Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: osage outlaw on October 05, 2017, 07:44:56 pm

Title: Thermacell
Post by: osage outlaw on October 05, 2017, 07:44:56 pm
Does anyone refill their thermacell butane cartridges or pads?  I've been watching youtube videos on how to do it.  I tried it on a fuel cartridge tonight and it worked.  I had to sand down the tip of the refill nozzle and use a rubber band as a gasket.  It will be a lot cheaper to refill them instead of buying new.  I will start saving the old pads and soak them with the repellant. 
Title: Re: Thermacell
Post by: Pat B on October 05, 2017, 09:43:17 pm
My friends in the club in GA I occasionally go to told me a few weeks ago that they do refill their Thermocell fuel canisters with butane used for cigarette lighters. I think.
Title: Re: Thermacell
Post by: Danzn Bar on October 06, 2017, 06:19:36 am
Did you drill out the check valve?
Title: Re: Thermacell
Post by: Pappy on October 06, 2017, 08:05:20 am
Sounds like a good thing, I just use them enough to make it worthwhile. Haven’t turned one on this year. Pappy
Title: Re: Thermacell
Post by: osage outlaw on October 06, 2017, 08:08:30 am
I didn't drill out the check valve.  I used knocking pliers to pull that brass nipple out.  Then I screwed a drywall screw into the one way check valve that's under the brass nipple a few turns.  It pulled right out.  I replaced the nipple with some superglue around it.  It took me a while to get a good fit with the refill nozzle.  It was to big.  I had to sand it down to get it to fit. 
Title: Re: Thermacell
Post by: mullet on October 06, 2017, 09:41:17 am
Yea, we've been doing it since they came out. We just pulled the brass off, drilled the plastic a little bigger. Then cut a round piece of leather to put on the Butane refill bottle nozzle for filling lighters. With the leather it will spray to the side and not in your face when refueling. And we take the big bottles of yard mosquito spray and soak the pads in them.
Title: Re: Thermacell
Post by: Hawkdancer on October 06, 2017, 11:52:09 am
Real neat idea!  Hopefully, I won't have to use it 'til next year, we got a hard freeze headed our way!
I still have to get familiar with the equipment, and learn how to use it.  Thanks for the post.Hawkdancer
Title: Re: Thermacell
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on October 06, 2017, 02:12:27 pm
I believe the original pads have citronella on them. Be careful what you reload them with and I wouldn't suggest getting a whiff of vaporized deet in your lungs. Ill pay the little extra cash for refills and feel better about it.
Title: Re: Thermacell
Post by: osage outlaw on October 06, 2017, 05:04:13 pm
It's not citronella.   You reload the pads with an insect repellent for livestock.  It's permethrin 10%.
Title: Re: Thermacell
Post by: Pat B on October 06, 2017, 07:59:16 pm
That's whats in Permanone tick repellent/killer spray for your cloths.
Title: Re: Thermacell
Post by: mullet on October 06, 2017, 09:53:52 pm
And you can buy the pemethren and permanone at Tractor Supply, concentrated. We use it hunting through our winter season , anywhere from 20 degrees one day till 75-80 that afternoon. A freeze does not kill mosquitos, they have a butt load of them in Maine and Alaska.
Title: Re: Thermacell
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on October 07, 2017, 07:16:41 am
Just need the patent to run out so they cant corner the market. Once more mfg'ers start making them it will drop 50% and the fight will be on.
Title: Re: Thermacell
Post by: Eric Krewson on October 07, 2017, 07:28:43 am
I have heard that women's  butane hair curlers use the same cartridge as a thermacell at a fraction of the cost.

After reading this thread I took my old thermacell with me on my first deer hunt of the year, after it got hot I had "0" mosquitoes pestering me.
Title: Re: Thermacell
Post by: osage outlaw on October 07, 2017, 08:10:07 am
They do fit Eric.  I ordered a 2 pack last week.  Still not as cheap as refilling them. 
Title: Re: Thermacell
Post by: Marc St Louis on October 07, 2017, 08:30:07 am
I have heard that women's  butane hair curlers use the same cartridge as a thermacell at a fraction of the cost.

After reading this thread I took my old thermacell with me on my first deer hunt of the year, after it got hot I had "0" mosquitoes pestering me.

Yes but how many Deer did you see  :-D
Title: Re: Thermacell
Post by: osage outlaw on October 07, 2017, 08:48:50 am
I had mine on when I killed that doe at 10 yards last weekend.  I've killed quite a few deer while using them.  I haven't noticed it bothering them.  Even if the smell does alert them I figure it can't be as bad as the movement of me swatting mosquitos away every 10 seconds. 
Title: Re: Thermacell
Post by: mullet on October 07, 2017, 10:02:36 am
I've had deer walk ten yards from me with a Thermacell going. They are a "must have" hunting down here. I carry two in case one quits working.
Title: Re: Thermacell
Post by: Pat B on October 07, 2017, 01:16:05 pm
I've had one for years but never had to used it. The guys that I know that use them have never had a problem with deer smelling them. They say that because the repellent is heated that it rises so it stays off the ground. They place the Thermacell on the platform under their treestand seat so the repellent rises around them.
Title: Re: Thermacell
Post by: Eric Krewson on October 07, 2017, 02:23:06 pm
None, full moon, they are probably moving at midday, I was going in the evening. I drive through 500 acres of soybeans on my way and usually see deer crossing from the woods to the beans after dark, didn't see anything yesterday so the critters were laying low.
Title: Re: Thermacell
Post by: osage outlaw on October 07, 2017, 03:12:55 pm
Here is the thermacell cartridge and the Conair butane cartridge.  It says thermacell on it.  They are slightly cheaper than the thermacell brand.  Not exactly a fraction of the cost.  They are identical in shape.

(https://i.imgur.com/BEd524F.jpg?1)

(https://i.imgur.com/ebzIYih.jpg)