Powder Post Beetles

[Bernie Weishapl]

I had a friend of mine give me some oak beams that seemed in good shape. I laid them in my shop till I could figure out what I wanted to do with them. A couple of days after I got them under 3 beams I noticed 3 small piles of saw dust. I looked and there were small oblong holes in the wood. I figured this was bad and after doing some research got them out and away from my shop. Some of my research said to use Bonacare, Borasol or Timbor to treat them. Well at about $105 a container that seems out of the question for 5 oak beams. I definately don't want them in my shop. The beams are 4" W by 6" H and around 10' long. The nearest kiln drier is about 300 miles from here. Do I take them to the dump or is there some cheaper way to rid these pests?

Another question I have is I have been going over to my dads farm and cutting down Ash and Hackberry trees that have 10" to 12" thick trunks. These trees are dead and have been for several years. I cut them up into 6" H by 6" wide and 4' long. Then I bring them back to the shop to the bandsaw. I cut them down to 1" X 6" X 4' long lumber. This wood is about 11% to 14% moisture already. Am I going to have any problems with bugs with this wood?

It kinda bothers me now that I have had the oak beams in my shop with the beetles in them. I guess I will keep an eye on things and hopefully they didn't get into my other wood. Thanks.

Bernie:mad:

[Chris Barton]

Hi Bernie,


No need to fret, here is a low cost and fast solution. Buy some black plastic drop cloth material and wrap the lumber in it and place in the sun for a couple of days. Unless you live in the artic the interior temperature should rise about survivable levels for jsut about any insect alive.

Chris

[Pete Zahn]

Hi Bernie,

What Chis is suggesting should be very "doable" if you can get them hot enough to cook em'. If you are looking for a low cost alternative to some of the commercially available products, you can "brew" your own. Borax, Boric Acid and Ethylene Glycol (enviro-safe Anti-freeze) works for bugs, wood rot & mold/mildew. I did some research awhile ago for the powder post beetles. I've used it without any repeat offenders and have also tried it on some white&black mold growing on pine joists in a hand dug cellar. I'll paste a few links that I was able to find - though I'm not finding the one that described in gory details all the varieties of the beetles. I've not tried finishing wood after application, but I think in the article from the boatbuilders there was some mention of it, or perhaps someone else here has done so.
http://www.acbs-bslol.com/Gadgets/D97WoodRot.htm (http://www.acbs-bslol.com/Gadgets/D97WoodRot.htm)
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http://alsnetbiz.com/homeimprovement/homemade.html (http://alsnetbiz.com/homeimprovement/homemade.html)

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http://terryking.us/public/boats/RotEthyleneGlycol.html (http://terryking.us/public/boats/RotEthyleneGlycol.html)

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http://boatbuilding.com/article.php/ChemotherapyforRot (http://boatbuilding.com/article.php/ChemotherapyforRot)

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http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/6/1037.html?1038968073 (http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/6/1037.html?1038968073)

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I particularly enjoyed the one link where the guys was talking about using the glycol on his feet! - haven't tried that, but I'm considering...

Let us know how you make out.

Best regards,
Pete

[Martin Lutz]

I have always understood that you need to bring the wood to 120 degrees for 24 hours to kill ppb's. How you get it there and keep it there is the issue. Does anyone know if they can withstand freezing temps? What about dryer climates?

[lou sansone]

I also thought "lindane" was the type of insecticide that you should use on the beams with pp beatles


lou

[Don Henthorn Smithville, TX]

I have used lindane on furniture and was successful but it is pretty hazardous. If you try it take necessary precautions. I think I would give the black plastic wrap in the sun a try. Leave it for several days and then place the wood some place away from you house and wood stash and wait two or three months and see if any more of those little piles of frass appear.

[Robert Mayer]

I would just set the log on fire for several hours.

Sure you wont have any logs left, but at least you will show those bugs who is the boss.

[Bernie Weishapl]

Just a follow up. I put the wood in a black plastic bags. I set them out where it will receive full sun all day long. I will leave it for the week as it is suppose to be in the upper 90's all week. I will see what happens then. I will let everyone know.

Thanks,
Bernie