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Hi Steve and All,
I copied my plates from the square copper ones online but used scrap p=
lexi as it was easier for me to work with (I was a cabinet maker by trade) =
and free. I used 3/16" plexi but thickness shouldn't matter. I cut the sq=
uares 3" +/- on a table saw and used a drill press for the holes. I used a =
1-1/2" spade bit (the one with spurs on the outside works best) and flipped=
the disc when the hole was half way thru. A hole saw would also work. Dri=
ll 4 small holes for screws. Sand the outside plate edges and the rim of th=
e big hole smooth. I also sanded the outside surface of the plate to remove=
the reflective plexi surface. Clear plexi works fine.
They seem to work for me ( the swallows quickly learn to ignore them) a=
lthough a determined squirrel can probably chew the plexi if it really want=
s in the box.
I had no problem with the commercial plates except I needed 30 and at =
$6.00 each.it was beyond my budget.
Plexi is difficult to work with so unless you have some carpentry skil=
ls and proper tools I recommend you get a friend with a shop. to do you a f=
avor. I'll let you know later in the fall, when I clean out the boxes, if t=
here was any squirrel damage. Good luck and all the best.
Fritz
From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca <naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca> on beha=
lf of David <dwebster@glinx.com>
Sent: July 20, 2018 3:35 PM
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Subject: Re[2]: [NatureNS] Swallow news - Plexiglas
Hi Steve & All,
I would try drilling a small hole on the circumference and using a copi=
ng saw to cut the round or oval hole. For a snag-free hole one could heat t=
he plate on a metal pie plate in an oven.
Yt, DW, Kentville
------ Original Message ------
From: "Stephen Shaw" <srshaw@Dal.Ca<mailto:srshaw@Dal.Ca>>
To: "naturens@chebucto.ns.ca" <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca<mailto:naturens@cheb=
ucto.ns.ca>>
Sent: 7/20/2018 2:37:15 PM
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Swallow news - Plexiglas
Fritz, interesting, thanks for the tip, we have the squirrel-chew problem t=
oo.
I=92d have thought that PMMA [Plexiglas (US) / Acrylic (Cdn) / Perspex (UK)=
] would be too soft and therefore just as easily chewed by squirrels as woo=
d =97 copper sheet would be needed instead, but apparently not so. Presum=
ably they just don=92t like the taste?
I have plenty of offcuts so will try it. Do you use the widely available 1=
/4=94 thickness, see-through clear sheet, or is black 1/4=94 equally or mor=
e effective, or does it matter, or does the thickness matter (if known)? D=
rilling big holes in the thinner sheets is a bit of a challenge as it shatt=
ers easily.
Steve (Hfx)
On Jul 19, 2018, at 4:00 PM, Fritz McEvoy <fritzmcevoy@hotmail.com<mailto:f=
ritzmcevoy@hotmail.com>> wrote:
... Another reason for the late breeding may have to do with the preda=
tor guards I put on most of my boxes in May. Although squirrels are not - =
in my experience- swallow predators here, they do like to make the entrance=
holes bigger and then use the boxes as roosts or nests. The guards (a 3"x =
3" Plexiglas plate with a 1 1/2" hole screwed over the box opening) seem to=
have worked well so far and the boxes have not been filled with hay or shr=
edded bark.
I'll have a better idea of how the season went in the fall after I've=
cleaned out the boxes. All the best.
Fritz McEvoy
Sunrise Valley, CB (near Dingwall)
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<head>
<meta http-equiv=3D"Content-Type" content=3D"text/html; charset=3DWindows-1=
252">
<style type=3D"text/css" style=3D"display:none;"> P {margin-top:0;margin-bo=
ttom:0;} </style>
</head>
<body dir=3D"ltr">
<div style=3D"font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;=
color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Hi Steve and All, </div>
<div style=3D"font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;=
color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
I copied my plates from the square copper ones online b=
ut used scrap plexi as it was easier for me to work with (I was a cabinet m=
aker by trade) and free. I used 3/16" plexi but thick=
ness shouldn't matter. I cut the squares 3" +/- on a table saw and
used a drill press for the holes. I used a 1-1/2" spade bit (the one =
with spurs on the outside works best) and flipped the disc when the hole wa=
s half way thru. A hole saw would also work. Drill 4 small holes for =
screws. Sand the outside plate edges and the
rim of the big hole smooth. I also sanded the outside surface of the plate=
to remove the reflective plexi surface. Clear plexi works fine.</div>
<div style=3D"font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;=
color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
They seem to work for me ( the swallows quickly learn to igno=
re them) although a determined squirrel can probably chew the plexi if=
it really wants in the box.</div>
<div style=3D"font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;=
color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
I had no problem with the commercial plates except I ne=
eded 30 and at $6.00 each.it was beyond my budget. </div>
<div style=3D"font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;=
color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Plexi is difficult to work with so unless you have some=
carpentry skills and proper tools I recommend you get a friend with a=
shop. to do you a favor. I'll let you know later in the fall, when I clean=
out the boxes, if there was any squirrel damage. Good
luck and all the best. </div>
<div style=3D"font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;=
color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
Fritz</div>
<div style=3D"font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;=
color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
</div>
<div style=3D"font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;=
color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
</div>
<div id=3D"divRplyFwdMsg" dir=3D"ltr"><font face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif" st=
yle=3D"font-size:11pt" color=3D"#000000"><b>From:</b> naturens-owner@chebuc=
to.ns.ca <naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca> on behalf of David <dwebs=
ter@glinx.com><br>
<b>Sent:</b> July 20, 2018 3:35 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> naturens@chebucto.ns.ca<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re[2]: [NatureNS] Swallow news - Plexiglas</font>
<div> </div>
</div>
<meta content=3D"text/html; charset=3Dutf-8">
<div>
<div>Hi Steve & All,</div>
<div> I would try drilling a small hole on the circumference a=
nd using a coping saw to cut the round or oval hole. For a snag-free hole o=
ne could heat the plate on a metal pie plate in an oven. </div>
<div>Yt, DW, Kentville </div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>------ Original Message ------</div>
<div>From: "Stephen Shaw" <<a href=3D"mailto:srshaw@Dal.Ca">sr=
shaw@Dal.Ca</a>></div>
<div>To: "naturens@chebucto.ns.ca" <<a href=3D"mailto:naturens=
@chebucto.ns.ca">naturens@chebucto.ns.ca</a>></div>
<div>Sent: 7/20/2018 2:37:15 PM</div>
<div>Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Swallow news - Plexiglas</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div id=3D"x_x1808fc4a3e16431" style=3D"word-wrap:break-word">
<blockquote type=3D"cite" class=3D"x_cite2" style=3D"margin-left: 5px; marg=
in-right: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 0px; border-left: 1px sol=
id rgb(204, 204, 204); margin-top: 3px; padding-top: 0px;">
Fritz, interesting, thanks for the tip, we have the squirrel-chew problem t=
oo.
<div>I=92d have thought that PMMA [Plexiglas (US) / Acrylic (Cdn) / Perspex=
(UK)] would be too soft and therefore just as easily chewed by squirrels a=
s wood =97 copper sheet would be needed instead, but apparently not so. &nb=
sp; Presumably they just don=92t like the taste?
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I have plenty of offcuts so will try it. Do you use the widely a=
vailable 1/4=94 thickness, see-through clear sheet, or is black 1/4=94 equa=
lly or more effective, or does it matter, or does the thickness matter (if =
known)? Drilling big holes in the thinner
sheets is a bit of a challenge as it shatters easily.</div>
<div>Steve (Hfx)<br>
<br>
<div>
<div>On Jul 19, 2018, at 4:00 PM, Fritz McEvoy <<a href=3D"mailto:fritzm=
cevoy@hotmail.com">fritzmcevoy@hotmail.com</a>> wrote:</div>
<br>
<blockquote type=3D"cite" class=3D"x_cite" style=3D"margin-left: 5px; margi=
n-right: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 0px; border-left: 1px soli=
d rgb(204, 204, 204);">
<div dir=3D"ltr" style=3D"font-family:Helvetica; font-size:12px; font-style=
:normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; letter-spacing:normal; li=
ne-height:normal; orphans:auto; text-align:start; text-indent:0px; text-tra=
nsform:none; white-space:normal; widows:auto; word-spacing:0px">
<div style=3D"font-family:Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:12pt">&nb=
sp; ... Another reason for the late breeding may have to do wi=
th the predator guards I put on most of my boxes in May. Although squirrels=
are not - in my experience- swallow predators here,
they do like to make the entrance holes bigger and then use the boxes as r=
oosts or nests. The guards (a 3"x 3" Plexiglas plate with a 1 1/2=
" hole screwed over the box opening) seem to have worked wel=
l so far and the boxes have not been filled with hay or shredded
bark.</div>
<div style=3D"font-family:Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:12pt">&nb=
sp; I'll have a better idea of how the season went in the fal=
l after I've cleaned out the boxes. All the best.</div>
<div style=3D"font-family:Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:12pt"><br=
>
</div>
<div style=3D"font-family:Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:12pt">&nb=
sp; Fritz McEvoy</div>
<div style=3D"font-family:Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:12pt">&nb=
sp; Sunrise Valley, CB (near Dingwall)</div=
>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<br>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>
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