Re: Home and garden projects
 

That was sort of my plan as we have two young male dogs who have nearly destroyed some small bushes. It turned out so well I don’t want them to go near it.

Re: Home and garden projects
 

Armadillos are one of only a few wild critters on the East Coast that I haven't seen in, or near our property. I haven't seen a coyote, but I know they're in the area, and a neighbor across the road at the back of our property saw a bear, and we have the usual slate of common critters - coons, possums, squirrels, chipmunks, box turtles, ground hogs and of course, deer, but no armadillos. And thankfully no wolves or boar/ feral pigs. :eek:

Re: Home and garden projects
 

I decided to try a homemade device to scare away Armadillos. I bought some parts including, a relay, timer, junkyard F150 horn and some outside flood lights. Every hour the floods come on and the horn starts to blow. This lasts 5 seconds then goes quite and dark. Sixty minutes later it repeats for 5 seconds. I just got it going last nite so it will be a while to determine its effect. For backup I bought a 28ga single shot shotgun.
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Re: Home and garden projects
 

Surely at least hook it up to a movement sensor? Floodlighting and sounding a truck horn for 5 seconds every hour sounds...a lot. I can only assume your and your neighbours' houses are far enough away that it isn't an overwhelming pain. But that sound would definitely carry!

Armadillos have very poor hearing so I'd be surprised if it scares them off, more that it annoys the humans.

Assuming you are dead set against co-existing I think options are fences or treating the ground to kill the grubs that they are digging for.

Re: Home and garden projects
 

My neighbors are far enough away but I will make sure it’s not a bother to them. My property is too large for fences or chemical treatments. The damage is requiring much time to repair and bags and bags of top
soil to fill the holes. Their hearing is actually quite good. They can hear insects underground. Their sense of smell is their best sense. Their eyesight is poor.

Re: Home and garden projects
 

I swore no more projects after the Fire Hydrant but I was at our local scrap yard and saw this drill press for scrap metal price. It is a Walker Turner from 1956. Walker Turner is a well known american manufacturer of high quality tools from 1920’s until bought out by Delta. I have another one I bought 25 years ago from a grandson of the man who bought it new in 1943. I am in process of restoring the newly purchased one and will build a stand for it.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...b7899135b.jpeg

Re: Home and garden projects
 

I got the drill press totally disassembled and have built the stand. I found a compact spare tire for the base and purchased a trailer axle hub new for $15. That’s better than trying to weld directly to the tire hub. All together about $65 for the new steel and other parts.
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Re: Home and garden projects
 

I got it finished and a new motor installed. There is a company somewhere in Midwest called Surplus Center that has a lot of new industrial items very low priced. I bought the new 1/2 hp motor for $57.
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Re: Home and garden projects
 

That's a great project, thank you for sharing. :)

I wish I had the time, and space, to do things like that. :unsure:

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Thanks. I saw it at the local scrap yard and didn’t want to see it scrapped when it’s better quality than new stuff being made today. A little rehab and it’s good for another 50 years.

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Not really a project, but the closest I can get.

I have windows like the below (rented, so can't do any structural/damaging stuff). Is there any way to make one of those portable airconditioners work with this set up? All the window kits for venting seem to be designed for sash windows.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...fa9e948aa1.jpg

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The "standard" approach seems to be taking a piece of plexi that has hole(s) in it for the vents, then fixing it to the inside of the frame. Once the window is swung (or cranked) open you are left with a vented plexi screen filling the gap.

You can achieve a similar effect using some tent fabric and Velcro but its flimsy and is gonna look a bit crap.

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Re: Home and garden projects
 

Ooh, thanks I'll have a look. The other part of the problem is where to put the bit of metal with the holes in it (don't know what the name of the thing is) that goes over the little post and holds the window open so it doesn't slam shut/blow open. It sticks back into the room unless all the way open. Looking a bit crap is the least of it really, it would just be for the bedroom for sleeping purposes.

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Is a total seal needed to keep out insects? That would be difficult and require a lot of effort. If that is not needed a piece of thin plywood with holes drilled for vent ducts could be cut to fit the open space and be easy and cheap but that would leave the top and bottom wedge open. Maybe fabric and Velcro to close these openings.

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Doesn't really help you but the thing you describe is a casement stay.