My family and I are in the process of getting our house ready for sale. The realtor suggested we clear out as much stuff as possible and place them into storage. I store my supplies in plastic tubs that I lined with cedar. I will be placing these tubs in boxes that will hold several. I thought I would add moth balls or crystals to the boxes for added protection in storage. Can someone tell me how often I should replace or replenish to keep them effective?
Depends on how much you put in to start with. I do it about every 6 months or so. The smell lasts a long time and will keep most bugs at bay. I would suggest putting your materails in Zip-locks first then you won’t have to worry about it to much. Ron
If I use the crystals, do I place it in a small open vessel that won’t tip over?
I followed Al Campbell’s way of bug control.
No moth balls or crystals at all. He suggested and showed me when were tying at a Fish In, his use of “No Pest Strips”. Not only do they repel but also kill the buggs.
There is an article here on FAOL that he wrote.
I used to use a very toxic fumigation process here on the Ranch Hackle. I find it no longer needed.
I cut the 2" wide x 6" strips into one x 2 strips, loosley wrap in a small piece of saran wrap and place in all our storage containers.
As far as I am concerned, this is the only way to go.
It works better than anything I have ever tried.
Denny
Thanks Denny. I did not even consider the No Pest Strip. 8)
Hi TyroneFly,
I second what Denny shared with you. I’ve been using pest strips for years.
Tight Lines - Al Beatty
www.btsflyfishing.com
Al & Denny …
- Is there a specific brand?
- Why do you wrap them loosely in saran wrap?
- How often do you change the strips?
- Denny, specifically what else do you do prior to storage, as I would imagine that Bugs in your operation could be pretty devastating.
Thanks… it might get the rest of the household off my back everytime I open the material closet and let a blast of Moth balls/crystal odor loose in the house :lol:
Here’s the link at it answers a number of questions:
I dislike moth balls because of the odor. It gives me a huge headache with just a moment’s exposure. Also, some one also wondered if the material can actually absorb the odor. After helping my neighbhor clean out her boxes in the cellar, I believe it. Even after washing, clothes still smelled like mothballs. Can fish smell, too? Maybe. Maybe not. I know the crawdad in son’s aquarium does. It can smell if there’s food.
I have used a natural bug repellent when I put things away for any period of time and haven’t had a single bug in my material.
I found several recipes in a herb book, and the common factor seems to be cloves, cinnamon, and peppermint/lavender oil.
Ive been tying for over 25 years and have never used moth balls in any of my materials and havent had a problem with any kind of bugs.
Moth balls and flakes evaporate slowly.
I replenish them after they are gone.
Usually about once a year if the plastic baggies are not left open too much.
I’ve been using cloves for a long time and have not had any trouble and they seem to last for years… Pest strips sound good and I’ll have to give them a try just because Denny and Al suggest them. I take it they don’t smell. A friend uses pipe tobacco…Bob
mantis,
Where do you buy cloves? I would rather use a natural method as I am concern with using pest strips in a storage locker after contacting the manufacturer. They suggested food or anything used in the processing of food should not be stored with a pest strip.
You can buy cloves at any grocery store in the spice aisle. You could probably buy them in bulk at a “nateral” food store. They can be expensive if bought in the spice aisle. Try a search on a food website, although i’ve never tried any. Goodluck.
Tyrone,
The pest strips won’t be harmful by using it in your flytying materials because the fish won’t be ingesting the fly/flies in an adequate amount to create toxicity.
However, you can find whole cloves in the spice aisle of your local grocery store, usually in a small, rectangular metal can. Be sure the can specifies whole cloves. I don’t think the powder would be very easy to clean up every time you grab your hackles. They should smell nice though.
Yes, whole cloves… not the powdered stuff.
Try [url=http://www.bulkfoods.com/search_results.asp?txtsearchParamCat=37&txtsearchParamType=ALL&txtsearchParamMan=ALL&txtsearchParamVen=ALL&txtFromSearch=fromSearch&txtsearchParamTxt=4278:a2a0d]these[/url:a2a0d] guys. I have bought stuff from them before for cooking.
Cloves in a supermarket can run you several bucks an ounce. And while you’re at the market, pick up a small ham and ram some of those cloves into it before baking.
Ahhh, ham…I love it more than fly tying!
Thanks for the link to the source for whole cloves. 