27 replies to this topic

[madbiologist]

I recently made a DIY aspirator guide for a local antkeeper, figured I should post it here too.

-DIY Aspirator Guide-

Materials: About 2 feet of vinyl tubing, an adequately sized container with a plastic lid
(to capture in multiple containers, buy some that use the same lid and you can switch),
a Dremel or another tool that is capable of cutting/melting plastic to the diameter of
your tubing, a rubber band, some hot water, and some paper towel or a small t-shirt
scrap (about 1 1/2" to 2" wide and long).
Optional: A hot glue gun can be useful to seal the holes for vinyl tubing, but is not
if you cut without any issues.

Instructions:
1. Cut your vinyl tubing into 2 pieces. One should be shorter, say, 6-10 inches, and the
other longer, 14-18 inches; I prefer to use the longer end like you would a vacuum to
move around and suck up ants.
2. Lay an end of each length of tubing in your hot water, we'll get back to it later.
3. Take your preferred cutting/melting instrument, and cut 2 holes in the plastic lid on
opposite sides, these will be for your tubing to fit into. Make the holes as round as possible,
it is important that they are slightly smaller than the tubing diameter so it is a tight fit.
4. Take your tubing out of the hot water a few minutes after it has gone in, and push the
now flexible end of each piece into the holes you just cut or melted about a half inch. Push
the shorter section of tubing in a little farther, so an inch or so is on the inside of the lid.
5. (Optional) Use your hot glue gun to seal the tubing in if you want, or if you left any
small holes with your cuts. However, if you didn't make any small holes through cutting
error, the tubing is probably sealed well on its own and this step is unnecessary.
6. Take your paper towel or t-shirt scrap, this will act as a filter for dirt and the like, and
place it over the inside section of shorter tubing, so that the middle is over the tubing hole.
Then, fold your rubber band over the scrap over and over, until it is held tightly on the tubing.

Your aspirator is complete, happy anting!

Edited by madbiologist, May 12 2020 - 1:59 PM.

[RushmoreAnts]

I might try this. However, I don't intend to use it on Pogonomyrmex, or any stinging species. Don't really like the thought of being stung in the trachea. 

[madbiologist]

I might try this. However, I don't intend to use it on Pogonomyrmex, or any stinging species. Don't really like the thought of being stung in the trachea.

It should be ok to use on stinging species, the filter will block them. However, I wouldn't recommend use on Formica. They spray an excessive amount of formic acid which happens to be bad for your lungs.

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[Canadant]

Pics help a lot with these DIY posts. I'll try though. I want an aspirator.

Thanks

[ANTdrew]

I might try this. However, I don't intend to use it on Pogonomyrmex, or any stinging species. Don't really like the thought of being stung in the trachea.

Try with RIFAs.
Nice guide, Mad. I may try this.

[B_rad0806]

This is really smart! This is way better than having to spend $16 on an actual one. Thanks!

[ANTdrew]

I made one of these last night, and it works like a charm! I used it to remove excavated dirt from my Formica's dirt box and to suck up an escaped Crematogaster worker. Thanks, Mad!

I used one of my kids' empty slime containers and some tubing I had laying around. It took me under 10 minutes to make.

 

[Canadant]

I have the materials now but what ants should we avoid? I'm thinking formic acid and other emitted substances that may cause discomfort in the airways.

Would this work for catching a large number of ants and brood, I wonder? I suppose if the container is large enough it wouldn't matter. Would love to suck up a wild colony or use it to gather brood to brood boost a colony. Seems better than digging and destroying and nest.

[madbiologist]

I have the materials now but what ants should we avoid? I'm thinking formic acid and other emitted substances that may cause discomfort in the airways.

Would this work for catching a large number of ants and brood, I wonder? I suppose if the container is large enough it wouldn't matter. Would love to suck up a wild colony or use it to gather brood to brood boost a colony. Seems better than digging and destroying and nest.

Yes, I would avoid Formica, since they spray a lot of acid, but others that spray acid should be mostly fine. It's not really designed for digging up nests, more so if you happen upon a founding colony in wood, or under a rock. It is also good for brood boosting.

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[ANTdrew]

I can’t speak highly enough of this thing! I’m using it to vacuum up my ants’ filthy outworlds, and it’s amazing! I wish I had one of these years ago.

[CatsnAnts]

I can’t speak highly enough of this thing! I’m using it to vacuum up my ants’ filthy outworlds, and it’s amazing! I wish I had one of these years ago.

Now I want to make one lol

[ANTdrew]

You absolutely should. So easy and useful.

[CatsnAnts]

You absolutely should. So easy and useful.

Mine can only suck up small things, I guess I should’ve used larger tubing for both ends, but it works perfect for my temnothorax!

[MinigunL5]

I recently made a DIY aspirator guide for a local antkeeper, figured I should post it here too.

-DIY Aspirator Guide-

Materials: About 2 feet of vinyl tubing, an adequately sized container with a plastic lid
(to capture in multiple containers, buy some that use the same lid and you can switch),
a Dremel or another tool that is capable of cutting/melting plastic to the diameter of
your tubing, a rubber band, some hot water, and some paper towel or a small t-shirt
scrap (about 1 1/2" to 2" wide and long).
Optional: A hot glue gun can be useful to seal the holes for vinyl tubing, but is not
if you cut without any issues.

Instructions:
1. Cut your vinyl tubing into 2 pieces. One should be shorter, say, 6-10 inches, and the
other longer, 14-18 inches; I prefer to use the longer end like you would a vacuum to
move around and suck up ants.
2. Lay an end of each length of tubing in your hot water, we'll get back to it later.
3. Take your preferred cutting/melting instrument, and cut 2 holes in the plastic lid on
opposite sides, these will be for your tubing to fit into. Make the holes as round as possible,
it is important that they are slightly smaller than the tubing diameter so it is a tight fit.
4. Take your tubing out of the hot water a few minutes after it has gone in, and push the
now flexible end of each piece into the holes you just cut or melted about a half inch. Push
the shorter section of tubing in a little farther, so an inch or so is on the inside of the lid.
5. (Optional) Use your hot glue gun to seal the tubing in if you want, or if you left any
small holes with your cuts. However, if you didn't make any small holes through cutting
error, the tubing is probably sealed well on its own and this step is unnecessary.
6. Take your paper towel or t-shirt scrap, this will act as a filter for dirt and the like, and
place it over the inside section of shorter tubing, so that the middle is over the tubing hole.
Then, fold your rubber band over the scrap over and over, until it is held tightly on the tubing.

Your aspirator is complete, happy anting!

What's the price in total?(on average)

Edited by MinigunL5, May 23 2020 - 1:01 PM.

[ANTdrew]

The materials in mine were like $7.00.

[MinigunL5]

The materials in mine were like $7.00.

Wow that's really good.

Definitely gonna try it cause I could really use an aspirator.

Edited by MinigunL5, May 23 2020 - 1:12 PM.

[madbiologist]

The materials in mine were like $7.00.

Wow that's really good.
Definitely gonna try it cause I could really use an aspirator.

If you've got tubing laying around, you've probably already got everything you need laying around.

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[gcsnelling]

Keep in mind the larger the tubing and collection chamber the more difficult it is to pick material up.

[CatsnAnts]

Keep in mind the larger the tubing and collection chamber the more difficult it is to pick material up.

I had this in mind when using the smaller tubing for mine, but I didn’t consider the size of the container *facepalm*

[MinigunL5]

Can I use a thin plastic bottle for the container? Like one of those shorter and tinier ones.