• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

Thermacell question

Allegheny Tom

Allegheny Tom

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2018
Messages
6,053
Location
Western Pennsylvania
Do the pads have a shelf life? I have a bunch in the closet for several years now and I need to know if they are still usable...not enough skeeters here at home to give the pads a good test before heading to the backcountry.
We are planning a trip to the Boundary Waters and I just want to make sure that my Thermacell will work as expected.
Thanks in advance.
 
Weldabeast said:
How many is several? I bought a ton of mats when they discontinued the early models....what was that....3years ago now? Those still work like new
Click to expand...
I have some that are probably a dozen years old, stored in a cool, dark closet. And I also have some more that I bought at a yard sale about 6 years ago...brand new Thermacell kit, but I have no idea how old they are or how they were stored.
 
Allegheny Tom said:
I have some that are probably a dozen years old, stored in a cool, dark closet. And I also have some more that I bought at a yard sale about 6 years ago...brand new Thermacell kit, but I have no idea how old they are or how they were stored.
Click to expand...
I for sure have some that old and have no concern about using them. Stored inside in a closet too.
 
Y’all aren’t hunting enough in skeeter weather if you are going through mats that old.
 
Glenn said:
Y’all aren’t hunting enough in skeeter weather if you are going through mats that old.
Click to expand...
I would guess my inventory of mats is in the 50-75 range because I dont want to ever run out. Didnt go through near as many as normal last year because it was to dry to grow a skeeter for the most part.
 
Y’all ever have issues with them lighting or staying lit? I’m on my second one with the same issue. Once I disassemble and remove the circular metal grating behind the shiny metal plate that the pad sits on, they seem to work fine…put that circular metal grating back in and they won’t light. Sparks and I hear gas, but won’t catch other than to just blow itself out every now and then…. No clue what I’m doing to them, they seem to work fine for a year or so then start going haywire until I remove the part.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
FrankNess14 said:
Y’all ever have issues with them lighting or staying lit? I’m on my second one with the same issue. Once I disassemble and remove the circular metal grating behind the shiny metal plate that the pad sits on, they seem to work fine…put that circular metal grating back in and they won’t light. Sparks and I hear gas, but won’t catch other than to just blow itself out every now and then…. No clue what I’m doing to them, they seem to work fine for a year or so then start going haywire until I remove the part.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Never had that issue including one that laid in the back of the camp truck in the weather for a year. New fuel cell, 3-4 clicks and she was off and running.
 
FrankNess14 said:
Y’all ever have issues with them lighting or staying lit? I’m on my second one with the same issue. Once I disassemble and remove the circular metal grating behind the shiny metal plate that the pad sits on, they seem to work fine…put that circular metal grating back in and they won’t light. Sparks and I hear gas, but won’t catch other than to just blow itself out every now and then…. No clue what I’m doing to them, they seem to work fine for a year or so then start going haywire until I remove the part.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Lack of O2 is what that sounds like to me, are you running it at high altitude?

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk
 
FrankNess14 said:
Y’all ever have issues with them lighting or staying lit? I’m on my second one with the same issue. Once I disassemble and remove the circular metal grating behind the shiny metal plate that the pad sits on, they seem to work fine…put that circular metal grating back in and they won’t light. Sparks and I hear gas, but won’t catch other than to just blow itself out every now and then…. No clue what I’m doing to them, they seem to work fine for a year or so then start going haywire until I remove the part.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
@FrankNess14 I had the exact same
Problem saw a you tube video on how to fix it and it still doesn’t work. I hardly even used the darn thing except for some woodchuck hunting in the summer and a little Turkey hunting. I don’t think I used it 5 times and the same thing…. It wouldn’t stay lit. I tried other butane tanks thing something with pressure or the valve to no avail. I want to get another but if you are on your second one and it’s doing it I’m hesitant now. I went to look for a replacement at the local TSC store and they don’t have the personal units but they have ones that you sit on your table on your deck but they look perfectly sized to fit in a standard Nalgene bottle holder…. and it seems to have a more robust starting system. Anyone have any thoughts on this approach?
 
Anyone ever re-soak a dried-out Thermacell pad? Maybe with cover scent, or another dose of insect repellent? Might be worth having a small bottle of the stuff in the truck as a backup.
 
As long as they're sealed, no issues. Again, I still have one of the original units and I personally haven't had any issues... I am interested in the multi-insect pads though, we just got them in, so I may have to grab a pack or two... For all the gram weenies, anyone check out the the Flextail Gear Tiny Repel or Light Repel yet? I have a bunch of the Flextail pumps and love them!

I suppose you could soak the pads, maybe with cover scent, or attractant, but I'd hesitate with another repellent (who knows how it may react molecularly on vaporization by heat)... Thermacell actually makes an earth scent repellent pad.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top