"you don't have much galvanize coating on a piece of wire 0.009" thick." Don't confuse the galvanization process with paint or similar coatings. It does not function on the thickness of the coating.
"I'm sure my baking soda solution was a lot more than 1/4 cup per gallon, if we can make it too concentrated, that tells me that the soda is actually "eating" the galvanize."No. You've over-extended your chemistry. The reaction with a
concentrated basic solution is
different than the reaction with a mild or dilute base. It’s a different reaction not just a stronger or weaker version (as the case may be) of the same reaction, as you implied.
As for cutting chunks of cable, that won't be necessary. Like I said, I hold snares over for a year, sometimes more. As often happens when you make a catch and your swivel fouls (if you're using a swivel) the cable will open up on its own as the animal twists in the snare. I really can't recall seeing any rust inside any of this cable as I cut it free from the critter.
That is my observation.
-- Hal