I have to find large circular metal washers of some very light-weight,
fireproof material. The problem is this: there is a mouse infestation
in an elderly relative's home. I (and an assortment of handymen,
contractors, etc.) have tried for years to find the source of entry for
these rodents, and I've gone through extraordinary measures to make
sure the slightest possible entry place is either caulked, boarded up,
duct-taped, etc.

But at some time in the past, this elderly relative had a wall oven
removed and hired a carpenter to install a floor-to-soffit "pantry"
cabinet in place of the oven and cabinets that used to occupy that
columnar space. It's my belief, as well as the opinion of *all* the
contractors, etc., that whoever installed this pantry cabinet failed to
seal the hole in the drywall where the wiring supplied the former wall
oven, and that the mice come up from the cellar through this hole.

The elderly relative has a traditional "stove" next to the pantry
cabinet and recently blew a wad on what she thought was a
state-of-the-art range hood. This hood has two halogen bulbs. Because
of the intense noise in the house whenever no one is in the kitchen,
and the mouse dung in and around the stove, I believe the mice are
actually making their way from the hole in the gypsum board into the
range hood, and then (I'm not joking) jumping down from the gap between
the bulb socket and the bulb.

I therefore need metal washers of specific dimensions to complete the
job of mice-proofing the place. I would unscrew the halogen bulbs, fit
these mythical washers into the space where the jumping mice now do
their acrobatics, and then screw the bulbs back in.

Well, if you're not thinking by now this is one for the alt.home.repair
joke files, I'd like to know how I can go about getting such specialty
metal washers.

wrote:
I have to find large circular metal washers of some very light-weight,
fireproof material. The problem is this: there is a mouse infestation
in an elderly relative's home. I (and an assortment of handymen,
contractors, etc.) have tried for years to find the source of entry for
these rodents, and I've gone through extraordinary measures to make
sure the slightest possible entry place is either caulked, boarded up,
duct-taped, etc.

But at some time in the past, this elderly relative had a wall oven
removed and hired a carpenter to install a floor-to-soffit "pantry"
cabinet in place of the oven and cabinets that used to occupy that
columnar space. It's my belief, as well as the opinion of *all* the
contractors, etc., that whoever installed this pantry cabinet failed to
seal the hole in the drywall where the wiring supplied the former wall
oven, and that the mice come up from the cellar through this hole.

The elderly relative has a traditional "stove" next to the pantry
cabinet and recently blew a wad on what she thought was a
state-of-the-art range hood. This hood has two halogen bulbs. Because
of the intense noise in the house whenever no one is in the kitchen,
and the mouse dung in and around the stove, I believe the mice are
actually making their way from the hole in the gypsum board into the
range hood, and then (I'm not joking) jumping down from the gap between
the bulb socket and the bulb.

I therefore need metal washers of specific dimensions to complete the
job of mice-proofing the place. I would unscrew the halogen bulbs, fit
these mythical washers into the space where the jumping mice now do
their acrobatics, and then screw the bulbs back in.

Well, if you're not thinking by now this is one for the alt.home.repair
joke files, I'd like to know how I can go about getting such specialty
metal washers.

Can't picture the approx size but if you can find something close buy it
and take it to the nearest small machine shop in your area with a sketch
and ask how much to trim it to size.

wrote:
I have to find large circular metal washers of some very light-weight,
fireproof material. The problem is this: there is a mouse infestation
in an elderly relative's home. I (and an assortment of handymen,
contractors, etc.) have tried for years to find the source of entry
for these rodents, and I've gone through extraordinary measures to
make sure the slightest possible entry place is either caulked,
boarded up, duct-taped, etc.

....

It has been my experience that a little drywall is never going to stop a
mouse. They can go though wood as well. If they know there is food there,
they will get there. If they are in the cellar they will get upstairs.

Traps, cats and poison are the ways to go.


--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit

Joseph Meehan wrote:
wrote:
I have to find large circular metal washers of some very light-weight,
fireproof material. The problem is this: there is a mouse infestation
in an elderly relative's home. I (and an assortment of handymen,
contractors, etc.) have tried for years to find the source of entry
for these rodents, and I've gone through extraordinary measures to
make sure the slightest possible entry place is either caulked,
boarded up, duct-taped, etc.

It has been my experience that a little drywall is never going to stop a
mouse. They can go though wood as well. If they know there is food there,
they will get there. If they are in the cellar they will get upstairs.

Traps, cats and poison are the ways to go.



I agree, you don't need washers or a handyman, you need a serivce
contract with a good pest control company that can provide on-going
rodent control. I would get this situation under control, there are
possible serious health issues associated with living in a mice
infestated environment.

cut sheet metal to size and drill hole, use sheet metal for ductwork.

your statement explains a lot
]
The problem is this: there is a mouse infestation
in an elderly relative's home. I (and an assortment of handymen,
contractors, etc.) have tried for years to find the source of entry for

these rodents, and I've gone through extraordinary measures to make
sure the slightest possible entry place is either caulked, boarded up,
duct-taped, etc.


you really cant depend on caulk or ducttape. metal shavings pushed down
holes cemented in place.

you must keep them out of the entire house

Well, if you're not thinking by now this is one for the alt.home.repair
joke files, I'd like to know how I can go about getting such specialty
metal washers.

Aluminum duct tape.

Thanks to everyone for responses. The sheet metal idea sounds good.
Also, I didn't know machine shops would do small jobs, so thanks (F.H.)
for letting me know. Not to drift this thread, but are there only
specific metals machine shops will deal with, or is it sort of like
Metal 'S' Us?

wrote:
I have to find large circular metal washers of some very light-weight,
fireproof material. The problem is this: there is a mouse infestation
in an elderly relative's home. I (and an assortment of handymen,
contractors, etc.) have tried for years to find the source of entry for
these rodents, and I've gone through extraordinary measures to make
sure the slightest possible entry place is either caulked, boarded up,
duct-taped, etc.

But at some time in the past, this elderly relative had a wall oven
removed and hired a carpenter to install a floor-to-soffit "pantry"
cabinet in place of the oven and cabinets that used to occupy that
columnar space. It's my belief, as well as the opinion of *all* the
contractors, etc., that whoever installed this pantry cabinet failed to
seal the hole in the drywall where the wiring supplied the former wall
oven, and that the mice come up from the cellar through this hole.

The elderly relative has a traditional "stove" next to the pantry
cabinet and recently blew a wad on what she thought was a
state-of-the-art range hood. This hood has two halogen bulbs. Because
of the intense noise in the house whenever no one is in the kitchen,
and the mouse dung in and around the stove, I believe the mice are
actually making their way from the hole in the gypsum board into the
range hood, and then (I'm not joking) jumping down from the gap between
the bulb socket and the bulb.

I therefore need metal washers of specific dimensions to complete the
job of mice-proofing the place. I would unscrew the halogen bulbs, fit
these mythical washers into the space where the jumping mice now do
their acrobatics, and then screw the bulbs back in.

Well, if you're not thinking by now this is one for the alt.home.repair
joke files, I'd like to know how I can go about getting such specialty
metal washers.

Blocking the air space around the bulbs could cause the sockets to
overheat- they are likely not porcelein, but plastic.
Could just fail, could be a fire/shock hazard.

You don't want them anywhere in the house, anyway.

Dave

Aluminum duct tape.

mice will go right thru it

..

Blocking the air space around the bulbs could cause the sockets to
overheat- they are likely not porcelein, but plastic.
Could just fail, could be a fire/shock hazard.

That's what I was thinking too. Adding blockage to a UL approved
fixture doesn't sound like a good idea.




You don't want them anywhere in the house, anyway.

Dave


Agree here too. If they can easily get into the basement, then it's
likely they will find another way into the kitchen, even if the lights
are blocked. If the integrity of the area behind the cabinet is
thought to be suspect, I'd consider removing the cabinet so you can see
what's going on back there and fix it.


Also traps or poison in the basement are important in the line of
defense. It's been my experience that mice will at some point get
into just about any house, as it's very difficult to find and seal all
the possible entry points.

Also traps or poison in the basement are important in the line of
defense. It's been my experience that mice will at some point get
into just about any house, as it's very difficult to find and seal all
the possible entry points.

We have a small farm, and when we took ownership, we were infested,
particularly in the winter as the field mice and rats would seek
shelter. We started a poison program and frankly haven't seen one in
quite a while.
http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.h...2-00b0d0204ae5

On 18 Jan 2007 15:14:43 -0800, wrote:

I have to find large circular metal washers of some very light-weight,
fireproof material. The problem is this: there is a mouse infestation
in an elderly relative's home. I (and an assortment of handymen,
contractors, etc.) have tried for years to find the source of entry for
these rodents, and I've gone through extraordinary measures to make
sure the slightest possible entry place is either caulked, boarded up,
duct-taped, etc.

But at some time in the past, this elderly relative had a wall oven
removed and hired a carpenter to install a floor-to-soffit "pantry"
cabinet in place of the oven and cabinets that used to occupy that
columnar space. It's my belief, as well as the opinion of *all* the
contractors, etc., that whoever installed this pantry cabinet failed to
seal the hole in the drywall where the wiring supplied the former wall
oven, and that the mice come up from the cellar through this hole.

The elderly relative has a traditional "stove" next to the pantry
cabinet and recently blew a wad on what she thought was a
state-of-the-art range hood. This hood has two halogen bulbs. Because
of the intense noise in the house whenever no one is in the kitchen,
and the mouse dung in and around the stove, I believe the mice are
actually making their way from the hole in the gypsum board into the
range hood, and then (I'm not joking) jumping down from the gap between
the bulb socket and the bulb.

I therefore need metal washers of specific dimensions to complete the
job of mice-proofing the place. I would unscrew the halogen bulbs, fit
these mythical washers into the space where the jumping mice now do
their acrobatics, and then screw the bulbs back in.

Well, if you're not thinking by now this is one for the alt.home.repair
joke files, I'd like to know how I can go about getting such specialty
metal washers.

You cut them out of a coke can with a pair of sissors and a heavy
exacto knife.

wrote:
Thanks to everyone for responses. The sheet metal idea sounds good.
Also, I didn't know machine shops would do small jobs, so thanks (F.H.)
for letting me know.

I'm a retired machinist. Owned my own shop for a little over 20 years.
Although we made a lot of high tech stuff someone would often stop by
with a broken lawn mower or something on weekends. Helped break the
monotony sometimes. You might have some luck with the Yellow Pages or
if there is a commercial tract near you check it out on a Sat. Machine
shops are notorious for working weekends. Need a shop with lathes and a
helpful attitude.

Not to drift this thread, but are there only specific metals machine shops will deal with, or is it sort of like
Metal 'S' Us?

Whether or not a sheet metal shop can help depends on how precision (or
how thick) it need be.

writes:

Aluminum duct tape.

mice will go right thru it

All right then, aluminum flashing with aluminum duct tape.