Seat Belt

Thomas · May 20, 2000

I found another positive use for a seat belt.
With the seat belt fasten tight the black flies can't carry one away.
For some strange reason there extra hungry and I'm about half quart low on blood.

Does anybody know of a good insect spray beside diesel fumes or mixing chainsaw fuel tad stronger with oil.

I pretty sure its not that I'm so sweet (but my girl friend think so) its the strange weather here in the northeast.

BobT · May 20, 2000

The only active ingredient in most bug repellant products is essential oil of citronella. This is what is in all those lanterns and natural flame lighting products, which burn kerosene, liquid paraffin, citronella and lamp oil.

Citronella Oil is a completely natural product. The active ingredient is Anise-aldehyde. Citronella Oil is also used in cosmetics, detergents and soaps.

This is a safe, non-toxic substance which I recommend over the unknown and potentially highly dangerous side effects of commercial chemical sprays.

Essential oil of cirtonella is available at most health food stores, for around $2.50 an ounce.

You can make your own formula using 10% oil of citronella, and 90% "inert" oil (like oilve oil).

You can apply this to your arms, neck, etc before going out.

Or, you can make up a kind of "bug band" by buying a packet of those tennis wrist pads, which only cost a few dollars. Drop the mixture on ten or twelve times around the bands and place one on each wrist. This way, the scent will create a protective zoen around you, and should cut down on the attack rate of bugs.

Citonella oil should NEVER be applied undiluted directly to the skin, but always mixed with a diluting oil.

Hope this helps.

Bob T.

A Indiana Boy

W5FL · May 20, 2000

DEET seems to be the active ingredient that works for most insects. Sold in BackWoods version which is pretty strong and effective.

BobT · May 20, 2000

DEET (diethyl toluamide) works as an insect repellant. However, it is a toxic chemical used in over 97% of all insecticides. Studies have shown that there are many risks associated with its use.

Melting of plastics
Skin irritations
Forms of seizures
Death in some cases

The oldest claim in the insect-repelling industry is that DEET, used in moderation, will work effectively on mosquitoes and other annoying biting bugs.

DEET IS the most common base in sprays. When reading the directions on spray cans, you should note that the manufacturer still suggests that the spray not come in contact with human skin, eyes, nose or mouth. (Harmful if swallowed. If rash persists, consult with your doctor.)

Sprays must be reapplied every hour for best results. If you perspire, or become wet, sprays are not effective at all.

See my other post for alternative using oil of citronella.

BobT.

A Indiana Boy

jyoutz · May 21, 2000

You all might think this is funny, but I work in the woods and this is tried and true. The best bug repellent I have found for mosquitos and no-see-em gnats is Avon Skin-so-Soft Lotion or spray (unscented). I don't know why this stuff works, but bugs will stay away (and you won't have any dry skin either). I was told about this by a logger and since have heard of many people who use this stuff. I don't know if its the best solution, but it sure works better than Off, Cutter, or any other commercial bug spray that I have tried. You'll just have to locate an Avon lady to get some.

MChalkley · May 21, 2000

Consumer Reports said this is just a myth and the stuff is worthless as a bug repellent. Which, considering the general consensus on the value of their advice, brings up the question: Since I don't know any Avon ladies, do you know if there's a way to order it via the web?

Mark

gordon · May 22, 2000

That is another time that I disagree with the allmighty Consumer Reports. Skin So Soft works great and I'm not afraid to put it on the kids. Sorry Mark no idea about the web and Avon. If its anything like Amsoil you should be able to find a dealer on the web. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
I didn't renew my Consumer Reports this past year seems like they are going to left field.
Gordon

Bird · May 22, 2000

Mark, I recall reading once, several years ago, that the Army was experimenting with Skin-so-Soft to see if it really worked as well as other bug repellants, but I don't recall ever seeing anything about their final decision. However, my wife is absolutely convinced it works great, and since her best friend (neighbor right behind us) sells Avon . . ../w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I've only tried it once and wasn't bothered by mosquitoes that time, but don't know whether I'd have been bothered that day if I hadn't used anything.

Bird

jyoutz · May 23, 2000

Mark, I readily testify that this stuff works. A few years back, the no-see-ems were so bad that I was swollen from head to toe, which is bad if you must work in the woods. I tried Cutter, Off, military issue bug spray, even resorted to buying and smoking a cigar (didn't effect the bugs, but made me turn green). Nothing worked well until I tried the skin-so-soft. Not a 100% repellant, but far better than anything else I tried. Also works on mosquitos. My wife buys the spray for me in pint-size bottles and we all use it when mosquitos are bad. What I like best is that the unscented works as well as the other types. By the way, I have no connection whatsoever to the company.

W5FL · May 23, 2000

Re: Insect Repellant

I'm convinced. I'll take some (Skin so Soft). Is this the stuff that Avon sells that has some repellant in it that is recommended for children also?

Anonymous Poster · May 23, 2000

Re: Insect Repellant

Skin So Soft does seem to work well. I use it on my dogs when the bugs start bothering them and it really does keep them away. And it's safe to spray around their muzzles.

MChalkley · May 23, 2000

I'm going to try it for our beasties around here. I got nailed by several May flies today - they hurt! I've put the wife on it...

Mark

jyoutz · May 24, 2000

I don't really know what all insects this stuff repels. It works good on mosquitos and no-see-em gnats. You have to get the original unscented spray, because I've been told that other scents don't work well and I'm not sure about the cream. I've only used the spray.

W5FL · May 24, 2000

Wonder if it works on chiggers and ticks or what does?

They are bad and getting worse after having a mild winter.

It is ok if it doesn't work on grass hoppers as they don't bite /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

PBMAX · May 24, 2000

Re: Insect Repellant

I gang, I have found only one replent that even comes close to skin so soft at least to me--its called Off skin tastic...its a pump spray that (my mom says it even smells quite a bit like skin so soft/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif) I wonder if this on purpose or co-winky-dink or what? though I haven't seen it in a while..............Any body else tried this stuff?

Lil' Paul

RobertN · May 25, 2000

EAT MORE GARLIC!!! It does keep the vampires away!
I know a couple telephone linemen. They either eat a lot of garlic, or use those garlic pills. They say it really helps. I notice when I am not eating things with Garlic, the bugs chase me more.

Otherwise Skin-so-Soft works great. It's what we use, especially with our son. And yes, it was very hard to get during Desert Storm. US Military had priority orders... Never have seen the stuff in Mil bottles though... Conspiracy?

http://shop.avon.com/avonshop/dept.asp?pdept_id=13&dept_id=16

RobertN in Shingle Springs Calif

Bird · May 25, 2000

Guys, all this discussion about the insect repellants and Avon's Skin-So-Soft made me ask my wife about it. I thought Skin-So-Soft was one product, but there are a half dozen of them. She says this bottle she's showing me of "original" bath oil was the first Skin-So-Soft, but she also has here a little 2 fl. oz. pump spray bottle of "Skin-So-Soft BUG GUARD Mosquito Repellent SPF15 Moisturizing Sunblock Spray". And BobT, it says, "active ingredient Oil of Citronella 0.10%, inert ingredients 99.90%".

Bird

W5FL · May 27, 2000

Bird,

Now my wife is totally confused. She was going to order some from the Avon lady at church Sunday. Now which one is the right one? /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Bird · May 27, 2000

Wen, I don't know anything about that Avon stuff. I believe if I were buying it for a mosquito repellent, I'd buy the one made for that with the oil of citronella in it; however, my wife just now told me that the original bath oil was the one folks first claimed worked, and she believes it. Even though it's apparently for putting in bath water, she said she just rubbed some of it on herself full strength yesterday and the mosquitoes didn't bother her, but this morning she went out without it and they did. The mosquitoes were really bad around here yesterday and today both, but I still have a big can of Deep Woods Off and it works well for me (for about 30 minutes and then you need a fresh application)./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif My wife keeps telling me the Skin-So-Soft works better (but that I might not want to smell that pretty), so I guess I'll try it again when the can of Off runs out./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Bird

BobT · May 29, 2000

Re: COMPUTERIZED Insect Repellant

Well, whaddya know... I could barely believe it when I saw it, but here it is---the COMPUTERIZED mosquito repellent !!!

From Winfiles.com...

Banish Mosq

Version 0.9
24-May-00
181K Win 95/98/NT
Shareware

Protects you from mosquitoes by emitting a sound through your PC speaker. BanishMosq can keep running in the background either in audible or quiet mode. Apparently, only breeding female mosquitoes bite humans, and they often avoid the males. The EBM expels mosquitoes by imitating the sound of a male mosquito. The program runs as a convenient icon in the System Tray area of the Windows taskbar.
Published by KPSOFT

I don't know exactly how you can rig this up on your compact tractor, but somebody probably will figure it out!

Download from http://winfiles.cnet.com/apps/98/apps.html

BobT.

A Indiana Boy