Often the liner on access caps deterioates, or often there are no liners in the access caps. There is quite a bit of heat and light that can enter thru some of these caps.
I have been putting aluminum foil into the caps, just used the old throw away used foil. It works good to stop the light, and its a good UV blocker.
My wife asked if I wanted the old aluminum food trays, the size was about 12in x 20in x 4in deep, she was throwing them out. These work better than the aluminum foil, they are more rigid, and stay in place if you have a fairly good fit. Or if you wish, they are easily riveted in place. I use the tin snips for cutting a lot of plastic entrances, and these snips work good in cutting the aluminum foil. Even if the cap is opaque, its still a good idea to stop some of the heat cold, and UV rays.
access caps, heat, light
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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Emil Pampell-Tx
- Posts: 6743
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 pm
- Location: Tx, Richmond (SW of Houston)
- Martin Colony History: First started in Gretna, La in 1969 with a small homemade house, have had martins ever since at 2 different homes in Texas
I tried dark paint, then put a spotlight up against the cap, it looked nearly the same as it did before I painted them. I tried primer, white paint, dark paint, and the light goes thru the paint.
Have you ever put a strong light up against some of the tunnels that are being sold? You will be surprised how much light gets thru some of them, and even sewer & drain pvc allows a lot of light to enter.
What got me to thinking about that are the hot summer days when there are about 5 babies piled into a tunnel. It must get very hot in thre with the sunlight bearing down, the heat, and the UV rays.
I am starting to used 5/8in thick cedar to make tunnels, they weigh about the same as purchased tunnels, are easy to make, and they are opaque, and have better insulation characteristics. In my own mind, I think that the martins would very much prefer the cedar tunnels and their natural feel with plenty of traction. And they last longer than plastic in some cases. Some plastic gets brittle and breaks easily when it gets old
Have you ever put a strong light up against some of the tunnels that are being sold? You will be surprised how much light gets thru some of them, and even sewer & drain pvc allows a lot of light to enter.
What got me to thinking about that are the hot summer days when there are about 5 babies piled into a tunnel. It must get very hot in thre with the sunlight bearing down, the heat, and the UV rays.
I am starting to used 5/8in thick cedar to make tunnels, they weigh about the same as purchased tunnels, are easy to make, and they are opaque, and have better insulation characteristics. In my own mind, I think that the martins would very much prefer the cedar tunnels and their natural feel with plenty of traction. And they last longer than plastic in some cases. Some plastic gets brittle and breaks easily when it gets old
PMCA Member, 250 gourds, 6 poles, 2traps
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John Miller
- Posts: 4866
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
I have been using heavy aluminum foil pull tops from coffee cans. ahem..remember when you used to have to open coffee cans with a can opener? And these pull tops have recently got thinner, but still work pretty well. One can cut them snug to fit, or smear some construction glue in the lid and press the foil in.
John M
John M