Homemade Air-Powered Varmint Frightener

Homemade Air-Powered Varmint Frightener MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT Pest Animals 29-6-42 I've been gardening for 30 years and have tried all sorts of things to keep varmints from ruining my crops, but nothing has worked as well as my homemade air-powered frightener. It makes use of a 3-hp air compressor, an air hose, an electrical extension cord, a time clock, a water valve from a junked dishwasher, a 12-in. length of surgical tubing, and a short length of aluminum angle iron on which all components are mounted. The valve attaches to a bracket that's screwed to the angle iron. The extension cord runs up to the time clock and opens the valve to let air out of the surgical tubing, which then flaps back and forth to make a whirring noise. I set the time clock so the valve lets air out for only a couple seconds at a time, every four or five minutes. The noise is effective because it relies on the element of surprise. I tried all sorts of things in the past such as scarecrows, fireworks, balloons, radios, traps, etc. I even tried using a cannon, but my neighbors complained about the noise. I got the idea because I'm in the apartment rental business and have to throw old dishwashers away all the time. Usually, their valves are still in good working condition. The valves are used to let water into the dishwasher so I figured they would work with air, too. You can buy everything you need at Home Depot. I had to buy a special time clock that would go off only for a couple of seconds at a time. It cost about $90. The extension cord is long enough that I can keep the timer inside a shed so it doesn't get wet. (John Hillhouse, Mid South Properties, LLC, 712 29th St. S., Birmingham, Alabama 35233 ph 205 251-3146 )

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