concerted effort to defeat squirrels scoffing bird feed..

strung a 2mm diameter wire rope between two trees from which to
suspend assorted feeders etc...

However said rope is not level so anything hung on it will slide so I
need some way to anchor the feeders, preferably by creating "stops"
past which they can't slide??

I'm sure I've seen some kind of small "C" section clamps that I could
just slip sideways onto the wire rope and secure by tightening a small
bolt/grub screw - but I can't remember where I saw them or what the
rest of the world would use them for to start to look! -

Anyone know what I've seen? boats? wire track lighting?

Any other ideas?

Cheers
JimK

In message
,
JimK writes
concerted effort to defeat squirrels scoffing bird feed..

strung a 2mm diameter wire rope between two trees from which to
suspend assorted feeders etc...

However said rope is not level so anything hung on it will slide so I
need some way to anchor the feeders, preferably by creating "stops"
past which they can't slide??

If you can still slide something onto the end of the 2mm wire how about
taking the inner, metal, parts of electrical choc' block connectors and
sliding these along. Then tighten the screws to hold them in place.
These would act as stops for anything sliding and would be cheep (cost
effective) too. Or even a double connector complete with plastic and
use the other half to hang the feeder from?
--
Bill

"JimK" wrote in message
...
concerted effort to defeat squirrels scoffing bird feed..

strung a 2mm diameter wire rope between two trees from which to
suspend assorted feeders etc...

However said rope is not level so anything hung on it will slide so I
need some way to anchor the feeders, preferably by creating "stops"
past which they can't slide??

I'm sure I've seen some kind of small "C" section clamps that I could
just slip sideways onto the wire rope and secure by tightening a small
bolt/grub screw - but I can't remember where I saw them or what the
rest of the world would use them for to start to look! -

Anyone know what I've seen? boats? wire track lighting?

Any other ideas?

Cheers
JimK

What about jubilee also known as hose clips and if that is not enough a
piece of metal secured between the wire and the hose clip and bent at 90
degrees. Cheap and no need to disconnect the wire.
Robbie

On Mar 13, 2:41 pm, Bill wrote:
In message
,
JimK writes

concerted effort to defeat squirrels scoffing bird feed..

strung a 2mm diameter wire rope between two trees from which to
suspend assorted feeders etc...

However said rope is not level so anything hung on it will slide so I
need some way to anchor the feeders, preferably by creating "stops"
past which they can't slide??

If you can still slide something onto the end of the 2mm wire how about
taking the inner, metal, parts of electrical choc' block connectors and
sliding these along. Then tighten the screws to hold them in place.
These would act as stops for anything sliding and would be cheep (cost
effective) too. Or even a double connector complete with plastic and
use the other half to hang the feeder from?
--
Bill

a nice idea - tho the wire is now fully installed (i.e. I ain't going
up that wobbly ladder again witrhout a *lot* of lateral thinking!! :)

I'd also pondered using meccano "collars" - (round brass with grub
screw - used on axles etc) but similar installation probs.

Cheers
JimK

JimK wrote:
concerted effort to defeat squirrels scoffing bird feed..

strung a 2mm diameter wire rope between two trees from which to
suspend assorted feeders etc...

However said rope is not level so anything hung on it will slide so I
need some way to anchor the feeders, preferably by creating "stops"
past which they can't slide??

I'm sure I've seen some kind of small "C" section clamps that I could
just slip sideways onto the wire rope and secure by tightening a small
bolt/grub screw - but I can't remember where I saw them or what the
rest of the world would use them for to start to look! -

Anyone know what I've seen? boats? wire track lighting?

Any other ideas?

Cheers
JimK
B&Q Depot?

Malcolm

JimK wrote:
concerted effort to defeat squirrels scoffing bird feed..

strung a 2mm diameter wire rope between two trees from which to
suspend assorted feeders etc...

However said rope is not level so anything hung on it will slide so I
need some way to anchor the feeders, preferably by creating "stops"
past which they can't slide??

cable ties will be sufficient and easy to experiment with

Steve Walker wrote:
JimK wrote:
concerted effort to defeat squirrels scoffing bird feed..

strung a 2mm diameter wire rope between two trees from which to
suspend assorted feeders etc...

However said rope is not level so anything hung on it will slide so I
need some way to anchor the feeders, preferably by creating "stops"
past which they can't slide??

cable ties will be sufficient and easy to experiment with

His problem will still be the ladder though.

To the OP, how high up is the wire and by what amount does it slope?

Dave

JimK wrote:
concerted effort to defeat squirrels scoffing bird feed..

A waste of time IMO

http://www.webtvhub.com/squirrel-mis...mazing-skills/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4Eb1Nt6WIE

Colin Bignell

JimK wrote:

Anyone know what I've seen? boats? wire track lighting?

I suspect what you are talking about are rope grips or bulldog grips. In
marine environments these are mostly stainless steel, although heavy
galvanised are also use on older boats. Quite cheap at most chandlers.

I'd suggest that you also consider getting turnbuckle ends for the rope
which will eliminate some, if not all, of the sag.

http://www.s3i.co.uk/ropegrip.php

On Mar 13, 4:16 pm, "Steve Walker" wrote:
JimK wrote:
concerted effort to defeat squirrels scoffing bird feed..

strung a 2mm diameter wire rope between two trees from which to
suspend assorted feeders etc...

However said rope is not level so anything hung on it will slide so I
need some way to anchor the feeders, preferably by creating "stops"
past which they can't slide??

cable ties will be sufficient and easy to experiment with

mmm used on their own as stops I don't think they'll be big enough to
work....or do you mean to attach something with them to act as a stop?

Pondering on, I reckon that, in rough weather, the carabiner type
hooks i'm hanging the feeders etc.may, given enough momentum, ride
over smaller stops....

Cheers
JimK

On Mar 13, 5:10 pm, Dave wrote:
Steve Walker wrote:
JimK wrote:
concerted effort to defeat squirrels scoffing bird feed..

strung a 2mm diameter wire rope between two trees from which to
suspend assorted feeders etc...

However said rope is not level so anything hung on it will slide so I
need some way to anchor the feeders, preferably by creating "stops"
past which they can't slide??

cable ties will be sufficient and easy to experiment with

His problem will still be the ladder though.

To the OP, how high up is the wire and by what amount does it slope?

ah well my ingenious lowering mechanism gets it within easy reach for
"loading" purposes ;)

Cheers
JimK

On Mar 13, 5:50 pm, "Nightjar \"cpb\"@" "insertmysurnamehere wrote:
JimK wrote:
concerted effort to defeat squirrels scoffing bird feed..

A waste of time IMO

http://www.webtvhub.com/squirrel-mis...?v=u4Eb1Nt6WIE

Colin Bignell

maybe but those vids are almost obviously intended to entertain not
actually prevent the feckers succeeding.

Witness the success of those plastic dome shields when sited optimally
- i.e. away from potential aerial "launch sites" that the furry
feckers can jump from directly onto the feeder....

Plus mine's a metal wire rope which makes it conductive.... :) fx:
manic laughter

Cheers
JimK

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember JimK
saying something like:

strung a 2mm diameter wire rope between two trees from which to
suspend assorted feeders etc...

However said rope is not level so anything hung on it will slide so I
need some way to anchor the feeders, preferably by creating "stops"
past which they can't slide??

I'm sure I've seen some kind of small "C" section clamps that I could
just slip sideways onto the wire rope and secure by tightening a small
bolt/grub screw - but I can't remember where I saw them or what the
rest of the world would use them for to start to look! -

Go into your nearest farmers' store and find wire rope clamps - dead
cheap for the small size you need.

"Nightjar \"cpb\"@" "insertmysurnamehere wrote:
JimK wrote:
concerted effort to defeat squirrels scoffing bird feed..

A waste of time IMO

http://www.webtvhub.com/squirrel-mis...mazing-skills/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4Eb1Nt6WIE

The key is to get the squirrels doing amazing stuff, so you can live off
the adwords.

JimK wrote:

However said rope is not level so anything hung on it will slide so I
need some way to anchor the feeders

Learn to tie a rolling hitch?

Pete

On Mar 13, 7:09 pm, Pete Verdon
d wrote:
JimK wrote:
However said rope is not level so anything hung on it will slide so I
need some way to anchor the feeders

Learn to tie a rolling hitch?

Pete

in wire rope? not enough spare slack I suspect....

Cheers
JimK

JimK wrote:
On Mar 13, 5:10 pm, Dave wrote:
Steve Walker wrote:
JimK wrote:
concerted effort to defeat squirrels scoffing bird feed..
strung a 2mm diameter wire rope between two trees from which to
suspend assorted feeders etc...
However said rope is not level so anything hung on it will slide so I
need some way to anchor the feeders, preferably by creating "stops"
past which they can't slide??
cable ties will be sufficient and easy to experiment with
His problem will still be the ladder though.

To the OP, how high up is the wire and by what amount does it slope?

ah well my ingenious lowering mechanism gets it within easy reach for
"loading" purposes ;)

Cheers
JimK

You didn't mention that you can easily lower the wire.

Then use the centenary wire grips with a bit of dowel between the wire
and the grip, hang the feeders and hoist back up/

Dave

On Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:13:23 -0800 (PST), JimK wrote:

Plus mine's a metal wire rope which makes it conductive.... :) fx:
manic laughter

Unless you can pass enough current down it to get suffcient volt drop
between front and back paws. Birds sit on power lines all the time,
men work of the super grid lines, live...

The only time having the wire electrified is a problem is getting
on/off it from/to something else that can form a circuit. Unless you
zapped te tree rat the first time they'd soon learn to jump over the
insulator rather than climb round it.

--
Cheers
Dave.

On 13 Mar, 18:13, JimK wrote:
On Mar 13, 5:50 pm, "Nightjar \"cpb\"@" "insertmysurnamehere wrote:

JimK wrote:
concerted effort to defeat squirrels scoffing bird feed..

A waste of time IMO

http://www.webtvhub.com/squirrel-mis...eo-squirrel-sh...

Colin Bignell

maybe but those vids are almost obviously intended to entertain not
actually prevent the feckers succeeding.

Witness the success of those plastic dome shields when sited optimally
- i.e. away from potential aerial "launch sites" that the furry
feckers can jump from directly onto the feeder....

Plus mine's a metal wire rope which makes it conductive.... :) fx:
manic laughter

Cheers
JimK

I went down the suspend-the-feeder-from-the-wire route - they learnt
to shimmy along the wire within 24 hours. I put plastic baffles (made
from flowerpots) on the wire, they learnt to leap from trees and
bushes. The only place in the garden I could suspend the feeder where
they perhaps would have struggled to jump onto it would have looked
ridiculous. The solution is to buy something like this:
http://shortlinks.co.uk/vw4
I've never seen such frustration and fury as when the squirrels first
found that the nuts had been imprisoned in one of those. They wasted
many fruitless hours rattling the bars.

I also got some proper traps for them (and I'm not talking about those
ones where you catch them and let them out again!).

On Mar 13, 2:20*pm, JimK wrote:
concerted effort to defeat squirrels scoffing bird feed..

strung a 2mm diameter wire rope between two trees from which to
suspend assorted feeders etc...

However said rope is not level so anything hung on it will slide so I
need some way to anchor the feeders, preferably by creating "stops"
past which they can't slide??

I'm sure I've seen some kind of small "C" section clamps that I could
just slip sideways onto the wire rope and secure by tightening a small
bolt/grub screw - but I can't remember where I saw them or what the
rest of the world would use them for to start to look! -

Anyone know what I've seen? boats? wire track lighting?

Any other ideas?

Cheers
JimK

Use a flat piece of metal or strong plastic etc, and slot it
alternately on 2 sides. Now the wire is put through the open slots
alternately so it zigzags, and no sliding occurs due to friction.

Not sure if you get the description, but its simple and works well.


NT

JimK wrote:
concerted effort to defeat squirrels scoffing bird feed..

strung a 2mm diameter wire rope between two trees from which to
suspend assorted feeders etc...

However said rope is not level so anything hung on it will slide so I
need some way to anchor the feeders, preferably by creating "stops"
past which they can't slide??

I'm sure I've seen some kind of small "C" section clamps that I could
just slip sideways onto the wire rope and secure by tightening a small
bolt/grub screw - but I can't remember where I saw them or what the
rest of the world would use them for to start to look! -

Anyone know what I've seen? boats? wire track lighting?

Any other ideas?

Cheers
JimK
All this discussion, at any hardware shop you can get these sort of things.
http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/28...ope_Clips.html

Think of the lead weights fishermen crimp onto fishing line ...

.... then think of a way of doing something similar without using lead.

HTH
J^n

On Mar 14, 8:38 am, NT wrote:
On Mar 13, 2:20 pm, JimK wrote:



concerted effort to defeat squirrels scoffing bird feed..

strung a 2mm diameter wire rope between two trees from which to
suspend assorted feeders etc...

However said rope is not level so anything hung on it will slide so I
need some way to anchor the feeders, preferably by creating "stops"
past which they can't slide??

I'm sure I've seen some kind of small "C" section clamps that I could
just slip sideways onto the wire rope and secure by tightening a small
bolt/grub screw - but I can't remember where I saw them or what the
rest of the world would use them for to start to look! -

Anyone know what I've seen? boats? wire track lighting?

Any other ideas?

Cheers
JimK

Use a flat piece of metal or strong plastic etc, and slot it
alternately on 2 sides. Now the wire is put through the open slots
alternately so it zigzags, and no sliding occurs due to friction.

Not sure if you get the description, but its simple and works well.

NT

I'm with you - like you slide when tensioning tent guy ropes - good
idea!

I'll give it a whirl next try

NB the wire grip things everyone is bleariliy pointing me to have
given up and the effin wire is down at the moment! :(

Cheers
JimK

On Mar 14, 12:12 pm, jkn wrote:
Think of the lead weights fishermen crimp onto fishing line ...

... then think of a way of doing something similar without using lead.

HTH
J^n

why not lead? I got some scrap knockin about....

Cheers
JimK

On Mar 14, 12:22 am, Martin Pentreath
wrote:
On 13 Mar, 18:13, JimK wrote:



On Mar 13, 5:50 pm, "Nightjar \"cpb\"@" "insertmysurnamehere wrote:

JimK wrote:
concerted effort to defeat squirrels scoffing bird feed..

A waste of time IMO

http://www.webtvhub.com/squirrel-mis...eo-squirrel-sh...

Colin Bignell

maybe but those vids are almost obviously intended to entertain not
actually prevent the feckers succeeding.

Witness the success of those plastic dome shields when sited optimally
- i.e. away from potential aerial "launch sites" that the furry
feckers can jump from directly onto the feeder....

Plus mine's a metal wire rope which makes it conductive.... :) fx:
manic laughter

Cheers
JimK

I went down the suspend-the-feeder-from-the-wire route - they learnt
to shimmy along the wire within 24 hours. I put plastic baffles (made
from flowerpots) on the wire, they learnt to leap from trees and
bushes. The only place in the garden I could suspend the feeder where
they perhaps would have struggled to jump onto it would have looked
ridiculous. The solution is to buy something like this:

http://shortlinks.co.uk/vw4

mmm OK with nuts I think, we have a similar for seed (allegedly) and
the grey feckers swing on it and then "hoover" up the seed from the
pan at the bottom...

Cheers
JimK

JimK wrote:
On Mar 13, 4:16 pm, "Steve Walker" wrote:
JimK wrote:
concerted effort to defeat squirrels scoffing bird feed..
strung a 2mm diameter wire rope between two trees from which to
suspend assorted feeders etc...
However said rope is not level so anything hung on it will slide so I
need some way to anchor the feeders, preferably by creating "stops"
past which they can't slide??
cable ties will be sufficient and easy to experiment with

mmm used on their own as stops I don't think they'll be big enough to
work....or do you mean to attach something with them to act as a stop?

Pondering on, I reckon that, in rough weather, the carabiner type
hooks i'm hanging the feeders etc.may, given enough momentum, ride
over smaller stops....

Use cable ties to clamp rings to the wire and hang the feeders from the
rings.

Colin Bignell

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember Dave
saying something like:

Then use the centenary wire grips with a bit of dowel between the wire
and the grip, hang the feeders and hoist back up/

He'll need a hundred of them.

Nightjar "cpb"@" wrote:
JimK wrote:
On Mar 13, 4:16 pm, "Steve Walker" wrote:
JimK wrote:
concerted effort to defeat squirrels scoffing bird feed..
strung a 2mm diameter wire rope between two trees from which to
suspend assorted feeders etc...
However said rope is not level so anything hung on it will slide so I
need some way to anchor the feeders, preferably by creating "stops"
past which they can't slide??
cable ties will be sufficient and easy to experiment with

mmm used on their own as stops I don't think they'll be big enough to
work....or do you mean to attach something with them to act as a stop?

Pondering on, I reckon that, in rough weather, the carabiner type
hooks i'm hanging the feeders etc.may, given enough momentum, ride
over smaller stops....

Use cable ties to clamp rings to the wire and hang the feeders from the
rings.

Now you're thinking with portals.

JimK wrote:
On Mar 13, 7:09 pm, Pete Verdon
JimK wrote:

However said rope is not level so anything hung on it will slide so I
need some way to anchor the feeders

Learn to tie a rolling hitch?

in wire rope? not enough spare slack I suspect....

No, in cord tied around the wire, then hang the feeder from the cord.
Simples.

Pete

On Mar 13, 11:20*am, JimK wrote:
concerted effort to defeat squirrels scoffing bird feed..

strung a 2mm diameter wire rope between two trees from which to
suspend assorted feeders etc...

However said rope is not level so anything hung on it will slide so I
need some way to anchor the feeders, preferably by creating "stops"
past which they can't slide??

I'm sure I've seen some kind of small "C" section clamps that I could
just slip sideways onto the wire rope and secure by tightening a small
bolt/grub screw - but I can't remember where I saw them or what the
rest of the world would use them for to start to look! -

Anyone know what I've seen? boats? wire track lighting?

Any other ideas?

Cheers
JimK

To put up a clothes line here we use metal clips which come in small
package. The open clips are put round the line and then squeezed
around the metal cored line with a pair of pliers etc.
Typically one makes a loop in the end of of the line, formed with one
or two of the clips and hooks it around something at one end. Then the
other end can be kept tightened to something substantial such as the
house or shed etc. We usually use a turnbuckle to keep line tight so
that even with a load of wet towels it doesn't sag much.
But there's no reason the clips can't be used mid span, one part
squeezed around the cable and the other part around some sort of a
stop or a very short piece of same metal cored clothes line to make a
'stop', or a loop can be made in the line using a clip.
Couple of points though; we use rope hung feeders and the rope on
which they hang can be looped around the line from which they are
hung.
A suitably strong point from which to suspend any line (such as a
clothes line or line onto which to hang feeders) can be made from a bi-
pod; two sticks tied or bolted together at the top. With the line tied
back to the base of a tree, fence post or whatever behind the bi-pod.
Need line tighter, move the two sticks closer together and/or slightly
more upright. One advantage also is the the bi-pod can be laid flat on
the ground in order to wheel a wheelbarrow or trolley, or drive past/
over it; without undoing the line.
We have two clothes lines not much used in winter and it is quite
possible to hang fairly heavy wooden feeders holding a pound or so of
seed each, from those!
Pretty sure those clips and metal cored line available in UK; had a
message exchange a few years ago with a radio amateur near the
Grampians (Scotland?) about using metal cored clothes line for radio
antennae. And those clips were mentioned.
Metal cored lines, unless the more expensive stainless variety, will
eventually rust out. But my Grampian Hills contact mentioned that even
in his windy and damp climate the cheaper stuff lasted (as radio
antenna/aerials) for quite a few years. And also had the advantage of
being relatively cheap compared to copper cable/wire!!!!
One of our clothes lines is about 6 feet off the ground, parallel to
back of the house and some short distance away from bedroom window.
Hooking up in a rough and ready manner even a cheap radio onto it to
we have on occasion picked up here, close to the most easterly point
of North America some European Long Wave radio stations, usually quite
weakly. So line served not only as clothe line it's also a make-do
radio antenna!
There was supposed to be a new LW station coming on air from the Isle
of Man, on 279 kilohertz, a few years ago? IIRC? Nothing much heard
since?

On Mar 15, 10:09 pm, Pete Verdon
d wrote:
JimK wrote:
On Mar 13, 7:09 pm, Pete Verdon
JimK wrote:
However said rope is not level so anything hung on it will slide so I
need some way to anchor the feeders
Learn to tie a rolling hitch?
in wire rope? not enough spare slack I suspect....

No, in cord tied around the wire, then hang the feeder from the cord.
Simples.

Pete

mmm... wiki has:-

"a knot used to attach a rope to a rod, pole, or other rope. A simple
friction hitch, it is used for lengthwise pull along an object rather
than at right angles. The Rolling hitch is designed to resist
lengthwise movement for only a single direction of pull"

so does that mean it will tend to slide or tend to undo in my "non
lengthwise pull" application?

Cheers
JimK

JimK wrote:
On Mar 14, 12:22 am, Martin Pentreath
http://shortlinks.co.uk/vw4

mmm OK with nuts I think, we have a similar for seed (allegedly) and
the grey feckers swing on it and then "hoover" up the seed from the
pan at the bottom...

Oddly mine is similar and I have never had problems with squirrels. But
I did notice that one rather fat pigeon had learnt to fly at it from the
fence swing on it and then down to the ground to feed on the droppings.
Repeat until too fat to get back of the ground. Seemed to have stopped
now. I think it got too fat and was prey to the neighbours cat.

Andrew