65 replies to this topic

[dspdrew]

I've had Argentine ants invade my apartment pretty badly about three times now. Luckily they haven't gotten to any of my ant colonies yet, but I'm sure it's just a matter of time. I'm now working on some feet for my ant cabinets that should guarantee this will never happen.
 
I got twelve 3/16 inch thick steel triangles and sanded the edges down smooth.
 

 
 
Drilled pilot holes.
 

 
 
Once the 5/16 inch holes were drilled, I used the drill press as a holder to get the tap started perfectly perpendicular.
 

 
 
Finished tapping the holes for the 3/8 inch bolts that are going to go in them.
 

 
 
All tapped and ready for the next step.
 

[FSTP]

very good show those Argentinians who is top queen.

[Alabama Anter]

Drew's getting ready for war. I will wish u off. KILL THEM ALL :kill:

[Leo]

    pewpewpew

[Serafine]

You could paint the bottom of those feet with Fluon, no ant can walk upside-down on Fluon.

[Loops117]

you haz shop in apartment?

[dspdrew]

You could paint the bottom of those feet with Fluon, no ant can walk upside-down on Fluon.

 

Hey, now you're getting the idea.

 

 

you haz shop in apartment?

 

Pretty much, yeah.

[Loops117]

So what are you trying to prevent? Argentines attacking your colonies? Possibly introducing some kind of disease or mite? I like the idea though. I always find C.pennsylvanicus atop my formicariums i leave in the kitchen. Always figured they were trying to get in so they can mark the colony for death.

[T.C.]

So what are you trying to prevent? Argentines attacking your colonies? Possibly introducing some kind of disease or mite? I like the idea though. I always find C.pennsylvanicus atop my formicariums i leave in the kitchen. Always figured they were trying to get in so they can mark the colony for death.

You have a problem with C pennsylvanicus. in your house as well? I had them going on top of my formicariums as well, however From my experience they are just after the food in there rather than attacking my colony. One time a worker did manage to get in and drank some of the honey in there. However it was not able to get back out and some of my ants foragers came and drug it into there nest.

[Loops117]

 

So what are you trying to prevent? Argentines attacking your colonies? Possibly introducing some kind of disease or mite? I like the idea though. I always find C.pennsylvanicus atop my formicariums i leave in the kitchen. Always figured they were trying to get in so they can mark the colony for death.

You have a problem with C pennsylvanicus. in your house as well? I had them going on top of my formicariums as well, however From my experience they are just after the food in there rather than attacking my colony. One time a worker did manage to get in and drank some of the honey in there. However it was not able to get back out and some of my ants foragers came and drug it into there nest.

 

Yeah. I have a section of my backyard with an absolutely huge colony. I find foragers in the kitchen on occasion. Mostly when i leave a formi or two in there.

[dspdrew]

Yes I am trying to keep Argentine ants from getting to my colonies because they will kill them. They will try to eliminate almost any colony they come across. I would much rather have a problem with C. pennsylvanicus than Argentine ants. At least those need a much larger hole to get through, have only one queen, and don't have an almost infinite supply of workers.

[dspdrew]

Mount holes are drilled and countersunk.
 

 
 
Holes drilled in the flimsy lip along the bottom of the cabinet. This should be good enough to hold them in place as long as the cabinet's not being dragged around with any weight in it.
 

 
 
This is what I'll make the actual feet out of.
 

 
 
Just need to weld these together permanently.
 

 

 
 
Here is what the finished product should look like. The bold will be coated in Fluon, and I will probably stick a piece of thin plastic or a vinyl sticker over the entire bottom surface of the plate, and coat that with Fluon as well for added protection.
 
I'll get some pictures of the cabinet in place once it's finished.
 

 

[Kevin]

With all of the weight of the cabinet on those tiny feet, I'd image it will warp with all the weight of the colonies on it regardless being moved or not. A foot for the center would probably help, just my 2 cents.

[dspdrew]

Center wouldn't be of any specific added benefit other than dividing the total weight by 5 instead of 4. That's why most things with feet aren't designed that way. Also the only horizontal steel across the bottom of these cabinets is thin sheet metal. The whole point is to have the least amount of surface area between the cabinet and the ground. I gave this a lot of thought as to how much weight will be in these cabinets, the weight distribution, and the points of the most strength. The only thing "better" would be steel all the way around the perimeter of the bottom, but it would be expensive and mostly pointless. As far as the legs themselves, you might not be familiar with 3/8 inch bolts. It would take some extreme weight to bent 4 bolts of this thickness and length pushing straight down on them.

 

Only things I might be worried about if anything are:

 

1. The threads in the plates not being hardened steel and wearing out. (As long as they aren't being screwed in and out very often, it's probably not a problem.)

2. The washers added to the bolt heads bending when the cabinet is tipped. (It's probably unlikely with the cabinet empty.)

3. Even with the washers added to the bolt heads, there still being too much concentrated weight on the carpet in that one area. (Once I have lived here for three years, I'm no longer responsible for the carpet.)

4. Kicking the front legs on accident, wiping the Fluon off. (The Fluon added to the surface of the plates should remain pretty much untouched, even if it's kicked.)

[Loops117]

Kev - I doubt his cabinet weighs more then i do, and i could put all my weight on a single 3/8" bolt. And regardless, if the cabinet didn't already have a center support, then it wouldn't make sense. Cabinets already displace their weight between the areas touching the ground. With most cabinets, it's only the corners touching the ground and leaving the area in between the legs to support the very bottom shelf and legs/corners from bending or breaking. With the triangles, 3/4" bolts, and way he's mounting them, he's prolly actually making the cabinet more durable when it comes to moving and shifting. Not to mention those legs will fit perfectly on the furniture sliders.

Edited by Loops117, December 30 2016 - 7:30 AM.

[dspdrew]

Actually some of these cabinets (this one in particular) could have up to 500 pounds total in them. Still though, that's only 125 pounds on each bolt. 125 pounds wouldn't bend one of those bolts even if it was supporting it horizontally.

 

 

Not to mention those legs will fit perfectly on the furniture sliders.

 

Oh yeah good point. That should help me move them into place.

[Kevin]

I know the bolts will not bend, I meant the desk itself. I thought the torsion of a simple push would destroy it, but I'm not sure how thick it is.

 

 

If that is pretty thin and all the weight is concentrated on 4 little spots on a large desk, and the legs are than long, the force could be enough to bend sheet metal. Like if you use a longer wrench, you get more force onto the bolt you are turning. With too much force, you end up shattering the bolt or screwing up the screw threads. The handle is the legs, and the "bolt" is the side of the desk. Unless the picture is just way enlarged and it's not actually too tall, I am pretty sure a push of the desk will wreck it.

If the entire side doesn't bend, the bolt will bend the desk, but that is probably more unlikely because of the 1/4" thick elbow of steel.

 

Maybe I sound completely insane, but that's how I viewed it.

Edited by Kevin, December 30 2016 - 8:03 AM.

[dspdrew]

Those four bolts are only there to hold the plates in place. The weight and the strength is concentrated on the sides of the cabinet. Most of the strength is in the corners. The plates stick out past the sides about 1/8 of an inch, ensuring that the sides are resting on them. It is not much different than the cabinet sitting on the ground.

[Loops117]

Can you anchor it against your wall? Kevin makes a valid point about not having any inner support and those legs being able to fold the original sheet metal inwards. Maybe cut a piece of plywood and fix it to the top of the triangles, and within the bottom lip. That would help disperse any pushing/pulling from just a single corner to all 4, and add extra support to the base.

[dspdrew]

I don't think you guys are understanding. The weight is supported by the sides, not the inner lip of sheet metal.