Anyone make there own Gophenator?

charlz · May 29, 2008

BHD said:
the concussion from it gets wearing on you, yes it is fun the first few times but dragging hoses and the shock from it, it turns into a job in a hurry,

I'd agree with that. I have a 100' oxy/act hose that I use.... had it forever... and put everything in the fourwheeler trailer so its' easy to get around. The biggest thing is you really don't know what it is going to do when you touch it off. Sometimes you get a beautiful explosion that rips up the ground for 50+ feet and throws dirt 20 feet in the air... other times it doesn't do much. The ones I don't like is where the tunnel really doesn't go anywhere... lots of oxy and propane in a small area... those can go off like a cannon!

Still the most effective thing I have found to use on pocket gophers.

BHD · May 29, 2008

Rodent exterminating apparatus - Google Patents

Device for explosive extermination ... - Google Patents

RonMar · May 29, 2008

Fuel-air explosives are some of the most powerfull on earth. In this case, you gotta have the O2 to carry and mix with the propane down in the tunnel. Propane by itself will displace the air and when ignited will quickly consume the air remaining in the tunnel and only burn like a candle at the hole enterance. It is probably more effective as a smothering gas, but the gopher tunnel design usually accounts for this and they quickly head for their "safe room" and backfill the tunnel.

I have had pretty good luck using sections of road flare. I cut them into about 2" pieces with a sawsall. Once lit, I place them down a cleaned out hole to burn, then backfill the hole. This nasty smoke leaves a residue in the tunnel that they probably don't like much. I don't think it kills them, but any tunnel activity on that run stops immediatly for quite a while. If it starts up again, I smoke em again, and I am good for a while more. It does leave the tunnel intact so it is probably the same one re-occupying the tunnel or a new one moving in. It is a never enging battle though...

I would like to try one of these though as it looks like at the very least it destroys the tunnel

Rebel · May 29, 2008

charlz said:
I'd agree with that. I have a 100' oxy/act hose that I use.... had it forever... and put everything in the fourwheeler trailer so its' easy to get around. The biggest thing is you really don't know what it is going to do when you touch it off. Sometimes you get a beautiful explosion that rips up the ground for 50+ feet and throws dirt 20 feet in the air... other times it doesn't do much. The ones I don't like is where the tunnel really doesn't go anywhere... lots of oxy and propane in a small area... those can go off like a cannon!

Still the most effective thing I have found to use on pocket gophers.

Thanks for the great write up in the link you posted, I'm going to give it a try at some point

I actually have some kind of prairie dogs, they are small like a squirrel. I have some luck with shooting them with .22 shorts and have thinned them out somewhat, but there are still a lot of active holes.

My main question is what is the ratio of propane to oxygen to use?

charlz · May 31, 2008

Rebel said:
I actually have some kind of prairie dogs, they are small like a squirrel. I have some luck with shooting them with .22 shorts and have thinned them out somewhat, but there are still a lot of active holes.

Those are the type of 'gophers' I am used to from Montana... if I had those I wouldn't have those

.22 does wonders.

Rebel said:
My main question is what is the ratio of propane to oxygen to use?

95% oxygen and 5% propane I assume the systems on the market are calibrated in some way... I have found my 'sweet spot' through experimentation. If you use too much propane it 'burns' instead of exploding. It can get a bit pricey on the O2 but much cheaper than all the damage the little bastards do.

charlz · May 31, 2008

RonMar said:
I have had pretty good luck using sections of road flare. I cut them into about 2" pieces with a sawsall. Once lit, I place them down a cleaned out hole to burn, then backfill the hole. This nasty smoke leaves a residue in the tunnel that they probably don't like much. I don't think it kills them, but any tunnel activity on that run stops immediatly for quite a while. If it starts up again, I smoke em again, and I am good for a while more. It does leave the tunnel intact so it is probably the same one re-occupying the tunnel or a new one moving in. It is a never enging battle though...

I would like to try one of these though as it looks like at the very least it destroys the tunnel

I have tried those 'Giant Destroyer' gas bombs or whatever, basically a smoker like you describe... not much luck with those.

Blowing the tunnels to smithereens is a nice side effect and helps you hunt them down in an infested area. The more tunnels you blow out the more new tunnel they have to dig which lets you know better where they are. The best time to get them is when they are making a long run across a field. Go out early when they are at the far end, start back aways and blast towards them... those usually don't come back

ray66v · May 31, 2008

A word of CAUTION to anyone who is considering using acetylene rather than propane. DO NOT pressurize acetylene in an oxygen rich atmosphere. You can/will get a harsh lesson on auto ignition. Possibly your last lesson.

bx24 · May 31, 2008

Since we are coming up on the 4th of July, here is how to get the gophers. Light your oxy acetylene torch and get it to the perfect mixture. Then turn off the tanks (not the handle valves).

At this point, take an empty milk jug for antifreeze jug with the cap on and poke a hole in the side with a Phillips screw driver to make a 1/4 inch hole. Then squeeze all of the air from the jug.

Stick the torch tip in the jug and turn the tanks back on. Once the jug is back to its normal shape (don't pressurize it - simply get it back to its normal shape). Pull the torch out and stick a small firecracker in the hole to keep the gas in.

Make the gopher entry hole a little bit bigger. Put on safety glasses and put the jug in the hole and pour a small gasoline trail that you can light and have time to run. You get the idea. I guarantee you will have a smile when it goes off like a Howetser. These are fairly safe except for your eyes (flying plastic and dirt).

Make sure everyone is clear .....

ray66v · May 31, 2008

bx24 said:
Since we are coming up on the 4th of July, here is how to get the gophers. Light your oxy acetylene torch and get it to the perfect mixture. Then turn off the tanks (not the handle valves).

At this point, take an empty milk jug for antifreeze jug with the cap on and poke a hole in the side with a Phillips screw driver to make a 1/4 inch hole. Then squeeze all of the air from the jug.

Stick the torch tip in the jug and turn the tanks back on. Once the jug is back to its normal shape (don't pressurize it - simply get it back to its normal shape). Pull the torch out and stick a small firecracker in the hole to keep the gas in.

Make the gopher entry hole a little bit bigger. Put on safety glasses and put the jug in the hole and pour a small gasoline trail that you can light and have time to run. You get the idea. I guarantee you will have a smile when it goes off like a Howetser. These are fairly safe except for your eyes (flying plastic and dirt).

Make sure everyone is clear .....

This is EXACTLY what I am talking about. Seems like fun. Starts out with harmless small devices and progresses to bigger and louder devices.

Several people are killed each year when the mixture ignites itself. The ignition point is at a very low pressure.

I have permanent hearing loss in one ear as a result of a trash bag exploding while it was being filled. Its not all fun when a Dr. looks in your ear and says, "uh oh", (don't worry you won't hear him).

About 10 years ago, on July 4th, a guy near here was filling up a 55 gal. drum when it exploded and decapitated him.

If your one of those blissfully ignorant people who will do this anyway, think of how the last guys family celebrates the 4th of July, each year now, thanks to his lack of judgment.

MJPetersen · May 31, 2008

I would like to second what Ray said about acetylene. It is highly explosive and not something to be played with. It can auto-ignite when mixed with oxygen even without any obvious form of ignition. Its power is unbelievable. If pure Acet is pressurized above only 15 psi and is jarred or agitated it can sontaneously explode. (That is why acetylene gauges show red above 15 psi.) If it is put into an oxygen rich atmosphere it can auto ignite when it reaches optimum ratio even without being pressurized!!

Here is an accident report that is sobering. http://www.dmme.virginia.gov/DM/Accidents%20and%20Fatalities/TwinStarFatality9-03.pdf

The gist of it is that a guy was going to show the other guys a real explosion and he was filling an empty barrel with ox and acet when it exploded with him standing beside the barrel. They never found the top of the barrel, he died and several others were injured.

Acetylene is an unstable and dangerous gas and not to be trifled with. Please do not do it.

Mike