20 replies to this topic

[ANTdrew]

I'm interested in buying any used old version AntsCanada outworlds anyone may be willing to sell. The older version is vastly superior to the new one. You can see the difference in this picture:

 

Does anyone have an outworld like the one on the right they are willing to sell?

[TennesseeAnts]

 

I'm interested in buying any used old version AntsCanada outworlds anyone may be willing to sell. The older version is vastly superior to the new one. You can see the difference in this picture:

 

 

Does anyone have an outworld like the one on the right they are willing to sell?  

Haha. Wow, their quality has decreased by a ton. From acrylic to Tupperware... 

Edited by Ant_Dude2908, April 29 2020 - 5:11 PM.

[FeedTheAnts]

It's offensive that they charge 80 dollars for that!

[ANTdrew]

Yeah, it’s a piece of crap. Very opaque.

[FSTP]

what the heck! Heck you guys, HECK!

[RushmoreAnts]

He tries to make it look so professional by putting some little holes in it and ten thousand little intricate grooves. We’re not fooled, though.

[Temperateants]

Does anyone here also have experience with an AntsAus Outworld? 

[Temperateants]

Also didn't AC say that he tests his gear on Fire ants, but I have heard a lot of bad things about his gear malfunctioning, not being effective in keeping ants in? Is this a lie or does AC have a "separate production line" that has better quality control for the sake of product placement? (most of his recent videos, to be honest.) 

[ANTdrew]

Mikey B keeps his colonies in big aquariums, not this crap. Members on this forum have had ants chew through the plastic plugs and escape. My biggest complaints are how opaque it is, making decent photos and videos impossible. The rounded shape also makes the actual surface area quite small. A decent sized colony fills the whole thing up with trash quicker than toilet paper is selling out.

 To their credit, mine did fully contain my Crematogaster for months, which is no small feat. That's why I want to get one of the clear ones.

Edited by ANTdrew, April 30 2020 - 5:55 AM.

[drtrmiller]

The previous model appears to be thermoformed acrylic with CNC cut components like the lid and bottom.  Essentially, they take a flat sheet of acrylic, heat it up, and bend it into the desired shape: an ellipse, in this case.  Evidence of this is the single line at the back where the two opposite sides of the same sheet meet and touch one another.

The new one is injection molded, and last I heard the material was ABS plastic.  With injection molding, you can make really complex shapes and make huge numbers of idential parts at a very low cost per part, if the tool is designed correctly.  While far tougher than acrylic, therefore resisting cracking, crazing, and other issues brought about by physical trauma or chemical attack, the overall optical clarity is lower.  Polystyrene is a popular choice for injection molding due to the low cost of materials and good optical clarity, but is even more brittle and vulnerable to chemical attack than acrylic.

 

Maybe complain loudly and wait patiently for them to address your complaints with gen 3 AC foraging areas?

Edited by drtrmiller, April 30 2020 - 6:32 AM.

[ANTdrew]

Good point! I should email them my photo and complain. The one on the left was bought less than a year after the old one, so this is a recent degradation in quality. It works fine, but optimum visibility is paramount in an $80 outworld, in my opinion.

[TennesseeAnts]

Good point! I should email them my photo and complain. The one on the left was bought less than a year after the old one, so this is a recent degradation in quality. It works fine, but optimum visibility is paramount in an $80 outworld, in my opinion.

Also notice how there is no stainless steel mesh keeping the ants in. Those small holes are perfect spots for things like Monomorium and Solenopsis to chew through.

[RushmoreAnts]

What I don't understand is why outworlds need to be so complex and expensive! All I want is a box I can see into!

[dspdrew]

Looks about as clear as polypropylene. Personally, I think glass would be the best.

[Barristan]

Does the new one at least cost less? :-).
 
It looks like the material used for airtight boxes etc, not clear acrylic or polystyrene

Edited by Barristan, April 30 2020 - 7:37 AM.

[FSTP]

He likely wasn't making enough money on the old ones since those require a skilled laborer to assemble them and control quality (making sure no smeared glue lines etc).  But the Injection molded ones are a just that injection molded no one is building them in the same way that requires the skill of an assembler. they just have to make sure the mold filled out correctly and it set properly. 

[FeedTheAnts]

Does the new one at least cost less? :-).
 
It looks like the material used for airtight boxes etc, not clear acrylic or polystyrene

I seem to remember the older ones costing $100.

[B_rad0806]

I have the whole setup for sale. I got it when I was younger and now i'm realizing how bad it is. Hopefully someone buys yours

[RushmoreAnts]

I mean, couldn't he just sell 10 gallon fish tanks for 50 dollars?

[ANTdrew]

I have the whole setup for sale. I got it when I was younger and now i'm realizing how bad it is. Hopefully someone buys yours

Well, I’m not selling. I want to buy an old version. Do you have one for sale?