Woodworm in spalted beech

[organic guy]

Just cutting up some spalted beech slabs to make some plant holders to find it is full of worm. Not such that it will spoil the holders but dont want it spreading to anything else. 

Any treatments other than standard supermarket killer?

What is the worm the larva of?

 

TIA

 

OG

[Steven P]

I had some Boron from these people, I had a powder to mix up but haven't seen that there for a while. Go 10% strength (can go stronger with the powder!). Info on their website matches my pest controllers thoughts,

 

As far as I was told these treatments are surface treatments, the worms will only get killed when they chew their way out, but also on the way in, so they won't get out to breed (and if they do, won't get in again).

 

The lava are the worms of the wood worm beetle! Small black beetle, 1mm diameter (depends on the breed, the size if the exit hole).

 

Freezing should also kill them off, about -5 deg for a few days (obviously all the wood has to cool to that and not just surface temperature), not sure about heat treatment, never looked at that, just shoving stuff outside in winter, would that work kind of thinking. They don't like to chew through varnish and paint, so if they are out and about are likely to find other wood - your varnished dining table will be OK but they will go for the floorboards.

 

Last thing for now is they have a 4 or 5 year lifecycle, quietly eating away for 5 years before they come out to breed, a bad infestation might be a few generations old.

 

 

I'd be tempted to cut it up, and put on a few liberal coats on a surface, let it run into all the holes and dry - more penetration is good, then turn it over and do the same to the other side. Make what you want and then treat the new cuts the same. Not sure if soaking the wood overnight would be a problem or not.

 

Pest controller killing things was his special interest.

 

 

'Organic Guy'.. not sure if all the treatments on offer are organic though

 

Woodworm Treatment Shop

WWW.WOODWORM-INFO.CO.UK

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Woodworm Shop for Boron based Woodworm Treatments - safe, no smell, no solvents

 

Edited 20 hours ago by Steven P

[ucoulddoit]

Pretty sure kiln drying after initial air drying often includes the option of a short hot spell at the end to kill off anything in the timber. Obviously depends on the type of kiln being used. Was a long time before I realised this is a bonus with kiln dried wood, not only a lower moisture content. 

[Macpherson]

Borax, Sodium Borate Decahydrate a common salt is the answer, 1kg dissolved into 5 gallons of hot water or any other proportion of the same when painted on or dipped will protect milled lumber from fungal infection and kill boring insects, it's trying to be restricted but has 100's of industrial uses.

 

Borax Powder 0.5 Kg / 500g Multipurpose Household Cleaner Slime Activator 99.99% Pure – Borax Direct

WWW.BORAXDIRECT.CO.UK

 

[peds]

21 minutes ago, Macpherson said:

1kg dissolved into 5 gallons of hot water or any other proportion of the same

 

Hang on, I can maths that.

Give me a minute.

 

2oz per litre.

[Macpherson]

2 minutes ago, peds said:

 

Hang on, I can maths that.

Give me a minute.

 

2oz per litre.

 

A quick calc would have it at 1.552 0z per litre which might make it a concentration of 3.72% per litre, which means if you want to treat milled lumber to prevent milled lumber from insect attack, bacterial or fungal infections it's fecking really cheap

If you are a legit business with a reason for using it as in preserving milled lumber or dozens of other uses, this is where I bought my last batch.. although back then it was £47 per 25kg, hundreds of times cheaper than diy store watered down pish, imo.

 

Borax Powder Cleaner 25kgs - Multi Functional Product

WWW.RYEOIL.CO.UK

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Rye oil is proud to present, 25KG of pure lab grade Borax Powder (Sodium Tetraborate Decahydrate) for your multipurpose needs.