ANTSTORE World of Ants

[Azzer]

I've never owned/used a Dremel before, but after having a quick look it doesn't look completely idiot proof... there's loads of different bits and I'm not sure which ones are good for what!

Can anyone who has used a Dremel to carve out the tunnels/passages etc. in a YTong block tell me which ends they used (or which ends are safe to use for YTong), and any other tips on using it (eg anything they found helped/anything they did that screwed it up to save me making same mistakes).

Cheers in advance,

[JimmyVe]

Y-tong is a soft material so you can use almost any bit.

[Azzer]

You were spot on cheers, I had not seen/dealt with YTong before so had no idea just how easy it would be to carve.

Spent a short while this afternoon using the Dremel for the first time and have carved out a decent looking colony, sealed it with silicone/glass, and have a tube siliconed in to lead to the feeding basin.

Everything arrived today including my new colony of Myrmica Rubra, which was a hell of a suprise as I thought it wouldn't be coming for another two weeks or so, really didn't expect it (as the website said the colonies would be 2-3 weeks when I ordered it). Well done AntStore

My own camera is dead (:() but I'll see if I can borrow a camera when I have finished setting everything up (just applying the PTFE to the sides of the basin now, 1 side at a time to let each dry without drips) and upload them.

[JimmyVe]

Looks nice. Yes if you can, place some pictures.

[Azzer]

Sadly still no camera available to me, so no pictures of the first moments (:()... but just to let you know that within 1 hour of putting the test tube in the basin, they had moved the eggs and queen in to the Y-Tong nest via the tubes... they certainly moved damn quick, which I guess must be a sign that the Y-Tong is a good new home for them!

[Azzer]

I won't post the pictures here, will keep them to the correct section. About 8 pictures of it (not so great quality but you can see what I did with the Y-Tong/basin etc.).

http://www.antstore.net/viewtopic.php?t=5676

I'll post any pics in the future on that other thread, not here, as this was meant to just be a discussion on using Dremel for Y-Tong!

Oh, but just to keep it on topic and in-case any other Dremel newbies come looking;

JimmyVE was right, the Y-Tong cuts REALLY really easily, just about anything can cut in to it - if you press your fingernail in to it, your fingernail can sink in a little too! I personally used this bit for everything;
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Which is bit # 134, labelled as "High Speed Cutter". Did it very effectively and what felt to me to be a good size first time for the tunnels etc.

Be sure to do it outside - the Y-Tong will basically disintegrate to dust when working with it, my outside path is now covered in fine white cement powder, looks like the sand-man died out there

When finished give it a good wash off to wash all the powder away, this will let you see if the tunnels are carved properly etc. too, but you don't want your ants wading around in a load of very fine white cement powder.

[JimmyVe]

Very nice Azzer. you did a fine job. that is true, the white powder is a bit difficult and the best way to do it is with water. I response to your pictures in the other topic.