Containing DEET

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Messages 1 - 17 of total 17 in this topic

Willoughby

Social climber

Truckee, CA

Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 20, 2009 - 07:15pm PT

Somebody was asking about the skeeters a few days back, and here in Tahoe, they've been so bad I've had to resort to picking up a bottle of DEET. Problem with that stuff is that it seems to melt everything it comes into contact with. Anybody out there figured out any tricks for containing the mess? I'm currently double-baggin' it in some Ziploc sandwich bags, but I imagine it's just a matter of time before it eats its way through to wreak more mischief.

Haggis

Trad climber

Scotland

Jul 20, 2009 - 07:18pm PT

you could use a non plastic container.

TradIsGood

Chalkless climber

the Gunks end of the country

Jul 20, 2009 - 07:45pm PT

Be more selective of the type of bottle and cap that you buy.

tolman_paul

Trad climber

Anchorage, AK

Jul 20, 2009 - 07:51pm PT

I've found that products containing ~20% deet work just as well as the 100% deet, but they aren't nearly as nasty to melting everything plastic.

I've learned to pretty much ignore mosquitos, unless they are really bad. Really bad is when you're wearing a long sleeve shirt, have hosed yourself down with deet, and you have a couple hundred on each arm trying to land and a cloud around your head. Unless you can swat yourself and your hand is covered with dead skeeters, you haven't experienced bad skeeters.

Now no see ums and whitesocks, I hate them. They get in your nose, your eyes, seemed to totally ignore bug repellent, take a chunk out of your flesh, and the resulting welt itches like poison oak.

scuffy b

climber

Sinatra to Singapore

Jul 20, 2009 - 07:55pm PT

styrenes bad, ethylenes OK.

Ricky D

Trad climber

Sierra Westside

Jul 20, 2009 - 08:00pm PT

Better living through chemistry.

dmalloy

Trad climber

eastside

Jul 20, 2009 - 09:14pm PT

after trying and dismissing the various non-DEET products on the market, we have settled on using Sawyer Controlled Release 20% Deet. Seems to work well enough on the Sierra skeeters around here, and it comes as a cream, not unlike suntan lotion. Rubs all the way in, not sticky and nasty like some of the products I have used, the cap closes tight and the cream does not seem to leak out since it is thicker than liquidy stuff, and even when I have spilled it on things it has not caused them to melt.

Here's a link -

http://www.sawyerproducts.com/CR.htm

Not sure if any of your Truckee area places sell it, but it is available online from Amazon, REI and others.

JOEY.F

Social climber

sebastopol

Jul 20, 2009 - 10:01pm PT

Don't put that container on a piece of wood furniture.
Works like Jasco varnish remover...

hoipolloi

climber

A friends backyard with the neighbors wifi

Jul 21, 2009 - 12:48am PT

does it melt nylon, spectra or dyneema like that?

someone throw a bottle in with their slings and lets find out!

Mighty Hiker

Social climber

Vancouver, B.C.

Jul 21, 2009 - 12:56am PT

Assume unavoidable presence of innumerable mosquitoes. A situation I've been in when working up north in endless muskeg. It requires some discipline to address the situation.

1. 30% concentration DEET is enough - tests show that stronger concentrations are no more effective at repelling bugs, and are less friendly to any nearby items made from petrochemicals.
2. Apply thoroughly to all exposed skin, with skin clean and dry, well before needed. Use a mirror if necessary.
3. Get a bottle of the 10% concentration spray stuff. Spray some on your shirt, your socks, your pant cuffs, a bit on your hair, - anywhere where there is moderate vulnerability.
4. If the environment allows and you can stand it, use a head net.
5. Renew the application of DEET at midday.
6. Earplugs can sometimes dull the whining. (May be handy in some climbing situations, too.)

I remain suspicious of the effects of DEET on human health, but there doesn't seem anything definitive so far, and it certainly does the job.

scuffy b

climber

Sinatra to Singapore

Jul 21, 2009 - 11:26am PT

Del,

fly boxes come to mind. The brittle ones are melted by DEET,
the "crushproof" style do OK.

LuckyPink

climber

the last bivy

Jul 22, 2009 - 02:22am PT

hey my canadian deet melted the handle on my swiss army knife right off in a matter of hours.
It's not getting anywhere near my climbing gear;

love it though , works way better than the usual lotion deet. I wrap it in a cloth and put it in a freezer quality zip lock

davidji

Social climber

Jul 22, 2009 - 03:30am PT

Am I the only one here who was glad to abandon DEET when an effective alternative became available? Been using picaridin products and haven't gone back to DEET.

http://www.picaridin.com/science.htm

Karl Baba

Trad climber

Yosemite, Ca

Jul 22, 2009 - 04:59am PT

I'd love to believe in this Picardin stuff but my girlfriend bought some. I was delighted that it smelled and felt fine but didn't work for squat on her or me. We were so grateful I had some 24% Deet nearby and the difference was night and day.

The Centers for Disease Control has OKed a few substances now besides Deet but it's probably only because they fear Deet is toxic and bad. Your stuff is on the good list so I'll try to give it another shot. The bugs lost much of their taste for me but love her

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/mosquitorepellent.htm

Peace

Karl

"In general, the more active ingredient (higher percentage) it has, the longer a repellent will protect you from mosquitoes. For example, DEET products are available in many formulations--something with 30% DEET will protect you longer than one with 5% DEET. You cannot directly compare the percentage of one active ingredient to another, however.

Use your common sense. Re-apply repellent if you start to get bitten and follow the label instructions.

As a “rule of thumb”:
For many hours outside (over 3-4 hours) and/or where biting is very intense—look for a repellent containing more than 20% DEET. Products with more than 50% DEET do not offer additional protection.
For shorter periods of time, repellents containing less than 20% DEET, the repellent currently available with 7% picaridin or one of the products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus may provide adequate protection. There are other products available, but they may not protect as long as those named here."

Salamanizer

Trad climber

Vacaville Ca,

Jul 22, 2009 - 09:45pm PT

Didn't Black Diamond do a series of tests to determine the effects of DEET on climbing soft goods, spectra, ropes etc...???

I believe I remember reading that they soaked a length of rope in a bucket of DEET for a week, then drop tested it. It actually gained a minute amount of strength compared to the control. I'll see if I can dig up the report.