Turban Vent

[Unk Bond]

Hello
Couldn't find my 1 inch spade bit
Off to the hardware and bought a new one [ Smile
Now after drilling the hole

Intered my vent stem Found it to be a nice snug fit
The vents are on straight I just have a lump-E bed [ Later

[C.C.Martins]

Looks good, I love those gourds. Martins really appriciate them. Just got done with 4 of my neighbors.

[Unk Bond]

Hello
After I get one fully vented
Think I will lay a thermometer inside for a test run [ Later

[C.C.Martins]

Do the whole test! Put some toilet paper in there, close it up tight and put a hose over it to act like rain...see if it gets wet.
Waters bound to come up through the holes in the bottom, water gets everywhere thats not a big deal, it isn't much. Be curious to see.
I did that with some of my gourds.

[alfie]

I'm doing a similar test and comparing a vented vs non-vented and will be posting the results on the "Venting your gourds" posts on the forum. I'm going to try to simulate what it would be like with the Martins here. I have a few decoys I'll put in the gourds but the vents will be open and only close them up for a few readings because when the Martins are here they are open. Tom has a good idea to put paper in the bottom to see if it gets wet. Stay tuned.

[Unk Bond]

Hello alfie
Sounds like a plan [ Will podt my finding [ Later

[Thomabear]

My .02 on turbine vents...
I noticed they were on sale for 50 cents each, so I figured what the heck and purchased 6 a couple weeks or so ago. Before I started boring holes in my houses, I figured it might be a good idea to test them first. The timing was perfect with a nice cool front and a significant breeze, so I set them out punched through 1/2" Styrofoam disks with catch cups on the underside to monitor for water.

My Findings:
1. They would not spin freely unless there was a strong gust of wind. What's the point if we rarely see strong wind gusts in the heat of summer??
2. Being a static vent 95% of the time allowed a significant amount of water intrusion. Not sure it the same occurred when they were spinning during a gust, but I had already seen enough to deter me from using them.
3. They were overpriced by 50 cents.

[alfie]

I kind of agree with you about them not spinning. Except I did a "Rain Test" and they didn't leak. The temperature inside was about 1-3 degrees cooler with the one with the vent so I figured any improvement would help. I'm here outside of Austin and we had 49 days 100 or above and at least a little over a handful was above 105. I paid 99 cents each and put them on my gourds.

[Unk Bond]

Hello
Here is my cap vent
One thing I accomplished here for sure is the cap screws on easer ha ha [ Later

[Martintown33]

Unk, what are those pvc fittings youre using for your vent covers? Looks effective..
Rob

[Martintown33]

Hey Tom.. I put a bead of caulk around the drain holes at the bottom of my gourds. It stops the rain from weeping up into the holes then into the bottom of the gourd..The water contacts the dried bead of caulk and drips off before it can get to the drain holes..
Rob

[Unk Bond]

Hello
Quote = The water contacts the dried bead of caulk and drips off before it can get to the drain holes..
Rob
Nice idea And condensation moister still can get out [ Later

[Unk Bond]

Hello

Guys Google this
Electriduct PVC Flanged Wire Guard Surface Raceways
I buy them in length and cut pieces [ Later

[Martintown33]

Thanks unc.. yep, a circle bead of caulk around the hole, is a simple fix for rain water weeping up through the gourd bottom drain holes..
Rob

[C.C.Martins]

thats a good idea! Thanks Rob!

[Martintown33]

Hey Tom. If you do the bead of caulk around the drain holes, it’s best to use an acrylic latex caulk with silicone. It’s called “Alex plus” caulk…it’s sold at home depot. It’s easier to manipulate the caulk into a “levee” shaped bead around the drain hole. Just wet your finger, and it’s easier to mold into the shape you want.. then it dries harder than silicone caulk.. it works! I water hose tested it..
Rob

[C.C.Martins]

Hey Tom. If you do the bead of caulk around the drain holes, it’s best to use an acrylic latex caulk with silicone. It’s called “Alex plus” caulk…it’s sold at home depot. It’s easier to manipulate the caulk into a “levee” shaped bead around the drain hole. Just wet your finger, and it’s easier to mold into the shape you want.. then it dries harder than silicone caulk.. it works! I water hose tested it..
Rob

Good tip, thanks Rob!
This off season is productive!
Tom

[Caroline94535-ND]

This caulking sounds useful. Could I see a photo, please.

[Martintown33]

Here’s a photo that you asked for, Caroline… the rain water rolls down to the bottom of the gourd, and hits the “levee circle “, then drips off… it isn’t able to make it to the drain hole and get wicked up.. it works!
Rob

FF960482-7FC8-4ACE-8BAE-97273E46C89B.jpeg (59.89 KiB) Viewed 14015 times

[Unk Bond]

Hello
Thanks for the pictures A hornet would be envious Smile [ Later