Straight boric acid is not going to work.
Boric acid is an ingredient in several termiticides. Here's what I use:
BORATE WOOD PRESERVATIVES:

COMMERCIAL AND HOME-BREWED

Commercial:

Tim-Bor®: Solid sodium octaborate; dissolves in water to make approx. a 10%
solution containing 6.6% borate (B2O3); about $13/lb. Covers about 200 sq
ft.

Bora-Care®: 40% solution of sodium octaborate in ethylene glycol; 27% borate
content; $90/gal. for the concentrate.

Home-Brew Water Solution of Borates:

Based on U.S. Navy spec. of 60% borax-40% boric acid (this ratio gives the
maximum solubility of borates in water);


#1. This is equiv. to Tim-Bor®... 6 parts of borax and 4 parts of boric
acid.

To prepare one gallon of a 10% solution, start with an oversize container
(larger than 1 gallon ) add 1 lb. of powder to appx 3 qts of water agitating
until the powder has dissolved, then add additional water to end up with 1
gallon of mix. To prepare a 15% solution, add 1.5 lbs. of powder, then add
the remainder of the water and mix as previously. Approximately 1 gallon of
solution will be needed to treat 200 square feet of wood surface area.
(Note: solutions should be used immediately and not stored.) .


EXAMPLE: Prepare 5 gallons of 10% solution:

Add four (4) gallons of clear, warm water to a six-gallon bucket.

Add five (5) lbs. of powder while gently stirring.

Add enough water to bring the final volume to 5 gallons, and continue to
stir until all of the powder has dissolved.

Agitate the solution briefly at the beginning of each spray job, or after
the solution has been standing for an extended period.

Do not spray or spill onto soil or foliage.


Apply two applications of a 10% solution to wood surfaces by brush or spray.
Apply one application of a 15% solution to wood surfaces by brush or spray.
Applications may be made to wood structures including decks, fences, steps,
sheds, barns and other out-buildings.


#2: This is equivalent to Bora-Care®

Prepare the concentrate:

Mix 1 Gallon glycol antifreeze, 4 1/2 pounds borax, 3 1/2 pounds boric acid.

Mix the ingredients and heat till boiling gently. Boil off water until a
candy thermometer shows 260°F. This removes most of the water of
crystallization in the borax.

This solution is stable at 40°F and has a borate content of 26%. This is
equivalent to Bora-Care® at about $90/gal. for the concentrate. The
concentrate must be diluted with an equal volume of water before being
applied.


Application: Add 1 gallon of water to every gallon of concentrate and stir
thoroughly until solution is completely uniform. Always use diluted within
24 hours after mixing. If kept for longer periods of time, the active
ingredient can drop out of the solution.


Note: is toxic to plants and shrubbery; if necessary, cover plants, root
systems and surrounding soil with plastic to avoid contamination. Apply only
to bare wood. Remove any finish or water repellent coating before applying .
Wood surfaces should be free of dirt and other contaminates. Apply diluted
by spray or brush to all exposed wood surfaces. It may occasionally be
necessary to apply more than one coat of to attain the recommended
application rate. This is especially true for larger, smooth surfaced wood
members. Wood surfaces should be allowed to dry for at least 2 hours between
applications. Do not apply in the rain or snow. If inclement weather is
expected, protect exposed treated surface with a plastic tarp for at least
24 hours after treatment. One gallon of concentrate will treat up to 800
board feet of wood. Only diluted should be applied to any wood surface.
Prior to application, check wood surfaces for an existing water repellent
finish by spraying a small amount of water onto the surface of the wood or
logs. If the water beads up or is not absorbed into the wood, a finish is
present which must be removed before applying the diluted solution.







"DebbieOney" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I posted under a subject of termites about boric acid. I wanted to
see what experiences people, who did not read that post, have had with
boric acid for insect control. A friend has a termite problem on the
3rd floor (found droppings). Has anyone used boric acid for insect
control? Did you take any safety measures using that product?

Thanks in advance for all input.