six new ones, or trying to locate some older ones on EBay. Right now, I use HT Predators and Frabill round thermals in black. Want to buy a set that will outperform them for a long time to come. Thanks for chiming in, Joe

[Baetis62]

I have both but gravitate to the old ones.  I get them on ebay too when I come across them at the right price.  I kinda like refurbishing and customizing  them as a hobby (I have 8 of them underway right now) and get a kick out of fishing them when they are done.  The design hasn't changed much over the years but it does seem to me like the components on the old ones are better quality or were made of heavier materials.  I don't know if they necessarily fish better than the new ones but old ones are my preference.

[Kilbourn]

I second that! The old ones seem to be better to me as well. I always search CL or garage sales for them but refuse to get new ones, at one point between my dad and I, I think we had over 30 of them yet can't stop looking for the darn things. LOL As far as if Uncle Josh has done anything different with them since they bought, not sure.

[tlzkaasen]

I needed to purchase 6 about a year ago and needless to say received a few "dogs" in those 6. Beaver dam/ uncle josh quickly remedied the situation including line. Excellent customer service..

Beaver dam is still tops in my book. 

[Whopper Stopper]

I needed to purchase 6 about a year ago and needless to say received a few "dogs" in those 6. Beaver dam/ uncle josh quickly remedied the situation including line. Excellent customer service..

Beaver dam is still tops in my book. 

Good to hear

             WS

[donzov]

    Stick with the old ones. I bought two new ones at the end of last season, rigged them up and stored them for the summer. When I got them out this season the lube had ran out of them causing the stickers to wrinkle and come partly off.
    I contacted them and they said that I shouldn't have stored them upright and that I could re lube them myself.
    My old ones have never had this happen in the years that I've had them and I got them at a yard sale so I have no idea how old they are.

[DR.SPECKLER]

I run both new and old. they all work great.i like the newer style because they can be lubed up a lot easier than sodering and resodering the spool back on.all of mine work flawlessly and will be in my family a very long time.few parts  are different material but they aren't made of cheap junk either.

[Yachtzy]

I run both new and old. they all work great.i like the newer style because they can be lubed up a lot easier than sodering and resodering the spool back on.all of mine work flawlessly and will be in my family a very long time.few parts  are different material but they aren't made of cheap junk either.

Quick question please.  I have an old one and the spool came off. Do you solder it on with 50/50 solder, 95/5, or  brazing rod, or something else? Than you, Chris.

[DR.SPECKLER]

Quick question please.  I have an old one and the spool came off. Do you solder it on with 50/50 solder, 95/5, or  brazing rod, or something else? Than you, Chris.

im not exactly sure my solder roll doesn't have a label on it  any more but its just plain old silver solder.same stuff I use on the connections on electric guitars.

[Whopper Stopper]

Quick question please.  I have an old one and the spool came off. Do you solder it on with 50/50 solder, 95/5, or  brazing rod, or something else? Than you, Chris.

This is what I use

                         WS

[Yachtzy]

Looks like 95/5 solder and flux. Same stuff for copper water lines. Thanks guys.

[Big_Mel]

I love the old ones. Maybe it was cause my first three where hand me downs when grandpa past. But newer ones don't' have the same feel to them. Some labor of love with the wire brush wheel and they look like new..

[UFCreel]

[prospector]

How much Mason style line can a new style BD hold in 20 & 30# test? Thanks for all the input guys.   Is there a story behind the Jolly Rodger style?

[PikeFisherman325]

I think the quality of the new ones are very nice and is worth the extra money over other brands!

[52isntbigenough]

I like the old ones too. I took a set and sent them in to my gunsmith shop and had them hydro dipped. New flags, new decals and added hook keepers.

[2MuchStuff]

while I was waiting for good ice I went thru them cleaning and regreasing the stems ,and sanded and cleared the boards.
gave the spools a fresh coat of antique gold paint, rewound the line some fresh some just end for end.
these are as good as new, and will last longer than the plastic ones IMHO
I dont mind doing a little maintence here and there keeps me in touch with my gear.
kind of like cleaning and shooting your rifle before season .
as for quaility   Tops  old or new

[prospector]

Just picked up a six pack of new ones. Thanks for all of the help guys. Two of the six have nuts on the bottom to grease the spools. Thinking about returning them and having all of the set be the solder type. They seem a bit better quality to me. Thoughts?

[Baetis62]

You'll not regret it.  Interesting though... I thought all of the new ones going back a few years had the threaded rod and nut setup.  I didn't know they were turning out new ones that had spools soldered on.  Enjoy!

[prospector]

You'll not regret it.  Interesting though... I thought all of the new ones going back a few years had the threaded rod and nut setup.  I didn't know they were turning out new ones that had spools soldered on.  Enjoy!

I agree, thought all the new ones were threaded. To me, the threaded ones defeat the idea of a classic Beaver Dam.

[DR.SPECKLER]

when I got 3 jolly rodger beaver dams 2 had the old parts and 1 was with the newer parts.i emailed uncle josh company and the president of the company said they still had bins of the old style beaver dam parts and they were going to use them till gone.and some older style beaver dam tipups were still in circulation.

[Tripper]

  I just picked up a couple new ones. Mine have what appears to be a set screw on the side of the real that holds it in place.  Has anyone ever dealt with there customer service department? I ordered mine online and one of mine has a damaged shaft. Been in contact with them, but not resolved as of yet. 

[Baetis62]

Ive contacted them a time or two with questions and they responded right away even though I wasn't spending money.  Good Luck.

[DR.SPECKLER]

 I believe the uncle josh/beaver dam company will take care of you.

[Ice Surveyor]

Beaver Dam Tip ups. 

Crazy to think that some dude over 50 years ago came up with a design of a tip up that is still the standard in today's day and age.  That in itself is just crazy.  You would think that with all the technology that exists today, that we could set a line in the water and have the Iphone set the hook for us when tension is present.  I would venture to say that the Beaver Dam tip up is the greatest invention in the ice fishing industry, right next to Dave Genz.  Maybe I'm biased, as I know the dude that is still in charge of making all the BD tipups in Beaver Dam, WI.

[conesuscrab]

I just used mine for the first time this weekend.  Very pleased!  Great tip ups.  Caught perch, wall eyes and smallmouth on them.

[wyogator]

I just spoke to a rep at Uncle Josh about this.  He said that the new ones are threaded with a nut.  He said that if you get one that is soldered, it is an older one that has been sitting on a shelf for a while.  I like the new ones because you don't have to worry about soldering when you regrease them.  I just wish they had a damn crank handle on the bottom of the spool like the Frabills do.

[Limbow]

Nothing off the shelf beats The Arctic Fisherman!

[Damn Yankee]

I agree, thought all the new ones were threaded. To me, the threaded ones defeat the idea of a classic Beaver Dam.

You guys in-love with the old soldered end sound like the old British motorcycle guys that said
 "if its not leaking oil on the floor it's not a real BSA, Norton or Triumph".