methods to keep bugs away while painting

[DHV90]

Anyone got any decent tips?

Got a nice still but hot day tomorrow to paint the deck, but the bugs are already out in force diving at anything wet. Do those garden bug deterrent candles/burners/incense things work for most bugs or are they just mosquitos? or any other tactics that work well?

Many thanks!

 

[superheat6k]

Citronella candles, but the air needs to be still for them to work.

 

[simonfraser]

Do the job offshore on a quiet day, no bugs and no dust.

 

[Stemar]

If you find a solution, I want to know too!

The trick if it's only the odd one is to ignore them until the paint's dry, then wipe 'em off. A toe left behind will be invisible from a couple of feet away, the mess caused by pulling one off wet paint will haunt you forever.

 

[DHV90]

Update incase anyone else is doing the same in the future - Citronella sucked, but bug repellant spray all over me and parts of the boat that weren getting painted seemed to work really well. I used jay cloths in a few places soaked in bug repellant and taped on. Saw one spider and one beetle but not the hundreds of flies I had on the boat yesterday so good success

 

[Leighb]

The worst ones are the little beetles as although they get stuck they are strong enough to struggle along in the wet paint for some distance before expiring!!

 

[MonniotC]

I can hire out Crusher my predator bug for £50 a day. You'll have to chain him up though.