Do Moth balls still melt? Way back in school we used to melt paraffin and moth balls and pour some of this concoction into the bottom of a cigar box. This was to display our bug collections.
What to use to keep bugs away from horns
- Thread starter Eterry
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I have never found a real solution. Horns kept in storage, like a drawer or cabinet are most susceptible to the buggies. Horns I keep hanging (over 20) are not bothered.
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I know JB weld very well, growing up on a farm, it's heavy duty stuff.
Im wondering why you would use it to fill holes... it's high strength isn't needed to plug a hole. I think some Elmer's glue would fill the hole as well.
But it's yours, you can fill the holes with diamonds and rubies if you want...
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Honey bees travel a six mile radius to gather nectar and pollen. Three miles north of my bee yard there was an infestation of Army worms, Airplanes and sprayers were running all over the place. 50 hives, I had, down to zero in three days. Nope, I didn't raise hell about it because I am in the autumn of my life and the big government, land hog farmers would have prevailed. If they want to kill off what is pollenating our food, so be it. There is old farming practices to eliminate insect and weed infestations, but our illustrious institutions of agriculture, aided by chemical companies doesn't teach such things anymore.
Brokennock, are you having problems with the beetles getting into your horns now? Or is this just a prevented measure? If you don't have the problem now, I would not worry too much about it. If I had some real high class horns I would keep them in a box with mothballs or some other insect powder.
It could be a coincidence, I suppose , but it does seem that the bugs dont bother a horn that is being used. If it isnt the powder itself maybe the human activity? My horn was put away empty, in a drawer when the bugs found it.
Earlier you stated that when one of your horns was "attacked" it had powder in it. Was it real black powder or a substitute like Pyrodex? I'm no chemist but it would seem like the sulphar in real powder would act as some sort of repellant.
I was told damage to horn was caused by "Horn Moths." I've got some damage to my horn, very minor, and on a CF pistol, 1910 FN, the grips are horn. There is pretty extensive damage on both sides. I've never seen a horn moth, don't know if this is true, but it came from a reliable source. Carpet beetles will definitely eat feathers, about the only thing that does.
Brokennock
Cannon
I've had no problem as of yet. But, don't want to in the future, and, if my muddled ideas can be brought to clarity and be made helpful by, and for, someone else, I can be satisfied with that.
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Karamojo Bell said his rifle had never been fouled with a soft- point bullet... likewise my powder horn has Never Been Fouled by any Replica Black Powder.
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As Eterry noted, powder isn't a deterrent. Both of my horns that were chewed up had powder in them. Luckily, the bugs didn't chew all the way through and I still used the ugly horns.
Alrighty then, but some Entomologists will tell you that sulphar does repel some insects. Apparently not this particlar one though ! Is there a solution to this situation ?
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I do know, my horns were stored in the garage when attacked. I don't know if storage in a house would have made a difference.
Mine was in a house. So I guess bugs like it both ways. In fact it may have even been an air conditioned home. It at my Dads.
Brokennock
Cannon
Maybe get some cedar planks and make a storage box?
I'm working on my repellent herb oils mixed with wax idea. If I get it together I'll share. I can't really think of a way to do an honest controlled test of it though. I haven't had the bug problem, but don't want to.
I like your idea of soaps and oils in wax. There was an article about Murphys a while back. In was a sentence how it's used as an insect soap sometimes. It would seem like a mouthful of soap would make most any bug change his diet. It certainly would me !
Put your horns in the freezer for a few days and that will kill them. My mom use to do that with her sweater's, it works.
A box with moth balls will work also Brokennock.
I've no doubt the "deep freeze" treatment would work. Oh the wife is gonna love this !
Brokennock
Cannon
I'm sure it would. But a cedar box looks, and smells, nice. Who wants a stinky box......
I can't stand the smell of moth balls or crystals, and they seems to permeate things and areas in such a way that the odor shows up now and then even after the product is removed.
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