spiders in my workshop/shed

[caretaker]

Hi all,
Just a small problem, I seem to have spiders in the workshop/shed and every morning I have sawdust and cobwebs, they love the sawdust but I never see the spiders.
Do you think I should spray with fly killer or just live with them.
They are not doing any harm but on the odd occasions a lady ventures in.

 

[Benchwayze]

Leave 'em be. They eat woodworm beetles as well as flies.

John

 

[Charley]

My workshops full of them as well. I don't mind spiders it's just snakes I want to keep out...

 

[CHJ]

Spiders are OK if a bit of a web menace when entering after a day or so away, far preferable to wondering what it is that they are living off with such relish.

My 'outdoor' chip collector annex is absolutely full of all sorts and shapes reveling in the warmth.

 

[Racers]

Hi,

I have a spider that lives in the corner of the window in my workshop it took on and killed a bee that flew into the web! it was dancing round it as it struggled and after several bites it killed it and took it off to its lair. You have 2000 spiders in the average house and ALL spiders are poisonous, not enough (in England) to kill us, they have no teeth the poison liquifies its prays insides then they suck the soup out, they are fantastic things have a look at one under a microscope they are amazing, leave it alone they do lots of good.


Pete

 

[Gill]

I thought snakes ate spiders? They did in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Them 'Arry Potter buks is educashunal .

Gill

 

[RobertMP]

I took some pictures of the spiders in my old shed before I knocked it down

If you want a closer look....

And another of the same spider

These two did not like each other!

Photography is my other hobby and those were not long after I got a macro lens.

I've managed to get in even closer since then.....

Thats the web silk being spun

 

[ProShop]

Fantastic photo's Robert

=D> =D> =D>

 

[Mike.C]

Great photos Robert, is that really just a household spider?

Cheers

Mike

 

[RobertMP]

Thanks. Yes just your average largish hunting spider. It stayed still long enough for me to get its bum in focus

The last one is 2 lenses joined together for maximum magnification. Got some good ones of ants that way too.

 

[Green]

That last picture is amazing. Thanks.

 

[Fecn]

Wow.. what amazing photos.

Spiders are great... They get rid of all the far more annoying insects for you

 

[caretaker]

Oh OK, I'll keep my spiders, but if there mates join them I will blame you lot.

 

[RobertMP]

Must admit I don't like them in the workshop. Hate it when you drop something and reaching it involves putting your hand through some webs!

They tend to go explore the inside of the shop vac if I see them

 

[sliver]

Robert, mate, you need to get out more. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Seriously though mate, they are fantastic pics. I do tend not to bother spiders unless I have to.

Mrs. S. never went anywhere without her camera years ago. Then she took it up as a job............... One favourite all time mega way to ruin your hobby!!!!!!!!! : :evil: :roll:

She's never felt the same way about it since. Trying my level BEST to get her to be a full time woodturner...... :lol: :lol:
Might just get me worshop back then...Hee hee.

Actually, I'm chuffed to little mint balls with the way she has taken to it. Just don't tell her I said so. The work shop only has double doors & she might not be able to get her head through them if she knows that's what I think so...................Shhhhhhhhhh, let's keep it between ourselves. :wink: :wink:

 

[CHJ]

Hi Sliver, what do you two feed those darned animals on, between your dog and that blasted cat I keep getting close to having to take a dose of something to keep the world still :lol: .

 

[RogerS]

Awesome pictures.

Can you tell us a bit more about the macro lens...specification etc?

 

[RobertMP]

Awesome pictures.

Can you tell us a bit more about the macro lens...specification etc?

The camera was a Canon 20D and the lens a Sigma 150mm f2.8 macro. Macro generally means close focusing on zoom lenses. A true macro lens like this is fixed focal length (no zoom) and can project an image on the sensor (or film) the same size as the subject. Referred to as 1:1 magnification.

The closer you get to something the shallower the depth of field (how much in focus) becomes. To improve this you have to stop the lens down to f11 or f13. That does not let much light in so you need to use flash as I have here.

In the last shot I used the same macro lens but attached a 50mm lens to the front (face to face) which increases the magnification greatly - and the difficulty.

I use a photography forum site and was recently made a moderator there. The macro section has plenty of images equally and more impressive than mine. http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/ . Talkphotography does not mind if you link to other non photography forums so I'm hoping UKW does not mind me posting this link. Mods please feel free to remove this paragraph if it is a problem.

 

[OPJ]

After reading Charley's post, I will be forever edging cautiously in to my workshop every day from now on! Not that snakes are any kind of a problem 'round here anyway (touch wood!). Rats are more of our thing. :?

Aside from the usual spiders, moths, wasps and billions of "blood suckers" all over my bench (there is a 2" hole in my roof, mind!) earlier today I discovered a poor, innocent butterfly had drowned in a cup of white spirit which was holding some paint brushes being left to soak.

 

[Paul Chapman]

Great pictures, Robert =D>

attached a 50mm lens to the front (face to face)

In the old days, before macro and micro lenses were generally available and affordable, and you had to use bellows extensions and extension rings for close-up work, it was common practice to use a standard lens back to front and adaptors were available. They perform better that way for extreme close-up work. Enlarger lenses on bellows and extension rings also perform well for close-up work because they are designed to operate at relatively close distances.

Cheers :wink:

Paul