Need something to keep you busy this weekend? Look no further. The Weekend Workshop is our weekly column where we showcase a badass DIY project that you can complete with minimal skills and expertise. We’ve dug through all the online tutorials on the web, and gone the extra mile to pinpoint projects that are equal parts easy, affordable, and fun. So put on your work pants, grab your tool belt, and head to the garage — it’s time to start building!
With the scares surrounding Zika and other mosquito-influenced illnesses reaching a fever pitch as of late, we wouldn’t blame you one bit for looking for inventive ways to keep yourself safe. Obviously, avoiding travel to places rife with Zika is a good place to start, but if you’re a true doomsday prepper, you want a solution no matter where you live. Thankfully, a team of researchers at Laurentian University in Ontario sort of stumbled upon what may very well be the best answer to this growing issue.
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While attempting to combat mosquitos in Guatemala, professor Gerard Ulibarri originally intended on using mosquito egg-killing ovitraps. However, these previously utilized traps weren’t available to Ulibarri and his team, so they were sent back to the drawing board. Their alternative? Pieces of an old tire outfit with a drainage valve and a helping of pheromones. At the end of a year-long study using these DIY traps, it’s reported that they eliminated seven times more mosquitos than typical traps — killing an astounding 18,000 larvae per month.
Since Ulibarri isn’t one to keep the plans for this incredible trap to himself, he has shared the plans. a video has been published detailing exactly how anyone can build one of these for themselves. So if you’ve got a spare tire laying around, a few extra hours on your hands, and want to do your part to thwarting mosquitos in your area, this is your project. To help you get a head start, we’ve pieced together everything required to pull off the build. Here’s what you’ll need to get started:
Tools:
- Leather work gloves
- Safety goggles
- Half-face respirator
- Electric grinder with stainless steel disc
- Metric tape
- X-Acto knife
- Electric drill with 3/8-inch drill bit
- Metal polishing stone
- Band saw (optional)
Materials:
- Old car tire (Size 13, 14, or 15 inch)
- White chalk
- PVC pipe
- Industrial silicone glue
- PVC glue
- Two liters of clean water
- Pellon paper
With the necessary tools and materials required for this project at the ready, it’s now time to start constructing your very own mosquito trap. Simply follow the step-by-step instructions laid out by the video posted above and in no time, you’ll have your very own unique mosquito-luring contraption. Happy building!
