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I have a hornets' nest that I want to spray with insecticide.

enter image description here enter image description here

The hive is approximately 20-25ft from ground level.

The insecticide that I have is in a aerosol spray can with a large actuator.

While the product is marketed as having a range of 20ft, I have found this claim to be false. In reality it only has a range of 6ft.

I would prefer not to climb up to the area on a ladder, for fear of being in swarming range of the hornets.

Instead, I would like to build a pole-based contraption that would allow me trigger and spray the can from the end of a 10ft pole.

My height + arms length =  8ft
Pole                    = 10ft
Spray range             =  6ft

Sum                     = 24ft

How can I make such a contraption?

Edit: I live in Canada, where specialty products like this take a long time to be delivered, and are hard to find locally.

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    amazon.com/dp/B0042T5PBO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_6dHGBbBC4FQTC
    – Tyson
    Commented Aug 26, 2018 at 2:32
  • @Tyson Good idea. A bit pricey in Canada, and it would take a few days to get here, but it might be worth it.
    – User1974
    Commented Aug 26, 2018 at 2:53
  • Lowe’s has one too
    – Tyson
    Commented Aug 26, 2018 at 2:53
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    The one at Lowe’s isn’t for a pole I see, but google “spray can pole adapter”. There are many.
    – Tyson
    Commented Aug 26, 2018 at 3:01
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    I have done it from a ladder. Do it at night and do NOT be directly under the nest (drips and still live but injured wasps will drop). That type of nest seems like those of mud-dauber wasps, wicked multiple stings be careful. Have a least 2 cans to soak thoroughly.
    – Jimmy Fix-it
    Commented Aug 26, 2018 at 3:02

2 Answers 2

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Wordless Workshop

That's from Best of Wordless Workshop by Ray Doty; the original was a monthly column in Popular Science. (Published sometime between 1971-1985)

The retail versions probably make more sense, but you can hum the theme from the A-Team while exterminating with this one. Besides, Wordless Workshop was a great feature.

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  • I love it. Do you recommend this book?
    – User1974
    Commented Aug 26, 2018 at 3:16
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    Looks like I had the title wrong, that cartoon is page 44 of the book you linked. The book is a great way to experience the column if you didn't get a change to read the magazine. Odds are good that if you love that one you'll like at least one of the other 119 in the book. (Wordless Workshop was always a single page comic solving some household dilemma.)
    – Matthew Gauthier
    Commented Aug 26, 2018 at 5:09
  • that's better than duct-taping to a stick and ON and hurrying...
    – dandavis
    Commented Aug 27, 2018 at 15:57
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Why build one when someone already invented and built it for you? Check the ubiquitous on-line shopping site with the name that is also a river in S. America:

enter image description here

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  • As mentioned to @Tyson: It's a good idea. A bit pricey in Canada, and it would take a few days to get here, but it might be worth it.
    – User1974
    Commented Aug 26, 2018 at 2:57
  • I wonder if I could adapt my pole pruner for this purpose?
    – User1974
    Commented Aug 26, 2018 at 3:00
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    Yup, rig a wood lever from the pruning blade to push the button? I dunno but it might be a hoot to try. Who says "be a hoot", am I turning into my dad?
    – Jimmy Fix-it
    Commented Aug 26, 2018 at 3:05

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