One day I was sitting on my front stoop, and noticed a pile of fresh sawdust beneath a perfectly round hole in the trim around my garage window. "Honey, you drill a hole out here for some reason?" I called to my husband. "Nope", he hollered back, and we both took a closer look to try and figure out what was going on. Why would somebody drill a hole in our window frame? It just didn't make sense. We scratched our heads, and my husband filled the hole with wood putty, painted it, and forgot about it. Be darn if that hole, with its mound of sawdust, didn't reappear in the next few days. This time we just kept watching and lo and behold, found out that hole hadn't been made with a drill and a bit. No, that hole had been drilled by a bee! A Carpenter Bee in fact. A what? I had never heard of these industrious little pests before.
But in the following weeks we kept finding these little, exact same size, perfectly drilled holes everywhere-from the house trim...to the deck-from the stucco trim at the front door...to the window boxes out back. In fact, one day I was preparing the flower boxes for spring planting. I stuck my little shovel in the dirt of one box only to be attacked by a swarm of angry carpenter bees. They had drilled through the bottom of the window box and set up a huge hive under last season's dried out dirt! Even though I only actually got one small sting it scared me half to death and I don't mind telling you - it made my skin crawl! Okay. Now this was war. First I had to find out a little more about my enemy.
Black And Decker Drill Set
Carpenter Bees sort of look like regular bumble bees, except they have black shiny undersides. Though the males can buzz around being aggressive and territorial, only the girls can sting. Carpenter Bees burrow in to wood and form long tunnels with a nest or hive at the end. Sometimes the tunnels connect. Unlike termites, they don't actually eat the wood, although sometimes they use bits to form "walls" inside of their nests or hives. The initial damage may seem superficial, since they tunnel near the surface. But left unchecked, like termites, they can do considerable damage to your home over time. Their expanding network of tunnels and nests can seriously damage the strength and appearance of the wood in your home. And since they like to return to where they were born, to breed, left unchecked for several seasons, your home could be under siege from multiple generations of Carpenter Bees that return to your place for their annual Carpenter Bee family reunion.
Kill those Pesky Carpenter Bees and Keep them from Coming Back: Here's how.
Locate and Plug all the entrance holes with a rubbery type of Caulking, (not wood putty).
An interesting fact about Carpenter Bees-they're not that smart. If you plug up the entrance to the tunnel/nest, they won't even try to get out. They'll just stay in there and die eventually. However their uncle bee might try to tunnel back in. Which is why you use rubbery or silicone caulking. Remember the story about the garage window above? Well, we discovered they can burrow right through wood putty--duh-it hardens like wood and they can drill right through it. Basically, if you can sand it don't use it. But they hate rubbery caulking. The texture doesn't allow them to tunnel through. In extreme cases you might have to cut out the damaged piece and replace it. In any case always paint back over with several coats of a good enamel paint-they hate enamel, but like water based latex. With this method, you won't really need any pesticide. But when we do this we always have a can of insecticide around to deal with any bees that might buzz around outside the nest.
If you find a Nest use a Potent Bee, Hornet and Wasp Spray.
If you know you're going to be attacking a big nest it's best to take adequate precautions. Early evening is a good time to make a sneak attack, as most of them will be back at the nest and they're a little slower and mellowed out around this time. Bee happy hour I guess. Cover yourself as much as possible, (long sleeves, long pants, closed shoes, etc.) I'd wear one of those disposable face masks to be on the safe side. It will be good protection against bees and fumes from the spray. Have at least 2 cans of a strong Bee, Hornet and Wasp pesticide handy. Spray right into the hole/tunnel or saturate the nest as much as possible. You'll probably get a swarm of very disturbed Carpenter Bees flying out so have can in hand and spray till nothing is left buzzing or moving. Wait an hour or so, then go survey the damage and sweep up the dead bodies. The next day, carefully destroy the nest if it is accessible. Or plug up the hole just like you did above. I read somewhere that you could vacuum Carpenter Bees out of the nest. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't try this with my household vacuum. That sounds like something definitely left to professionals.
The best way to Keep Carpenter Bees Away is to Maintain any Wood around the Exterior of your home with Quality Paint.
When your exterior paint is thin, worn or chipping or latex, you are leaving yourself vulnerable to greedy Carpenter Bees as well as decreasing the market value of your home and other homes on your street. A little maintenance effort will go a long way. Protect yourself, protect your home.
Chase Carpenter Bees out of your Trees.
Carpenter Bee infestation can damage and even kill your trees. Fortunately the process to get rid of them is fairly easy. Buy a good desiccant dust. This is a powder that destroys the outer skeleton of the insect and then literally dries them up until they die. It is good to use here because it won't hurt your tree. Fill the tunnel hole liberally with dust. Then plug the hole with a tapered a cork, to keep in the dust and keep out bugs for years. You'll notice any new holes because they won't be corked. It will make it easier to identify and treat any new tunnels. Then be sure to spray the tree trunks with a concentrated insect repellent. That should do the job.
Carpenter Bees are, fortunately, not that complicated to get rid of. And though they are a nuisance, they are less likely to sting you than bumble bees. Plus they do some good, as they are great pollinators, especially of open faced flowers. But if they start trying to eat my house or my trees...they are going down.
Black Friday Black & Decker LI3100 Compact Lithium-Ion Driver with Cordless Rechargeable Screwdriver 2011 Deals
Nov 14, 2011 09:49:15
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Black Friday Black & Decker LI3100 Compact Lithium-Ion Driver with Cordless Rechargeable Screwdriver Feature
- Powerful and compact design for 40% more muscle in 10% less size
- CompactFit technology provides 2X more accessibility in hard-to-reach areas
- Lithium-Ion battery stays charged and ready for up to 18 months
- LED work light provides good visibility when working in dark areas
- Soft grips allow for a better, more secure grip
Black Friday Black & Decker LI3100 Compact Lithium-Ion Driver with Cordless Rechargeable Screwdriver Overview
This kit includes the 3.6V lithium-ion CompactFit screwdriver and two 2-inch hex shank screwdriving bits.Black Friday Black & Decker LI3100 Compact Lithium-Ion Driver with Cordless Rechargeable Screwdriver Specifications
Compact and powerful, the Black & Decker LI3100 Cordless Lithium-Ion Screwdriver fits where other screwdrivers can't. It packs 40% more muscle than the competition and features a smart offset chuck for easy access to tight spots. And powered by Black & Decker Lithium Batterytech technology, this screwdriver will provide amazing torque and runtime job after job.
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 180 RPM helps you drive screws flush--and fast. View larger. |
 Compact design is especially useful when assembling furniture. View larger. |
Great for a range of household tasks, from assembling furniture to hanging pictures, mounting shelves, and much more, this screwdriver will quickly become your favorite go-to tool.
What makes the LI3100 so versatile is its compact design that allows you to access the hard-to-reach areas that other screwdrivers simply can't.
Even though it's amazingly compact, the LI3100 doesn't skimp on power. It operates at 3.6 volts and provides 180 RPM to drive screws flush--that's 40% more torque than the Skil Ixo II. Never too much or too little, the LI3100 always gives you the right amount of muscle for the job.
Ready When and Where You Need It
Thanks to Black & Decker Lithium Batterytech technology, the LI3100 offers reliable power when and where you need it. This cordless screwdriver will stay charged and ready to use for up to 18 months without recharging and comes with a charger that's Energy Star rated.
Designed with You in Mind
The L1300 has several features that were designed with your comfort in mind. To start, this screwdriver has a soft-grip universal handle that allows for a full-hand or three-finger (body-wrap) grip. Additionally, a bottom pivoting trigger with upper hook eliminates finger dragging on the housing, and signature microtexturing guides correct finger placement. What's more, an intuitive forward/reverse indicator bar is ergonomically positioned on the back of the motor.
And for easy operation in a variety of conditions, this screwdriver features an integrated LED cannon light that angles toward the bit/screw.
The LI3100 is backed by a two-year warranty.
What's in the Box
LI3100; two bits; and battery charger.
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