Keeping the cheese thieves away.
01-20-2010, 09:12 PM
#1
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Keeping the cheese thieves away.
In a discussion on tires and mileage, I mentioned checking the air filter and tail pipe to see if a nest had been built in there. I'll bet a lot of guys (and gals) here sometimes let their equipment set for a while. I've fiddled with old iron since I was five (it takes one heck of a bow too) and I've had to fight the little cloth gnawers a lot over the years. Here are a few tips to keep the little stinkers (literally) out of your old truck or car.
#1 Steel wool is your friend. Stuff it into the air intake and the exhaust pipe. Mice have trouble getting through it. It's not pleasant to gnaw on and by the time they can get through it, something will eat them. It's easy to remove when you want to drive the equipment again and lets the piping breathe so it doesn't rust inside as bad as it can.
#2 Duct tape. If you plan to let it sit for a fairly long time, duct tape over the end of the pipe will keep them from jumping up and grabbing hold. Add steel wool inside in case they do manage to get in, you'll have an open exhaust when you want it. A little alcohol, acetone or adhesive remover will remove any glue deposits.
#3 Bounce Fabric Softener sheets. Over the years, a lot of people have used moth ***** to keep mice out. The moth ***** made today aren't very good at this due to changes in formulation and health concerns. Some people are allergic to moth ***** too and the smell tends to linger. Bounce sheets are easy to lay around the inside of the cabin and any enclosed space. The smell will evaporate quickly. There is a label on the front of the box to show how strong the smell is. More is better. Mice aren't very smart and go by smell a lot. This over powers their sense of small.
#4 Peanut butter. Set some traps around in the garage, barn or whatever and bait them with peanut butter but don't set them. Check them from time to time and see if the bait has been eaten. (Keep spot the dog away, dogs like it too) Rebait and check again later. If it's been taken again, rebait and set the trap. Mice get used to a safe food source and this will get them every time.
Mice only have one bone in their body. The skull. The rest of the skeleton is cartillige and if they can get their head in, they can get through. One caveat though is NO POISON! No telling where they will die and the smell of death is really hard to get out of your interior. Your dog or cat can also get one after it eats poison but before it dies. You may end up poisoning you pet.
The best way to keep them out is to keep driving it.
#1 Steel wool is your friend. Stuff it into the air intake and the exhaust pipe. Mice have trouble getting through it. It's not pleasant to gnaw on and by the time they can get through it, something will eat them. It's easy to remove when you want to drive the equipment again and lets the piping breathe so it doesn't rust inside as bad as it can.
#2 Duct tape. If you plan to let it sit for a fairly long time, duct tape over the end of the pipe will keep them from jumping up and grabbing hold. Add steel wool inside in case they do manage to get in, you'll have an open exhaust when you want it. A little alcohol, acetone or adhesive remover will remove any glue deposits.
#3 Bounce Fabric Softener sheets. Over the years, a lot of people have used moth ***** to keep mice out. The moth ***** made today aren't very good at this due to changes in formulation and health concerns. Some people are allergic to moth ***** too and the smell tends to linger. Bounce sheets are easy to lay around the inside of the cabin and any enclosed space. The smell will evaporate quickly. There is a label on the front of the box to show how strong the smell is. More is better. Mice aren't very smart and go by smell a lot. This over powers their sense of small.
#4 Peanut butter. Set some traps around in the garage, barn or whatever and bait them with peanut butter but don't set them. Check them from time to time and see if the bait has been eaten. (Keep spot the dog away, dogs like it too) Rebait and check again later. If it's been taken again, rebait and set the trap. Mice get used to a safe food source and this will get them every time.
Mice only have one bone in their body. The skull. The rest of the skeleton is cartillige and if they can get their head in, they can get through. One caveat though is NO POISON! No telling where they will die and the smell of death is really hard to get out of your interior. Your dog or cat can also get one after it eats poison but before it dies. You may end up poisoning you pet.
The best way to keep them out is to keep driving it.
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01-21-2010, 09:55 PM
#9
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Thanks Grouch. This is very good advice for RVs too. They are a huge target for mice, with the seasonal storage and the food smells/crumbs. Also, they typically have lots of tiny entry points underneath and on the sides.
01-21-2010, 11:13 PM
#10
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Take sheet metal, thin enough to(about 8 inches wide) bend in circles, large enough to encircle a tire on a vehicle. make some big rings and set them on ground around the tires. the mice cant cling to the slick metal sides. and cant climb up the tires and into the truck.
works with old tractors.
works with old tractors.
01-22-2010, 08:03 PM
#11
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I have a dog that watches the garage for me. Boy does he watch it! He kind of creeps me out a bit at times. 
He almost makes me a bit crazy.
He almost makes me a bit crazy.
01-24-2010, 08:38 PM
#14
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For those of us with fence chargers and livestock...
Take a fence charger, Run the ground to a piece of diamond plate or any metal for that matter. Cut a chunk off a 4x4 post. Set it on top of the steel plate. Run the hot down onto the block and staple it to the wood with a stripped end about 1 1/2" from the steel plate. Bait the stripped end with peanut butter.
Mice walk onto the steel plate, get up on their hind legs for some peanut butter. And whamo! A nice blue spark across their tongue! 10,000 volts!
Can anyone say fried micey?
Take a fence charger, Run the ground to a piece of diamond plate or any metal for that matter. Cut a chunk off a 4x4 post. Set it on top of the steel plate. Run the hot down onto the block and staple it to the wood with a stripped end about 1 1/2" from the steel plate. Bait the stripped end with peanut butter.
Mice walk onto the steel plate, get up on their hind legs for some peanut butter. And whamo! A nice blue spark across their tongue! 10,000 volts!
Can anyone say fried micey?
01-24-2010, 10:34 PM
#15
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