14 replies to this topic

[Vic]

I have been reading a book dating from 1736 on farming and at that time they suggest the use of firecrackers to get rid of water voles.

[dan100]

hi, it doesn't suprise me at all a bit barbaric though, they're still used now for scaring birds [search rook scarers]
i bet thats some interesting reading, what's it called
dan

[phildunford]

I like the 'drive them to some other quarter' part!

[Vic]

what's it called

The book in question is called The Country Gentleman and Farmers Monthly Director a series of periodicals published in 1736.
A book handed down, but not from my side of the family I do add.

[dr thrust]

nice little, vintage American fire cracker video Kellners Fireworks

[dan100]

The book in question is called The Country Gentleman and Farmers Monthly Director a series of periodicals published in 1736.
A book handed down, but not from my side of the family I do add.

thanks, probably quite rare i imagine. nice piece of history. dan

[dan100]

nice little, vintage American fire cracker video Kellners Fireworks

and some nice old standard stuff. looks like they too use firecrackers for "scaring pests" since the bigger ones were banned

[Peret]

Around here, chipmunks, not water rats, are the pests. They're awfully cute, but they live in tunnels under the garden and eat the roots of the plants, which fall over and die. Firecrackers don't seem to bother them, but there's a splendid pest control firework called the "gasser" that does the trick. It's a thick sodium nitrate candle with a large excess of sulfur, and lighting one in the chipmunk tunnels drives them away for a couple of months. The same solution would probably work with moles.

[Rip Rap]

nice little, vintage American fire cracker video Kellners Fireworks

Great video!

A few "Standard" items in there. They must have exported these to the US? The rockets and candle look 70's / 80's.

[dan100]

Around here, chipmunks, not water rats, are the pests. They're awfully cute, but they live in tunnels under the garden and eat the roots of the plants, which fall over and die. Firecrackers don't seem to bother them, but there's a splendid pest control firework called the "gasser" that does the trick. It's a thick sodium nitrate candle with a large excess of sulfur, and lighting one in the chipmunk tunnels drives them away for a couple of months. The same solution would probably work with moles.

"gopher gasser"
sorry to take this slightly off topic, does anyone know of any other methods using pyrotechnic devices to drive them to roam other quarters i think its interesting to see old and new techniques.
bird banger pistols
salute rockets
rook/crow scarers
gopher gasser
i dont want to start an animal rights discussion and i would never use any devices in such a way.
dan

[dr thrust]

lol the most famous one i can think of is Weingarts "wasp light", which is essentially a 3/4 dia x 5" long gerb ,with the comp kno3..9, sulfur... 1.5, charcoal ..5.
all that is then needed to rid ones garden of said wasp nest is to afix the case to a long stick/pole and light her up

Edited by dr thrust, 14 April 2011 - 05:11 PM.

[megabusa]

lol the most famous one i can think of is Weingarts "wasp light", which is essentially a 3/4 dia x 5" long gerb ,with the comp kno3..9, sulfur... 1.5, charcoal ..5.
all that is then needed to rid ones garden of said wasp nest is to afix the case to a long stick/pole and light her up

Could have done with this last year.

Cost me 50 quid for a man in PPE to spray a nest in the soffit

Have you tried it ???

[Creepin_pyro]

.

Edited by Creepin_pyro, 08 October 2011 - 10:10 PM.

[BrightStar]

Can't find the picture at the moment, but I remember an ad for bangers designed to be tied to a bike handlebar for throwing at rabid dogs giving chase. Some sort of friction igniter system.

There's actually a modern equivalent - the Canadian 'Bear Banger'. Take a look on YouTube...

Personally I'd prefer to carry a bit more firepower trecking in bear country. I wonder if these quailify as Emergency Distress Pyrotechnics

[dr thrust]

on a tinternet trawling spree, i came across fire cracker pics for your viewing pleasure