Like I mentioned in the other thread, I have a large hornets nest on the back of my garage. I got all suited up to video it for you guys, but the camera battery died after 2 or 3 still were shot. I'll post the pictures tomorrow, sorry no video.
I suited up, looked like a moron, saved $95.47 and didn't get stung.
This afternoon while cleaning up the Subaru, I spotted two big hives way up in the trees. I don't even know if they represent a threat or not and I wouldn't know what to do other than shoot them with a pellet gun.
Generally speaking, nests way up high will not ever cause you any trouble. It's the lower nests, later in the season, that cause problems. They all get defensive come cooler weather. But the high up ones don't perceive you as a threat. It's the low one, behind the shutters or in a bush, that do.
In reply to Woody:
.410
Here's the blow-by-blow: The nest was on the back of the garage, keeping my wife out of the garden and my kids out of most of the backyard. 
This is a BUSY nest. I have no idea how many flying beasties there were, but from 20' away I could hear them flying into the aluminum siding and windows! They were EVERYWHERE. So, not having done this before and not knowing how aggressive they would be, I suited up. Two pairs of pants Two shirts One dirty Carhart jacket (it's my garage jacket so it's dirty) Mechanics gloves under welding gloves Full-face helmet lots of tape to keep the winged menace out 
The boring story follows: It was HOT in that getup and I couldn't see anything that wasn't directly in front of me. I walked out behind the garage with the kids watching, sprayed 3/4 of the can of foam on the nest. The hornets were dropping out of the air! Went back in the house and took all the clothes off and showered. It took longer to get dressed and taped up then to kill a few thousand hornets. I know in the other thread GPS left a few of you wanting, so I intended on using a video camera and fire. My digi cam had dead batteries so I felt like I was really letting the community down. So....
The more exciting version follows: After putting on the hornet-proof suit I got ready to do battle with the flying menace. After making sure my wife knew where my Last Will and Testament was, I explained to my kids that I had spent the last 3 years making a tape for them to watch as they grow up without me. In this tape I show them how to make spaghetti, how to drive a car, how to tie a tie, how to hit an apex, and so on. After much heartfelt good-bye’s I stepped through the screen door into oblivion. As I approach the hive I can tell they are unaware of the fury about to be unleashed by this balding, middle-aged, fat man. I calmly approach the entrance into the lair of the beasts I started to feel the swarm attack. The occasional slam of winged bodies into my helmet unnerved me, but I knew I had to press on. With images of my life with my wife and our children’s births flashing through my mind I raised my small can of foamy death to the heavens, squinted an eye to sure my aim…steady…..steady….gently….squeeze….the….trigger. It’s a surreal scene really, watching this murderous poison flow from the end of your finger. Almost instantly the foam is killing on contact. The death of a few alarms the throng. The battle is on! Suddenly I am aware of the sheer number that are not in the hive at this point as they are attacking from every angle. My wife can be heard screaming “NO! NO! RETREAT! COVER AND RUN!” I start to turn and run only to see my 5-year old watching the horror unfold. While I don’t want him to witness my demise, I am loathe to allow my children to see me fail. With a tear in my eye I stand erect, look into his eyes, and return to the fight. At this point I can feel the attack but I focus my attention on the orifice of death. I spray the frothy destruction at the nest and coat it completely. 
At this point, the hornets realize the hive is dead or dying and they have nothing to lose. The spotlight turns to me. They attack from every angle. I can feel the bodies slamming into my fluffy armor, but not piercing. I spray to my left and watch them drop. I spray to my right, killing more. The death toll is rising with every heavy breath I take. My helmet is starting to fog up due to my heavy breathing. I also realize that I may have taped the ventilation holes in the helmet. Knowing my oxygen supply is precious I know I need to rid my yard of this invader, and now. I spin 360° while spraying to rid the atmosphere of this flying threat. Satisfied that I don’t see any more of them I begin the walk to the house to collect my rightful reward, the adulation of my family. As I approach the patio I hear my dear daughter scream “Bogie on your six!!!” I spin 180° while lifting my can of death and unleash my fury. I am the last one standing. This morning this is all that was left to greet me. 
kekekeke
I keed I keed
Using tape was a good idea!
That was a much better story than mine. I did it at night so not a single wasp lived long enough to take flight. Oh, and I used a velour scarf, which was much more fashionable than the tape.
Those pictures are why I don't like foams. With a hard tight spray you cut the nest apart. Then you are spraying the ones inside, not letting them fly out. Painting the outside of the nest does nothing but piss off the wasps, who fly out of the opening seeking revenge. As you experienced.
I also like a spray that kills instantly on contact, I don't like being peppered with pissed off live wasps, or leaving them there for the homeowner to enjoy. Even on the commercial level, the instant kills are gone, but that Spectricide comes darn close. A wasp hit with that is rendered flightless in a small fraction of second, and dies usually within 3 seconds.
Future notes for your next job, or for others following your lead:
They don't like bo. Dirty clothes tend to annoy them. It's more applicable to bees than wasps, but I've noticed it with wasps as well.
Black attracts and annoys, white is not-attractive. Again, more bees than wasps.
Masking tape tears when you are wiggling and dancing, good duct tape will hold. You do not want things tearing free, letting them under your clothes or helmet.
Cover your helmet vent holes, don't count on the closed position. When covered with wasps, flailing your arms and hands, you are quite likely to knock a vent open.
Man. All these threads lately almost make me wish I had a huge nest to attack. Almost.
foxtrapper wrote: Those pictures are why I don't like foams. With a hard tight spray you cut the nest apart. Then you are spraying the ones inside, not letting them fly out. Painting the outside of the nest does nothing but piss off the wasps, who fly out of the opening seeking revenge. As you experienced. I also like a spray that kills instantly on contact, I don't like being peppered with pissed off live wasps, or leaving them there for the homeowner to enjoy. Even on the commercial level, the instant kills are gone, but that Spectricide comes darn close. A wasp hit with that is rendered flightless in a small fraction of second, and dies usually within 3 seconds. Future notes for your next job, or for others following your lead: They don't like bo. Dirty clothes tend to annoy them. It's more applicable to bees than wasps, but I've noticed it with wasps as well. Black attracts and annoys, white is not-attractive. Again, more bees than wasps. Masking tape tears when you are wiggling and dancing, good duct tape will hold. You do not want things tearing free, letting them under your clothes or helmet. Cover your helmet vent holes, don't count on the closed position. When covered with wasps, flailing your arms and hands, you are quite likely to knock a vent open.
Thanks for the tips, though I hope to never have to use them again.
I second the duct tape, but the only thing I could find was electrical tape (used on my ankles) and 1" masking tape. I taped it with slack to allow for some movement.
I really wanted to video tape it. If I had, there would have been music, fire, celebrations, fines from the city, medical treatment, who knows what else?
Am I correct that neither incident resulted in a single sting?
That story has made my day. Thanks for the laughs.
failboat wrote: Man. All these threads lately almost make me wish I had a huge nest to attack. Almost.
Ok, good. I'm not the only one. I was just looking at my auto-x helmet last night too, wishing I had something I could attack while wearing it.
Kudos for carrying out the operation in daylight. Cover of darkness is much less dramatic, but doubtless safer and more deadly to the foe.
That's a pretty big nest. 
1988RedT2 wrote: Kudos for carrying out the operation in daylight.
Are you calling me a wuss!?
I will take your mother, Dorothy Mantooth, out for a nice seafood dinner - and never call her again!
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:1988RedT2 wrote: Kudos for carrying out the operation in daylight.Are you calling me a wuss!?
Not at all! I was merely commending the good doc for extreme bravery/lack of good judgment in his daring daylight raid.
When I destroyed a yellow jacket nest last year, I chose to do it under cover of darkness.
If you can get your hands on a CO2 fire extinguisher, it will freeze everything on contact. Then you can follow up with whatever spray you choose. I have used them to get bats and squirrels out of houses.
Plus, walking through the fog makes you look really cool...
It was about 8:15 last night, sunset was listed as something like 8:40. I wanted enough light to see, but hoped they'd all be in bed by 8:15. I was wrong. That last pic was taken at about 6:40 this morning.
I guess the next step is pulling the thing down. How'd you do it GPS? Just get a shovel and start prodding it?
Otto Maddox wrote: Am I correct that neither incident resulted in a single sting?
Not a single sting on me. But I had thick enough clothing that I think I could have grabbed the hive, put it under my arm and carried it to the lake without getting stung.
DrBoost wrote: It was about 8:15 last night, sunset was listed as something like 8:40. I wanted enough light to see, but hoped they'd all be in bed by 8:15. I was wrong. That last pic was taken at about 6:40 this morning. I guess the next step is pulling the thing down. How'd you do it GPS? Just get a shovel and start prodding it?
I sprayed it - then busted a crack in it with a coal shovel. Then I filled it with more spray and when I was pretty sure there weren't going to be any surprises (the next AM) I finished the job with a spackle knife to get the residue off the electrical box.
DrBoost wrote:Otto Maddox wrote: Am I correct that neither incident resulted in a single sting?Not a single sting on me. But I had thick enough clothing that I think I could have grabbed the hive, put it under my arm and carried it to the lake without getting stung.
No stings here either. I could have withstood an onslaught too though. I was over-dressed for the amount of action that I saw.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:DrBoost wrote:No stings here either. I could have withstood an onslaught too though. I was over-dressed for the amount of action that I saw.Otto Maddox wrote: Am I correct that neither incident resulted in a single sting?Not a single sting on me. But I had thick enough clothing that I think I could have grabbed the hive, put it under my arm and carried it to the lake without getting stung.
Were you sweating your ball off? I was. Here in MI it was maybe 80 last night. In the 20 mins this whole thing took, my shirt (the bottom one) was wet! But my kids thought it was the coolest thing they'd seen in a long time.
failboat wrote: Man. All these threads lately almost make me wish I had a huge nest to attack. Almost.
Same here. It's rare to see one of those nests around here [Tosh] and for that, we thank you. [/Tosh]
Last time I sprayed hornets, I sprayed them at dusk while wearing only a hanes t-shirt, some shorts, and flip flops.
Yeah, even being all allergy nerd and E36 M3, I kind of hope we get one so I can raise the bar.
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