Electric worm Prod

[smilesforu]

We have a electric worm prod that we stick in the ground that makes the worms come to the surface. Anybody know how to make one of these. A friend gave us this one and I hate to tear it apart to see its gutz.

[bajaspecial]

I think you can achieve the same results by wiring up an AC cord to wire clothes hangers. Make sure you have a degree in AC therory (jk)...at least have a working knowledge of electricity before attempting. (Don't sue me if you screw up and get electrucuted!)

You will need non-conductive material to hold onto each hanger when using; just solder or permanently connect each wire on the AC cord to each hanger, plug in, and stick into the ground two to three feet apart.

Never tried it, but have heard of it many times, so correct or slam me if I got it wrong!

[Starr]

Smilesforu, when I was a kid, I built one using brazing rod and one of my dad's extension cords. Get two conductive rods, something around 1/8 in. diameter and stiff. cut the female end off the extension cord. strip the insulation to expose the white and black wires about 2 ft. strip white and black insulation about 3-4 inches. wrap white wire several times around one rod, then wrap the crap out of it with black tape. do the same to other rod using black wire. plug it in , stuff rods into the ground about 3 ft. apart. make sure you're not standing too close to the rods, or you'll get what your giving to the worms. DO NOT attempt this on wet grass! My parents just about died when they saw the little mad scientist out torturing the worms! it's been my observation that the worms don't keep well using this approach though. only good for a few days.
this worked for me as kid, but it has its dangers...

[smilesforu]

the one we have is a single rod about a 1/4 rebar three feet long. Just put the rod into the ground and plug in. The handle is heavily wrapped in a duct tape for insulation. The shock isn't to bad with a regular ac plug. . Guess thats why I am stumped using only one rod how it works. Tried making my own in the past but blew a fuse when I plugged it in. Must need to completely isolate the ground wire......hm

[Gone Fishin]

I tried to make one once, and to keep from getting the sh__ shocked out of me I used a long piece of rubber to probe into the ground.

The only problem was, everytime I plugged the darned thing in, all that would come to the surface was rubber worms!

Those pink ones always seem to be the first to recover and go back down...You have to be pretty fast to get them!

[Dances]

hey get a pitch fork and a car battery and some jumper cables hook up the jumper cables get some rubber boots and gloves and got dig some worms

------------------
Work is for people who dont know how to fish

[WildHawg]

For Christ's sake DON'T DO IT!!!!!! People get killed all the time trying this stunt. It's true most of 'em are from Alabama and other points South--but that's beside the point! Just water your lawn, or wait for rain (on second thought better water), take a flashlight (works best when you cover the lense with red plastic) and pick the little buggers up. Just say no to worm torure and the senseless deaths of dozens of rednecks each year ;^)

[THE REEL HEY_YALL]

WildHawg you're killin' me here..lmao lmao The only deaths that I am aware of that ever came from digging worms in Alabama was when you got one of the sticks with a short fuse

The SAFEST and very effective way to bring worms to the surface is to get a bottle of dawn dishwashing detergent and squirt it out around the area, Marty. Then get the water hose out and spray the area. It is way more effective that regular water and it will not affect your lawn. TRUST ME, THIS WORKS and you won't have to do the Vietcong torture treatment to bribe the worms into showing themselves.

[fishhead5]

The soap thing works really good, add some viagra and it makes them eaiser to pick up :P

[Starr]

Ya, hey_yall is right. It is dangerous as hell, and the soap trick works great. Way better than just water, and has the added benefit of fertelizing the grass too. But their is something magical about wicking the worms to the top, when the neighbor cat wonders by to see what's going on and steps into the feild of current! Wow, their hair goes straight up, they start hissing at everything. It's like all the demons of hell are after them. Needless to say, they don't come back in your yard anymore.

[Trout,myster]

Smiles-

Heed Wildhawg's advice on this one! Playing with AC current this way can lead to a short lifespan. Use the flashlight or the soap & water techniques. Worms last longer and so will you.

If you're determined, either go buy one or take yours apart carefully to see if you can recreate it.

In my line of work I've had the thrill of contacting 120VAC more than once and it isn't anything to fool with, especially when you're putting your whole body in the circuit as the "fuse".

------------------
Troutmyster

[Mr. Fisherman]

My dad and I used these things all the time.
I made several pairs of the wonder sticks over the years. Yes I've been bitten by them and yes I've used them in wet grass but when I was young I peed on an electric fence. Maybe I'm immune now....
Got wavey hair anyway.

Soapy worms will catch the really clean fish and maybe even those big old hawgs that need "cleaned out"

If you do make a pair change yer name to Darwin, increase yer insurance policy (or yer mother-in-laws then water the heck out of the lawn. (Invite the mother-in-law to join the fun)

As mentioned in earlier posts you will need two conductive rods about two feet long (each) I cut one of my dads wooden handles off a hammer then cut it in half. Then I drilled holes in the handles so the copper rods would just fit. I glued the rods into the handles then stole one of my moms lamps and cut the cord off. I stripped the wire off the ends and soldered one lead to each rod below the handle. Then I stole my dads black tape and tapped them up. Only got shocked when I grabbed them both at the same time or tried to pull a worm that was too close to the rod. Er, I guess I was shocked when dad found his hammer, mom found the lamp, and the neighbor found his hose running in the neighbors yard. He was shocked too when he grabbed it ot take it home! Oh yea, wet grass is tingely.
Oh yea,
If ya spill a little of dads adult beverage where ya are worm shockin they might glow in the dark.

Man I had a happy child hood. Thanks for the memories.

Beware, worm with care....

That bubble bath approach reminds me of Lawrence Welk....

------------------
Live to Fish
Fish to Live

[This message has been edited by Mr. Fisherman (edited 03-10-2001).]

Hey FH5, why do you often use soap and viagra in the same sentence? Just curious. ...

And Marty, you have the only single prong electric worm prod. Haven't you figured out by now it's for gettin another type of worms? The ones that hide where the sun don't shine and make ya itch After you go and try it now, if you're still alive, let us know how it works.

[This message has been edited by RT (edited 03-10-2001).]

[smilesforu]

I won't use it until you come back up to visit ....sleep lightly


What was the last thing the redneck said?


Hey watch this!!

[letsfish]

Hey, use your heads!!!!!!!
Where have you seen it written that fish even eat "electric worms"???
I can't even find a reference for them in "The Exhaustive Concordence of Terrestial Flora and Fauna" (by that noted biologist Fern N. Furr).
On a more serious note..... I have heard of using a stake in the ground,which is then vibrated(using another stick for instance)
causing the critters to surface.Never had any luck with it personally.