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rmollise
Postmaster

Reged: 07/06/07

Re: Thermacell was the hit of the party! new

new

[Re: Timber]
#3333330 - 09/14/09 01:02 PM

Quote:

Hi Rod,

You are right, it does get cold, almost down to 25F, my Orange and Lemon trees don't like that and I have to bring them inside, bummer.

Richard

Well, there you go. 25 is WAY too cold as I judge such things. Bummer indeed.

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Widespread
sage

Reged: 05/11/11

Loc: Bowling Green, Kentucky

Re: Thermacell was the hit of the party! new

new

[Re: rmollise]
#5311541 - 07/10/12 03:23 PM

I've not tried Thermacells yet, but I remember seeing them at the store. I recall that there were at least two types: a camouflage clip-on, about the size and shape of a TV remote, and a larger, lantern-shaped unit. I'm guessing y'all use the bigger one?

In case some people aren't aware of it, there is a non-toxic option: insect-repellent clothing. Well, I guess it's not really non-toxic, but the repellent is tucked safely inside the fibers of the clothing.

My wife and I each bought a set (pants and long-sleeved shirt) before a trip to Alaska which included an overnight camp at Mosquito Central, AKA Wonder Lake (in Denali National Park). The clothing worked great.

This was several years ago, and there may be other options on the market now, but the stuff we bought used a treatment is called Buzz Off (TM). It's good for at least 70 washes.

Back home with my scope, the hood of my observing vest protects my head and face (no need for a head net a la Denali). They usually get my hands a couple of times before they subside for the night, but no big deal. During the worst of the season, I wear the rubber insect-repellent bracelets to protect my hands.

The only downside of the clothing is that it can get warm while setting up if the air temp is still high.

FWIW,
David

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rdandrea
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 06/13/10

Loc: Colorado, USA DM59ra

Re: Thermacell was the hit of the party! new

new

[Re: Widespread]
#5311569 - 07/10/12 03:40 PM

Quote:

I've not tried Thermacells yet, but I remember seeing them at the store. I recall that there were at least two types: a camouflage clip-on, about the size and shape of a TV remote, and a larger, lantern-shaped unit. I'm guessing y'all use the bigger one?

I think most of us use the "remote" type when we're out with our scopes. They emit almost no light to speak of.

I have one of the lantern units that I use when my wife and I are sitting out on the patio, but it would be an annoyance when stargazing. At any rate, both units work about the same for eliminating bugs.

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Widespread
sage

Reged: 05/11/11

Loc: Bowling Green, Kentucky

Re: Thermacell was the hit of the party! new

new

[Re: rdandrea]
#5311995 - 07/10/12 09:05 PM

An annoyance? Do you mean that it's a light source, and that it can't be turned off?

In that case, I'm going to get myself a remote. Is one enough?

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tecmage
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/13/10

Loc: Groton, CT

Re: Thermacell was the hit of the party! new

new

[Re: Widespread]
#5312061 - 07/10/12 09:41 PM

Quote:

In that case, I'm going to get myself a remote. Is one enough?

I use the remote-sized unit. It works well in a small area.

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rdandrea
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 06/13/10

Loc: Colorado, USA DM59ra

Re: Thermacell was the hit of the party! new

new

[Re: Widespread]
#5312124 - 07/10/12 10:07 PM

Quote:

An annoyance? Do you mean that it's a light source, and that it can't be turned off?

That's exactly what I mean.

The lamp is, well, a LAMP. You don't want a lamp running when you're out with your 'scope.

The "remote" style kills the bugs without killing your night vision.

One is enough unless you're having friends and neighbors over. A single unit supposedly works for a 15x15 foot area, as long as there is no wind. I have two, but I rarely use them both at the same time unless I have friends over.

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kevint1
sage

Reged: 04/19/11

Loc: W. Michigan, USA

Re: Thermacell was the hit of the party! new

new

[Re: rdandrea]
#5312712 - 07/11/12 11:35 AM

Could there an issue with whatever chemical they release affecting the scope optics, especially if you attach them to your mount?

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rdandrea
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 06/13/10

Loc: Colorado, USA DM59ra

Re: Thermacell was the hit of the party! new

new

[Re: kevint1]
#5312733 - 07/11/12 11:50 AM

I don't attach mine to the mount. I set it on the ground under my chair. The reasoning there being that my scope doesn't care about mosquitoes, *I* do. However, to answer your question, I've been using Thermacells for three seasons and I have never noticed any residue on scope optics (or tripod legs, or any other part of the scope for that matter). To me, it's far less destructive than plastic-dissolving DEET.

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tomcody
professor emeritus

Reged: 07/06/08

Loc: Titusville, Florida

Re: Thermacell was the hit of the party! new

new

[Re: JadeSmith]
#5312735 - 07/11/12 11:50 AM

Just a thought, has anyone had good luck using Avon "Skin So Soft" lotion?
Years ago when I was into sailing in Florida, lots of people used it to repel mosquitoes. At least its safe to use.
Rex

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Doug Culbertson
Post Laureate

Reged: 01/06/05

Re: Thermacell was the hit of the party! new

new

[Re: tomcody]
#5312739 - 07/11/12 11:56 AM

I have never noticed any residue from the Thermacell either, and I've been using it for three seasons now. I won't even consider observing without it.

As to Skin so Soft, I tried it once, but I got eaten alive. I know that some people swear by it though. As I recall, even Avon disavowed any mosquito repellant qualities in Skin so Soft, but I could be wrong.

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Rocketlawnchair
member

Reged: 06/17/11

Loc: Toronto, ON

Re: Thermacell was the hit of the party! new

new

[Re: Doug Culbertson]
#5312820 - 07/11/12 01:42 PM

I bought a Thermacell and extra butane/pads last weekend because of all the glowing reports here on Cloudy Nights.

A friend and I tried it while we observed that night, and we were disappointed. It seemed to work initially, but then we weren't even sure if the mosquitoes were out yet. About an hour later, we were being eaten alive and had to resort to the "rub-on" repellant we brought with us.

I'm confident we did everything right, I felt the unit getting warm after starting, and emitting a slightly visible vapor early on. Maybe my unit shut off like others mentioned, who knows?

I will try it again on our next session of course, but I'm definitely not in the "believer" camp just yet.

Dave

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Doug Culbertson
Post Laureate

Reged: 01/06/05

Re: Thermacell was the hit of the party! new

new

[Re: Rocketlawnchair]
#5312824 - 07/11/12 01:47 PM

I have an observing friend who is also less than enamoured with the Thermacell. I think that he had an episode similar to yours.

The only time that I have had my Thermacell fail me was a couple of nights ago when there was a bit of a breeze. Apparently, the breeze was strong enough to dissipate the repellent vapor, but not strong enough to slow the mosquitoes down. Of course, here in north Florida our mosquitoes are pterodactyl-like, and can pretty well flap their wings against all but gale force winds.

On edit: you may want to check your unit a few minutes after lighting it. I have an older one and a newer one, and every once in awhile my newer one will go out after about five minutes and needs to be restarted.

Edited by Doug Culbertson (07/11/12 01:49 PM)

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amicus sidera
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 10/14/11

Loc: East of the Sun, West of the M...

Re: Thermacell was the hit of the party! new

new

[Re: rdandrea]
#5313037 - 07/11/12 05:24 PM

Quote:

Quote:

I've not tried Thermacells yet, but I remember seeing them at the store. I recall that there were at least two types: a camouflage clip-on, about the size and shape of a TV remote, and a larger, lantern-shaped unit. I'm guessing y'all use the bigger one?

I think most of us use the "remote" type when we're out with our scopes. They emit almost no light to speak of.

I have one of the lantern units that I use when my wife and I are sitting out on the patio, but it would be an annoyance when stargazing. At any rate, both units work about the same for eliminating bugs.

I've been using a different brand of lantern. I believe this works on a principle similar to the Thermacell, but instead of a butane cartridge it uses a small candle to heat the pad containing the repellent, hence dispersing it.

As it comes out of the box, it is a bit bright for astronomy purposes. The "glass" of the lantern is a colorless translucent plastic housing, which slides out of the base to allow for positioning and lighting of the candle, and is then replaced. Since the light of the candle was bothersome to my dark-adapted eyes, I applied several coats of red spray paint (the type designed specifically for plastics) to the outside of the translucent plastic housing - obviously, no paint was applied to the areas of the device which become hot when in use, such as the top of the unit. After giving it a few days to dry thoroughly, I tried it out and was pleasantly surprised to see that it had dropped the intensity of the light considerably. All that remained was a dim red glow, which wasn't bothersome at all under the orange-zone skies hereabouts (I also took pains to place it to the immediate North of my observing area, where I seldom glance). Just as importantly, it still kept the "Jersey 'skeeters" at bay for hours.

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Rocketlawnchair
member

Reged: 06/17/11

Loc: Toronto, ON

Re: Thermacell was the hit of the party! new

new

[Re: Doug Culbertson]
#5313043 - 07/11/12 05:26 PM

Yeah, I'm going to keep a closer eye on it next time.

I was beginning to think it was because our mosquitoes were just that much more ravenous north of the border.

Dave

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GeneT
Ely Kid

Reged: 11/07/08

Loc: South Texas

Re: Thermacell was the hit of the party! new

new

[Re: JadeSmith]
#5313181 - 07/11/12 06:51 PM

I've put off buying a Thermacell. You have convinced me.

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kevint1
sage

Reged: 04/19/11

Loc: W. Michigan, USA

Re: Thermacell was the hit of the party! new

new

[Re: GeneT]
#5314214 - 07/12/12 12:26 PM

OK, thanks for your replies about the residue. I'm going to pick one up on my way home and may be able to give it a try tonight, as long as the clouds don't find out I bought it.

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hfjacinto
I think he's got it!

Reged: 01/12/09

Loc: Land of clouds and LP

Re: Thermacell was the hit of the party! new

new

[Re: kevint1]
#5314219 - 07/12/12 12:30 PM

Amicus,

I have both the latern with the candle and the thermacell. I my tests if you have a safe place to store the candle (considering how dry NJ is, fire danger) the candle works faster. Out on the deck, the candle keeps us mosquito free for 2 hours and works pretty quick (within minutes). The thermacell is safer, takes longer to work but it lasts much longer and isn't as bright. Both do work and work well.

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cyberhedz
sage

Reged: 07/29/08

Loc: 38.16N, 76.28W

Re: Thermacell was the hit of the party! new

new

[Re: hfjacinto]
#5314239 - 07/12/12 12:41 PM

Umm, i don't know what you guys are talking about, the lantern style lamps CAN be turned off. I take mine to all my star parties. The switch is Low-OFF-High, I use the low during the end of the setup/staging time, then turn it off once the event begins and red/blackout is declared. The bigger the thermocell, the more people you can entertain at your scope to avoid being eaten alive xD

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E_Look
Post Laureate

Reged: 03/06/08

Loc: near New York

Re: Thermacell was the hit of the party! new

new

[Re: cyberhedz]
#5314371 - 07/12/12 01:52 PM

I have found that I get the least number of bites, down to zero even, when I use both my Thermacell in conjunction with my Off! Clip-On. I put the Thermacell a few feet away on the ground and clip the Clip-On on my belt in a direction opposite to that of the Thermacell.

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amicus sidera
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 10/14/11

Loc: East of the Sun, West of the M...

Re: Thermacell was the hit of the party! [Re: cyberhedz]
#5314462 - 07/12/12 02:32 PM

Quote:

Umm, i don't know what you guys are talking about, the lantern style lamps CAN be turned off. (snip)

So can ours... by blowing out the candle!

Totally different lantern from yours, I suspect.

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