camerart
Well-Known Member
Hi,
Last year, in order to keep the slugs and snails from getting to my vegetables, I made a simple slug fence. It was only a metal pipe laid on the earth round the plot, with 12v connected to it, and the negative connected to an earth spike in the centre of the plot. This mainly worked ok, but not completely.
This year I have just made a 'better' one out of lengths of 1 1/2 inch wide plastic and 1/4 inch flat copper copper strips fitted about 1/8 inch apart. The 12v battery is connected pos to one and neg to the other, with a light bulb in series, in case of short circuit.
Cheers, Camerart.
[EDITED, after IDEAS and SUGGESTIONS up to last date] [With added cat repellent]
It should be able to be left alone (2 weeks holiday) without chasing slugs/snails with a torch and sprays, or add salt, coffee grounds, diatomaceous earth, egg shells, cat/lion/hyena pee or any other substance, simply this years circuit but improved if possible.
This years circuit is working well, the vegetables are growing, only one sign of leaf chomping so far. So only a track inspection and a (used) toothbrush to clear the track is needed.
PROBLEMS: I am not aiming to kill slugs/snails just turn them away, but I have to clean the tracks each morning as they are 'fried' (1-3/day) less as time goes on. I assume there is a current of app 1Amp. So if one slug 'attacks' they get the full 1amp, if 2 'attack they share. I think it would be better if less current was supplied, enough to turn them back, but if 2 arrive it would be raised to suit.
EDIT: 2015
Last years fence was a horizontal track of two 5mm tracks of copper fixed to lengths of plastic. While it worked ok, it gradually got oxidised over time. This allowed slugs/snails to get halfway across before their action cleaned off the oxidisation, then they got fried. This is not my intention, I only want them to turn back.
This year, after some thought, I made a wooden fence approx 6 inches high, with once again two tracks, but of stainless steel wrapped round the whole perimeter, approx 5mm apart. One to negative and the other to positive, in series with a light bulb, in case of shorting. Hopefully any deaths, will drop off. Last night was the first night, so I 'trained' a slug and a snail to try to cross. Neither did, so I assume it will work, and keep clean this time.
I used reclaimed wood for the fence and an old battery, with a solar charger. Plus the cost of S/S wire a few pounds, so very cheap.
Here's a photo: Not pretty but affective (I hope)
Camerart.
Last year, in order to keep the slugs and snails from getting to my vegetables, I made a simple slug fence. It was only a metal pipe laid on the earth round the plot, with 12v connected to it, and the negative connected to an earth spike in the centre of the plot. This mainly worked ok, but not completely.
This year I have just made a 'better' one out of lengths of 1 1/2 inch wide plastic and 1/4 inch flat copper copper strips fitted about 1/8 inch apart. The 12v battery is connected pos to one and neg to the other, with a light bulb in series, in case of short circuit.
Cheers, Camerart.
[EDITED, after IDEAS and SUGGESTIONS up to last date] [With added cat repellent]
It should be able to be left alone (2 weeks holiday) without chasing slugs/snails with a torch and sprays, or add salt, coffee grounds, diatomaceous earth, egg shells, cat/lion/hyena pee or any other substance, simply this years circuit but improved if possible.
This years circuit is working well, the vegetables are growing, only one sign of leaf chomping so far. So only a track inspection and a (used) toothbrush to clear the track is needed.
PROBLEMS: I am not aiming to kill slugs/snails just turn them away, but I have to clean the tracks each morning as they are 'fried' (1-3/day) less as time goes on. I assume there is a current of app 1Amp. So if one slug 'attacks' they get the full 1amp, if 2 'attack they share. I think it would be better if less current was supplied, enough to turn them back, but if 2 arrive it would be raised to suit.
EDIT: 2015
Last years fence was a horizontal track of two 5mm tracks of copper fixed to lengths of plastic. While it worked ok, it gradually got oxidised over time. This allowed slugs/snails to get halfway across before their action cleaned off the oxidisation, then they got fried. This is not my intention, I only want them to turn back.
This year, after some thought, I made a wooden fence approx 6 inches high, with once again two tracks, but of stainless steel wrapped round the whole perimeter, approx 5mm apart. One to negative and the other to positive, in series with a light bulb, in case of shorting. Hopefully any deaths, will drop off. Last night was the first night, so I 'trained' a slug and a snail to try to cross. Neither did, so I assume it will work, and keep clean this time.
I used reclaimed wood for the fence and an old battery, with a solar charger. Plus the cost of S/S wire a few pounds, so very cheap.
Here's a photo: Not pretty but affective (I hope)
Camerart.
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