Woodworm

[Jack.P]

Got given some intresting 300 yr old bits of oak which came from a nearby house .(reclaimed building wood)

it was in hell of a state so just cherry picked any better looking ones and so far I’ve thoroughly power washed it and blow torched it dry then applied a woodworm solution but apparently they are very hard to get rid off as there are so many holes in the timber they can hide in and been advised don’t risk bringing it indoors

would kiln drying it kill any remaining living stuff or would acid dipping be better?

 

[Squaredy]

1 hour ago, Jack.P said:

Got given some intresting 300 yr old bits of oak which came from a nearby house .(reclaimed building wood)

it was in hell of a state so just cherry picked any better looking ones and so far I’ve thoroughly power washed it and blow torched it dry then applied a woodworm solution but apparently they are very hard to get rid off as there are so many holes in the timber they can hide in and been advised don’t risk bringing it indoors

would kiln drying it kill any remaining living stuff or would acid dipping be better?

 

Kilning will indeed kill woodworm as long as you heat the timber to 65 degrees C right through.  It might be easier though to just use woodworm killer fluid.  Most of the woodworm (if not all) will be dead I would guess, and probably it looks worse than it is as the worm will mainly like the sapwood.  If you were to cross-cut a piece you would probably find the middle free of holes.

 

Just one more thought - are you sure it is not Elm?

[Jack.P]

Hi yes already painted on the killer solution but was advised it wouldn’t get all of them on that sort of timber so will do the kilning as an extra precaution 

also I’m pretty certain it’s oak but can get some pics in the morning if anyone is intrested in seeing them .

[Squaredy]

41 minutes ago, Jack.P said:

Hi yes already painted on the killer solution but was advised it wouldn’t get all of them on that sort of timber so will do the kilning as an extra precaution 

also I’m pretty certain it’s oak but can get some pics in the morning if anyone is intrested in seeing them .

I mentioned Elm as this was very common for beams years ago and is often mistaken for Oak, and is far more vulnerable to woodworm.  And yes the woodworm fluid does not kill them until they emerge.  So it is a good protection.  

[Rough Hewn]

I've seen plenty of oak beams 2-300 years old, the sap wood was like paper where the worms had eaten. But they didn't touch the heartwood at all.
(Oak has prominent medulla rays)
[emoji106]

[wisewood]

Google boron rods, basically drill and plug with these things and they slow release the woodworm killing chemicals in to the wood from within [emoji106]

[Jack.P]

Some intresting  old oak some with burrs .one bit I think is part of a internal dividing wall c1730 which is the only one I didn’t have to cut down to take the worst of the rot off.

not sure what I will do with them once fully dried and finished but intresting anyway