How to best deal with woodworm on these tops

[Woodworks]

Hope someone can help. Making up some kitchen tops for a customer from some boards they milled themselves. There is evidence of woodworm in lots of places on the boards but these are the worst. The wood is a little over but not too far gone from a structural perspective but suspect they will soak up a lot of finish ? . I cant see fresh dust but the boards were only milled a year ago so would this all have happened since milling or is it more likely to have been in the tree when alive? Do I need to treat the holes or will any worm die with the wood now being dry? Also how do I finish the tops. Do I fill and then finish or could I varnish which might fill all the small surface holes? The third picture shows the little surface grooves that worry me the most. I nice neat vertical hole is at least easy to fill

 

 

I have done plenty of woodwork over the years but never with spalted and wormy wood so a bit lost as to how to manage it. The customer is pretty easy going and does not expect perfection but the tops with will get hard use. 

 

Thanks

Edited November 4, 2020 by Woodworks

[topchippyles]

Need to treat that just to be sure

[Woodworks]

5 minutes ago, topchippyles said:

Need to treat that just to be sure

Does woodworm killer discolour the wood at all. Just wondering if I need to paint it over all surfaces or localised treatment?

[topchippyles]

Use something like a clear sika to treat it but apply a couple of coats.

 

Might be worth putting something in writing to avoid any come backs 

Edited November 4, 2020 by topchippyles

[Paul in the woods]

I would be careful using a treatment on boards used in a kitchen. Looking at the Q&As on the screwfix site they say don't use it in food preperation areas.

 

https://www.screwfix.com/p/sika-wood-preserver-clear-5ltr/47030

 

Edit to add, go to the Q&A section and search on 'food'.

Edited November 4, 2020 by Paul in the woods

[Bunzena]

Just now, Paul in the woods said:

I would be careful using a treatment on boards used in a kitchen. Looking at the Q&As on the screwfix site they say don't use it in food preperation areas.

 

https://www.screwfix.com/p/sika-wood-preserver-clear-5ltr/47030?tc=SB6&ds_kid=92700052138700993&ds_rl=1243321&ds_rl=1241687&ds_rl=1245250&ds_rl=1245250&gclid=CjwKCAiAv4n9BRA9EiwA30WNDydjSWu6hRE3aACw1wNaIWgMTfGZEP8UgewcPEYI9mwTfxnqlghH6RoCducQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Just about to say the same thing.  The best way to deal with the woodworm would be to get the boards in a kiln and use heat to kill the larvae....

[Woodworks]

Good point about the danger of treatments. Look like Borax might be ok but not sure it will kill any live worms in the wood

[Woodworks]

36 minutes ago, Bunzena said:

Just about to say the same thing.  The best way to deal with the woodworm would be to get the boards in a kiln and use heat to kill the larvae....

What temp do kilns run at? 

[Bunzena]

Depends.  I reckon you'd need to get the temperature of the wood up to 70 degrees [at the core] for at least half an hour.

 

You might be able to cobble together something yourself [ with a heater] that could do the job.  Or ask around for timber supplier nearby that has a drying kiln that would do the same thing.

[Rough Hewn]

Think a big steam box would do it.
You might need to clamp it after to avoid warping.
[emoji106]