Shopsmith Forums

Yup, the age ol struggle to keep them out of the bird feeders. I have yet to see a perfect solution to this problem. Squirrels can be very intent when they want something. But, I guess that can be said for any creature and us to boot. If you need to strengthen the shield, try doubling up on the flashing. A thought about the shinny ness would be to throw some spray paint on it. Black comes to mind as it will absorb heat and may discourage one of those buggers, when the sun is out, with a hot foot.

I have a friend who has had some success with an electric fencer to keep squirrels out of their bird feeders. After they get zapped a couple of times they get real wary. But, again that is only practical in some places and situations and I'm sure, given enough time, they will figure out a way around that also.

You need to create a few v shaped channels and pin wheel them to the center from the edge. Use pop rivets to hold them in place.

Make it look like this --v-- so the rivets will have something to hold onto.

The point is to keep it from waving and the pinwheel effect should help with that. If you were in a sheet metal shot, they would have put a groove in the original cone which keeps it from flapping.

Just a thought and hope it helps.

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Ed in Tampa wrote:I don't want to eat any squirrel that lived in this hot weather, with all the bugs and worms and dined on lead from stand pipe flashing...

Right now all I want is to keep them out of my bird feeders. I need ideas on how to use this aluminum flashing I have. Thanks

You're absolutely right. That's why squirrel season up north is in the fall after it's cold enough to kill any worms they might be carrying.


My grandfather has used grease on downspouts sprinkled with cayenne pepper to try to keep coons out of the attic of one of his rental duplexes. As to it's effectiveness, it kept the momma from getting back into the attic, but the kits were still up there. The whole thing ended with him and his caretaker employee chasing some coon kits around in the attic with fishing nets. One of the kits jumped down from the attic into the living area. Grandpa followed it, and ended up shooting it in the living room with a pistol loaded with snake/rat shot. The renters were home and saw the whole ordeal. The renters were so happy to have the coons out of the house/attic, they weren't really upset after it was all over.

Ed, if you try the grease and cayenne pepper on the pole, PLEASE, set up a camera and put a video on YouTube for our enterta... education.

beeg wrote:Ed, just spray paint the cone with whatever color ya have laying around. As far as stiffening it up. Cut a circle of plywood 3/4" thick and the circumference that will fit about half way up the inside of the cone.

I kind of like that idea. With the plywood in the cone it is protected from the weather and it will add enough support to stop the noise.

I will spray paint it to cut down the shine and hopefully so more of the noise.

Thanks for all the great ideas. And yes I agree if you have a squirrels around you have a good chance of being bite. If you are bite and you don't have the animal so it can be tested you almost have to take the shots.

Ed in Tampa wrote:I kind of like that idea. With the plywood in the cone it is protected from the weather and it will add enough support to stop the noise.

I will spray paint it to cut down the shine and hopefully so more of the noise.

Thanks for all the great ideas. And yes I agree if you have a squirrels around you have a good chance of being bite. If you are bite and you don't have the animal so it can be tested you almost have to take the shots.

The squirrels that I have here live in the ground and they run for cover when I am nearby. I avoid reaching down into their holes just so that I can't get bit.

The plywood idea is good. But you said you needed to find a way to use the rest of that sheet metal. Geeze, way to change your mind for something easier and more effective.

Ed in Tampa wrote:I kind of like that idea. With the plywood in the cone it is protected from the weather and it will add enough support to stop the noise.

I will spray paint it to cut down the shine and hopefully so more of the noise.

Thanks for all the great ideas. And yes I agree if you have a squirrels around you have a good chance of being bite. If you are bite and you don't have the animal so it can be tested you almost have to take the shots.

Here's a big black one, without a fuzzy tail.

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Looks like he/she made it.

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Ed