posted
Hi Heads. Last evening, on chat, we had a discussion going and various opinions were expressed as to why it is that insects are attracted to fresh paint. This wasn't really resolved, but one possible explaination was offered by Monte that seemed to make a bit of sense. He contended that it was because the paint smelled like a female insect, and so the other bugs were attracted. The thing is, I've never checked to determine the gender of them bugs sticking to my panels, so I have some doubts about that theory.
The one thing I have noticed, is that it seems to matter little as to what kind of paint you are using. They seem to like all types and colors.
Can any of you offer an explaination as to why wet paint attracts insects, and have any of you found any additive that will prevent this from happening?
-------------------- Ken Henry Henry & Henry Signs London, Ontario Canada (519) 439-1881 e-mail: kjmlhenry@rogers.com
Why do I get all those on-line offers to sell me Viagara, when the only thing hardening is my arteries ?
Actually I clipped it to my rolling table, and pointed it toward the copy I had yet to letter and was able to letter and keep rolling along without incident.
We always get dem bugs too, doesn't matter if there is light or not. seems as if the gassing or fumes from the paint takes the wind right out of thier sails.
Kamikazi fruit flies~
-------------------- Bob Rochon Creative Signworks Millbury, MA 508-865-7330
"Life is Like an Echo, what you put out, comes back to you."
Posts: 5149 | From: Millbury, Mass. U.S. | Registered: Nov 1998
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The best way I have found is to paint at night or in a darkened room with the light source at the opposite end of the room. This attracts the bugs away from the paint area. When I finish painting, I shut off the lights and leave. That way they can't see what color it is.
-------------------- Wayne Webb Webb Signworks Chipley, FL 850.638.9329 wayne@webbsignworks.com
Posts: 7405 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
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posted
LOL...if you think color doesn't matter, just paint something yellow on a hot summer evening in humid Oklahoma...you'll get every bee species mosquito and june bug from "Miles Around" Oklahoma.
I just pick them off in the morning (hope they didn't track to far)and scrape off the spare legs with a single edge rasor blade held on edge.
Hey these trade secrets aint free ya'know...yer turn!
[ November 19, 2001: Message edited by: Monte Jumper ]
-------------------- "Werks fer me...it'll werk fer you"
Bugs and paint-- they go together like mustard and hot dogs, pony tails and circle skirts, saddle shoes and bobby sox, soda joints and juke boxes, etc.
What can one say about bugs? they are not too "swift"-- they require six legs in order to stand up (spiders are even worse, they need eight and still spend a lot of time hanging by a thread) They get swacked on paint fumes and can't walk, so, they try to fly, and usually land face down or flat on their back in the paint.
Even lightning bugs aren't too bright, headlight in the rear notwithstanding.Why would any self-respecting bug want to see only where he has been whilst flying into a solid object in front of himself in the dark?
If said bug lands on his back, all is not lost. Just pick him off the wet paint by grabbing him by his wildly waving legs-- try for at least four. If he is on his face, apply the same technique to his wildly waving wings. If all else fails, leave him, let the paint dry, and pick off his dead body. Be sure he is dead. Depending on which side is up you could get stung or bit. Whatever is left is usually too small to detract much from your sign.
Tonights lesson in entomology with an aside in observations about arachnids.
-------------------- Bill Preston Fly Creek, N.Y. USA
Posts: 943 | From: Fly Creek, N.Y. USA | Registered: Jan 2000
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posted
Only problem I have with bugs is when they bounce off my monitor into my BEER !!!! I've tried moving my can back, left, and right, but, they still find their way into my suds !!! Guess I will have to start covering the can with a tuna can like I do when I am sandblasting outside to keep the sand out of the brew !
-------------------- John Smith Kings Bay Signs (Retired) Kissimmee, Florida Posts: 822 | From: Central Florida - The Sunshine State | Registered: Jan 2000
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posted
I think it's an unwritten bug law that if they land in paint they have to: 1) Be BIG 2) Be Strong 3) Complete a minimum of 40" of backstroke before perishing.
SONGPAINTER Original Sign Music by Sign People NOW AVAILABLE on CD and the proceeds go to Letterville's favorite charity! Click Here for Sound Clips! Posts: 1974 | From: Orleans, MA, Cape Cod, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Gee Mark, thanks ever so much for that award. Do you think if I hang it up far enough away from the fresh paint that it might help keep the flies off? Maybe I'll even try a whole pailful.
-------------------- Ken Henry Henry & Henry Signs London, Ontario Canada (519) 439-1881 e-mail: kjmlhenry@rogers.com
Why do I get all those on-line offers to sell me Viagara, when the only thing hardening is my arteries ? Posts: 2689 | From: London,Ontario, Canada | Registered: Feb 1999
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posted
Actually it serves tha lil suckers right when they start that dance of death,....they ought to know better than to try & mess up my paint! I'm with Monte lettem die a slow hard death & cut tha corpse away tha next morning.
-------------------- fly low...timi/NC is, Tim Barrow Barrow Art Signs Winston-Salem,NC Posts: 2224 | From: Winston-Salem,NC,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Hi, this is John from Big Top Graphics in B.C. Re bugs, yeah, they do like the fresh letter, but if you can catch them before they land..... When I see one hovering, I go after him/her with my brush (a flat works better than a quill, more area) and just tap the bug. Once on the brush, just pallet it off and keep on lettering! Later, mount the pallet on the den wall and you got big time trophy action.
-------------------- John Lennig / Big Top Sign Arts 5668 Ewart Street, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada bigtopya@hotmail.com 604.451.0006 Posts: 2184 | From: Burnaby, British Columbia,Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
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posted
Well bugs in your paint is much better than ants in your pants. But all ya gotta do is scrape the little suckers off when the paint dries with a razor. Sometimes you have to go over it a couple times to get all the legs. Seems like the daddy long legs are the ones I am always scraping off.
Posts: 3729 | From: Seattle | Registered: Sep 1999
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posted
we just might be millionaires with this idea ken!!!
make something that stinks to high heaven, wrapped in celophane.
the sign person simply tears open the end of the bag and places on a stick, approx. 28" away from freshly painted substrate, and all winged insects will flock!
ken, don't tell anyone else about our idea.... okay???
bubba
sorry i had to edit my post but an important disclaimer should be presented at this point...
Stick Not Included!
[ November 20, 2001: Message edited by: Mark Fair Signs ]
posted
Well you guys obviously don't live in cockroach country like here...try rolling a 4x10 right b4 you go home to avoid a buncha dust, insects ,whatever.... only to get back in the a.m. to find that a nice 3in long one has dropped in, of course at one end, and made a nice track about 4ft long and 4-5inches wide... b/c he decided he could free himself by flapping his wings at 100,000rpms which of course pulled off and sunk flat with the surface right b4 the *&%&^$&#&*&(*&^(*&!@# thing flipped itself upside down and died...
[ November 20, 2001: Message edited by: Gavin Chachere ]
-------------------- Gavin Chachere Plotter in the garage,New Orleans La.
"Sgts Shugart and Gordon again request permission to rope down to crash site two" Posts: 1223 | From: new orleans.la. | Registered: Mar 2000
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posted
the real reason the little critters like to stick themselves to the paint is they are attracted to the color. light colors like yellow and pink,white or similar colors draw bugs like a magnet. bugs go to the brightest part of a house, mainly the windows. i to have had them land in things i was trying to eat or drink,sometimes while driving,which makes for some interesting tastes. in case you think is is adrienne,im jim, her boyfriend. been a bugman for thirty years and am well versed in the type of bugs on the east coast and down south.
posted
I have a different theory. It's the bugs one chance for immortality, to be put on display, encased permanently on a beautiful sign face. They just don't know that we always remove them before installation.
Actually, in the case of flying insects, they fly and land and fly and land and fly and land. It is inevitable that they will eventually end up on a 4 x 8. There's just too much surface area there for them to miss it in their lifetime.
posted
I have the answer. Microsoft must have shares in the paint company.
-------------------- Mario G. Lafreniere (Fergie) J&N Signs Winter did show up! Posts: 1257 | From: Chapleau, Ontario | Registered: Jun 1999
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