I am in the process of designing a new outdoor table. One thing I want to do is minimise opportunities for redback spiders.

They seem to like to hide up in little nooks, especially corners. So I am thinking about making it in such a way that there are no corners formed by three pieces meeting at right angles, trying to keep them all to 135 deg by beveling off the framing timbers.

Do you reckon this might work?
Any other spider unfriendly design tips?

party_pants said:

I am in the process of designing a new outdoor table. One thing I want to do is minimise opportunities for redback spiders.

They seem to like to hide up in little nooks, especially corners. So I am thinking about making it in such a way that there are no corners formed by three pieces meeting at right angles, trying to keep them all to 135 deg by beveling off the framing timbers.

Do you reckon this might work?
Any other spider unfriendly design tips?

Redbacks like anyplace that is likely to be under something. I’ve even had one try to tie my bare leg into one of it’s webs.

I’m not understanding your design. Post a diagram if you can.

roughbarked said:

party_pants said:

I am in the process of designing a new outdoor table. One thing I want to do is minimise opportunities for redback spiders.

They seem to like to hide up in little nooks, especially corners. So I am thinking about making it in such a way that there are no corners formed by three pieces meeting at right angles, trying to keep them all to 135 deg by beveling off the framing timbers.

Do you reckon this might work?
Any other spider unfriendly design tips?

Redbacks like anyplace that is likely to be under something. I’ve even had one try to tie my bare leg into one of it’s webs.

Sit there long enough and you can become a part of the web.

Make a bigger one of these.

Bubblecar said:

I’m not understanding your design. Post a diagram if you can.

Something this. The horizontal support piece underneath the tabletop will have edges beveled at 45 degrees. So no right angles, 135 deg angles.

1. Use a transparent polycarbonate top, so you can see through the table easy.
2. Drill four holes, one in each corner.
3. Bolt on four metal or wooden legs.
4 .Profit.

Spiny Norman said:

1. Use a transparent polycarbonate top, so you can see through the table easy.
2. Drill four holes, one in each corner.
3. Bolt on four metal or wooden legs.
4 .Profit.

The table top is going to be anything but see through…

Going to be an arrangement of stars. 2 panels – one with 7 pointed Federation star, and one with 5 smaller stars in Southern Cross pattern.

party_pants said:

Spiny Norman said:

1. Use a transparent polycarbonate top, so you can see through the table easy.
2. Drill four holes, one in each corner.
3. Bolt on four metal or wooden legs.
4 .Profit.

The table top is going to be anything but see through…

Going to be an arrangement of stars. 2 panels – one with 7 pointed Federation star, and one with 5 smaller stars in Southern Cross pattern.

We need a new flag.

A simple pedestal design like this wouldn’t provide many spider homes. This one has a glass top but you could make it inlaid wood.

sarahs mum said:

party_pants said:

Spiny Norman said:

1. Use a transparent polycarbonate top, so you can see through the table easy.
2. Drill four holes, one in each corner.
3. Bolt on four metal or wooden legs.
4 .Profit.

The table top is going to be anything but see through…

Going to be an arrangement of stars. 2 panels – one with 7 pointed Federation star, and one with 5 smaller stars in Southern Cross pattern.

We need a new flag.

I am future proofing the design by not making a British union flag.

party_pants said:

sarahs mum said:

party_pants said:

The table top is going to be anything but see through…

Going to be an arrangement of stars. 2 panels – one with 7 pointed Federation star, and one with 5 smaller stars in Southern Cross pattern.

We need a new flag.

I am future proofing the design by not making a British union flag.

About time someone removed it.

Bubblecar said:

A simple pedestal design like this wouldn’t provide many spider homes. This one has a glass top but you could make it inlaid wood.

I had not considered the possibilities of the pedestal design.

party_pants said:

Bubblecar said:

A simple pedestal design like this wouldn’t provide many spider homes. This one has a glass top but you could make it inlaid wood.

I had not considered the possibilities of the pedestal design.

Mainly because I intend to have an umbrella pole in the middle, which already has a large moulded plastic base.

party_pants said:

party_pants said:

Bubblecar said:

A simple pedestal design like this wouldn’t provide many spider homes. This one has a glass top but you could make it inlaid wood.

I had not considered the possibilities of the pedestal design.

Mainly because I intend to have an umbrella pole in the middle, which already has a large moulded plastic base.

That shouldn’t make a lot of difference. Enclose the plastic in the pedestal. A good outdoor umbrella should be pegged down to the ground too.

party_pants said:

Spiny Norman said:

1. Use a transparent polycarbonate top, so you can see through the table easy.
2. Drill four holes, one in each corner.
3. Bolt on four metal or wooden legs.
4 .Profit.

The table top is going to be anything but see through…

Going to be an arrangement of stars. 2 panels – one with 7 pointed Federation star, and one with 5 smaller stars in Southern Cross pattern.

Okay then change of plan.

1. Use a transparent polycarbonate top, so you can see through the table easy.
2. Drill four holes, one in each corner.
3. Bolt on four metal or wooden legs.
4. fIT FLAMETHROWERS
4 .Profit.

Spiny Norman said:

party_pants said:

Spiny Norman said:

1. Use a transparent polycarbonate top, so you can see through the table easy.
2. Drill four holes, one in each corner.
3. Bolt on four metal or wooden legs.
4 .Profit.

The table top is going to be anything but see through…

Going to be an arrangement of stars. 2 panels – one with 7 pointed Federation star, and one with 5 smaller stars in Southern Cross pattern.

Okay then change of plan.

1. Use a transparent polycarbonate top, so you can see through the table easy.
2. Drill four holes, one in each corner.
3. Bolt on four metal or wooden legs.
4. fIT FLAMETHROWERS
4 .Profit.

My computer is being extremely annoying, sorry about that.

Spiny Norman said:

My computer is being extremely annoying, sorry about that.

It’s not your computer.

party_pants said:

I am in the process of designing a new outdoor table. One thing I want to do is minimise opportunities for redback spiders.

They seem to like to hide up in little nooks, especially corners. So I am thinking about making it in such a way that there are no corners formed by three pieces meeting at right angles, trying to keep them all to 135 deg by beveling off the framing timbers.

Do you reckon this might work?
Any other spider unfriendly design tips?

Red-back spiders due to the webs they make are generally restricted to dry overhead cover less than 50 cm from flat surfaces like the ground or shelves. As such they would more likely favour the underside of your chairs.

PermeateFree said:

party_pants said:

I am in the process of designing a new outdoor table. One thing I want to do is minimise opportunities for redback spiders.

They seem to like to hide up in little nooks, especially corners. So I am thinking about making it in such a way that there are no corners formed by three pieces meeting at right angles, trying to keep them all to 135 deg by beveling off the framing timbers.

Do you reckon this might work?
Any other spider unfriendly design tips?

Red-back spiders due to the webs they make are generally restricted to dry overhead cover less than 50 cm from flat surfaces like the ground or shelves. As such they would more likely favour the underside of your chairs.

This. One summer eve indoord in my kitchen, I was sitting reading an engrossing book and kept feeling this tickling on my leg. Eventually had a look and there was a redback using my chair, my bare leg and the table leg to build her web.

roughbarked said:

<snip>
This. One summer eve indoord in my kitchen, I was sitting reading an engrossing book and kept feeling this tickling on my leg. Eventually had a look and there was a redback using my chair, my bare leg and the table leg to build her web.
</snip>

Good argument against bringing reading material into the dunny as well I’d imagine. O-8=