[[email protected]]

I pulled some logs off my log pile to turn into lumber to make a
cutting board, but naturally there are bugs in the wood... So, since
this project will be a cutting board and in contact with food, what is
the best way to kill the bugs and not kill me from cross contamination
:-) ?

In the past I've put smaller pieces of wood in a microwave to zap the
little suckers who might be burrowing away inside. The wood I have
prepared for the cutting board won't fit in a microwave...

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Morris Dovey]

wrote:
| I pulled some logs off my log pile to turn into lumber to make a
| cutting board, but naturally there are bugs in the wood... So, since
| this project will be a cutting board and in contact with food, what
| is the best way to kill the bugs and not kill me from cross
| contamination :-) ?
|
| In the past I've put smaller pieces of wood in a microwave to zap
| the little suckers who might be burrowing away inside. The wood I
| have prepared for the cutting board won't fit in a microwave...

Well, the general rule says that if the work grows beyond the
limitation of the tool, then it's time to shop for a larger tool - in
this case, a bigger microwave oven... Perhaps it's time to seriously
consider one of the combination microwave/convection units...

OTOH, you might consider another approach to the problem and build the
contraption used for steaming wood in preparation for bending - and
just steam the little buggers right where they are. If you can get
their burrows up close to steam temperature, they (and their eggs)
shouldn't pose any future problems.

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto

[Jay Pique]

On Dec 30, 8:28 am, wrote:
I pulled some logs off my log pile to turn into lumber to make a
cutting board, but naturally there are bugs in the wood...

If bugs in wood too porous hold germs use good bugless wood enjoy good
cutting board.
JP

[[email protected]]

On Dec 30, 8:28 am, wrote:
I pulled some logs off my log pile to turn into lumber to make a
cutting board, but naturally there are bugs in the wood...

If bugs in wood too porous hold germs use good bugless wood enjoy good
cutting board.
JP

Yeah, that's what I was thinking, but wasn't sure if there might be
another solution... I guess the wood I had planned for a cutting board
will be used for something else... Thanks for the input!

[[email protected]]

| I pulled some logs off my log pile to turn into lumber to make a
| cutting board, but naturally there are bugs in the wood... So, since
| this project will be a cutting board and in contact with food, what
| is the best way to kill the bugs and not kill me from cross
| contamination :-) ?
|
| In the past I've put smaller pieces of wood in a microwave to zap
| the little suckers who might be burrowing away inside. The wood I
| have prepared for the cutting board won't fit in a microwave...

Well, the general rule says that if the work grows beyond the
limitation of the tool, then it's time to shop for a larger tool - in
this case, a bigger microwave oven...

I like that rule :-) ...

Perhaps it's time to seriously
consider one of the combination microwave/convection units...

Another fella suggested using better (non-bug) wood. I think I'll go
that route and fumigate/soak/microwave/radiate this wood for something
else...

OTOH, you might consider another approach to the problem and build the
contraption used for steaming wood in preparation for bending - and
just steam the little buggers right where they are. If you can get
their burrows up close to steam temperature, they (and their eggs)
shouldn't pose any future problems.

That's a good idea. Do you know if there are (free) plans for this on
the net somewhere. I think I've seen steel pipe with fittings and stuff
in a magazine that mentioned building a steam contraption...

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto

[Lee Michaels]

wrote in message
ups.com...
I pulled some logs off my log pile to turn into lumber to make a
cutting board, but naturally there are bugs in the wood... So, since
this project will be a cutting board and in contact with food, what is
the best way to kill the bugs and not kill me from cross contamination
:-) ?

In the past I've put smaller pieces of wood in a microwave to zap the
little suckers who might be burrowing away inside. The wood I have
prepared for the cutting board won't fit in a microwave...

Thanks for any suggestions.


You can always chop the little bugs up and throw them in the chili.

Before all you chili fanatics get upset with me, that was a joke.

But I just can't imagine making something that comes into contact with wood
out of something with bugs crawling around in it. I would go to my friendly
neighborhood wood dealer and buy some fancy *BUGFREE* hardwood. How much
are materials costs for a cutting board? It can't be that much.

What type of wood was it?


"Lee Michaels" wrote in message
. ..

wrote in message
ups.com...
I pulled some logs off my log pile to turn into lumber to make a
cutting board, but naturally there are bugs in the wood... So, since
this project will be a cutting board and in contact with food, what is
the best way to kill the bugs and not kill me from cross contamination
:-) ?

In the past I've put smaller pieces of wood in a microwave to zap the
little suckers who might be burrowing away inside. The wood I have
prepared for the cutting board won't fit in a microwave...

Thanks for any suggestions.


You can always chop the little bugs up and throw them in the chili.

Before all you chili fanatics get upset with me, that was a joke.

But I just can't imagine making something that comes into contact with
wood out of something with bugs crawling around in it. I would go to my
friendly neighborhood wood dealer and buy some fancy *BUGFREE* hardwood.
How much are materials costs for a cutting board? It can't be that much.

[Morris Dovey]

wrote:
||| I pulled some logs off my log pile to turn into lumber to make a
||| cutting board, but naturally there are bugs in the wood... So,
||| since this project will be a cutting board and in contact with
||| food, what is the best way to kill the bugs and not kill me from
||| cross contamination :-) ?
|||
||| In the past I've put smaller pieces of wood in a microwave to zap
||| the little suckers who might be burrowing away inside. The wood I
||| have prepared for the cutting board won't fit in a microwave...
||
|| Well, the general rule says that if the work grows beyond the
|| limitation of the tool, then it's time to shop for a larger tool -
|| in this case, a bigger microwave oven...
|
| I like that rule :-) ...

Me too - and this one is probably easiest to get SWMBO actually help
establish precedent (a true double win).

|
|| Perhaps it's time to seriously
|| consider one of the combination microwave/convection units...
|
| Another fella suggested using better (non-bug) wood. I think I'll go
| that route and fumigate/soak/microwave/radiate this wood for
| something else...

Ok, but there're no challenges in that approach mumble might as well
just buy a sanitary mildew-resistant plastic board /mumble

|| OTOH, you might consider another approach to the problem and build
|| the contraption used for steaming wood in preparation for bending
|| - and just steam the little buggers right where they are. If you
|| can get their burrows up close to steam temperature, they (and
|| their eggs) shouldn't pose any future problems.
|
| That's a good idea. Do you know if there are (free) plans for this
| on the net somewhere. I think I've seen steel pipe with fittings
| and stuff in a magazine that mentioned building a steam
| contraption...

Lee valley offers a no-cost (hmm - probably like the catalog is a "no
cost" item) booklet that provides useful info. They've also made it
available on-line at
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...=1,45866,45867
for anyone too impatient to wait for the postal service.

I've never steamed wood, so can't speak to the quality of the info -
but, considering the source, I'd expect it to be fairly good.

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto

[[email protected]]

What type of wood was it?

Pecan.

"Lee Michaels" wrote in message
. ..

wrote in message
ups.com...
I pulled some logs off my log pile to turn into lumber to make a
cutting board, but naturally there are bugs in the wood... So, since
this project will be a cutting board and in contact with food, what is
the best way to kill the bugs and not kill me from cross contamination
:-) ?

In the past I've put smaller pieces of wood in a microwave to zap the
little suckers who might be burrowing away inside. The wood I have
prepared for the cutting board won't fit in a microwave...

Thanks for any suggestions.


You can always chop the little bugs up and throw them in the chili.

Before all you chili fanatics get upset with me, that was a joke.

But I just can't imagine making something that comes into contact with
wood out of something with bugs crawling around in it. I would go to my
friendly neighborhood wood dealer and buy some fancy *BUGFREE* hardwood.
How much are materials costs for a cutting board? It can't be that much.

[[email protected]]

||| I pulled some logs off my log pile to turn into lumber to make a
||| cutting board, but naturally there are bugs in the wood... So,
||| since this project will be a cutting board and in contact with
||| food, what is the best way to kill the bugs and not kill me from
||| cross contamination :-) ?
|||
||| In the past I've put smaller pieces of wood in a microwave to zap
||| the little suckers who might be burrowing away inside. The wood I
||| have prepared for the cutting board won't fit in a microwave...
||
|| Well, the general rule says that if the work grows beyond the
|| limitation of the tool, then it's time to shop for a larger tool -
|| in this case, a bigger microwave oven...
|
| I like that rule :-) ...

Me too - and this one is probably easiest to get SWMBO actually help
establish precedent (a true double win).

|
|| Perhaps it's time to seriously
|| consider one of the combination microwave/convection units...
|
| Another fella suggested using better (non-bug) wood. I think I'll go
| that route and fumigate/soak/microwave/radiate this wood for
| something else...

Ok, but there're no challenges in that approach mumble might as well
just buy a sanitary mildew-resistant plastic board /mumble

I also thought plastic would be less resistant to microorganisms, but
the following research shows wood beats plastic...
http://faculty.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/fa...ttingboard.htm

Who wood have thought...?

|| OTOH, you might consider another approach to the problem and build
|| the contraption used for steaming wood in preparation for bending
|| - and just steam the little buggers right where they are. If you
|| can get their burrows up close to steam temperature, they (and
|| their eggs) shouldn't pose any future problems.
|
| That's a good idea. Do you know if there are (free) plans for this
| on the net somewhere. I think I've seen steel pipe with fittings
| and stuff in a magazine that mentioned building a steam
| contraption...

Lee valley offers a no-cost (hmm - probably like the catalog is a "no
cost" item) booklet that provides useful info. They've also made it
available on-line at
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...=1,45866,45867
for anyone too impatient to wait for the postal service.

I've never steamed wood, so can't speak to the quality of the info -
but, considering the source, I'd expect it to be fairly good.

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto

[DZIN]

Depending on the size of the pieces you intend to use in the cutting
board, you could microwave them. That will kill,but not remove the
varmits. The amount of time in the microwave would also depend on the
wood's size and density. Try some pieces at differing lengths of times.
It's not the heat that kills, so don't over do it. Just fairly warm to
the touch should be sufficient.

As an aside, I like to warm completed wood objects in either the micro
or the conventional oven just before applying oils of any kind. I think
it allows for greater penetration. I tried it only once AFTER
application of Watco. The wife was NOT happy. Took several heat cycles
and some vinegar baths to deodorize the conventional oven.
Gene

wrote:
I pulled some logs off my log pile to turn into lumber to make a
cutting board, but naturally there are bugs in the wood... So, since
this project will be a cutting board and in contact with food, what is
the best way to kill the bugs and not kill me from cross contamination
:-) ?

In the past I've put smaller pieces of wood in a microwave to zap the
little suckers who might be burrowing away inside. The wood I have
prepared for the cutting board won't fit in a microwave...

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Morris Dovey]

DZIN wrote:

| I tried it only
| once AFTER application of Watco. The wife was NOT happy. Took
| several heat cycles and some vinegar baths to deodorize the
| conventional oven.

Trying to stay somewhat close to the OP's question - and because the
wood in question is pecan - I'll add that it's NOT a good idea to try
microwaving fresh pecans - the folks who make puffed wheat and puffed
rice would've been proud of me. I discovered that a little bit of
pecan can go a long way. g

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto

[Charley]

Morris,

Chesnuts will do the same thing in a microwave.

--
Charley


"Morris Dovey" wrote in message
...
DZIN wrote:

| I tried it only
| once AFTER application of Watco. The wife was NOT happy. Took
| several heat cycles and some vinegar baths to deodorize the
| conventional oven.

Trying to stay somewhat close to the OP's question - and because the
wood in question is pecan - I'll add that it's NOT a good idea to try
microwaving fresh pecans - the folks who make puffed wheat and puffed
rice would've been proud of me. I discovered that a little bit of
pecan can go a long way. g

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto

[george]

On 30 Dec 2006 05:28:55 -0800, wrote:

I pulled some logs off my log pile to turn into lumber to make a
cutting board, but naturally there are bugs in the wood... So, since
this project will be a cutting board and in contact with food, what is
the best way to kill the bugs and not kill me from cross contamination
:-) ?

In the past I've put smaller pieces of wood in a microwave to zap the
little suckers who might be burrowing away inside. The wood I have
prepared for the cutting board won't fit in a microwave...

Thanks for any suggestions.

Put them in your freezer for a week.

Put them in your freezer for a week.

Sound like a good idea, In this neck of the wood some bug hibernate.
I just got some firewood in from the outside at below freezing temperature.
Once inside the bugs, if any, will feel the heat and come alive again.

"george" wrote in message
...
On 30 Dec 2006 05:28:55 -0800, wrote:

I pulled some logs off my log pile to turn into lumber to make a
cutting board, but naturally there are bugs in the wood... So, since
this project will be a cutting board and in contact with food, what is
the best way to kill the bugs and not kill me from cross contamination
:-) ?

In the past I've put smaller pieces of wood in a microwave to zap the
little suckers who might be burrowing away inside. The wood I have
prepared for the cutting board won't fit in a microwave...

Thanks for any suggestions.

Put them in your freezer for a week.

[bent]

http://www.mickleyknives.com/html/hornet_.html

http://cgi.ebay.com/Frost-Cutlery-Ju...QQcmdZViewItem



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In article . com,
wrote:
I pulled some logs off my log pile to turn into lumber to make a
cutting board, but naturally there are bugs in the wood... So, since
this project will be a cutting board and in contact with food, what is
the best way to kill the bugs and not kill me from cross contamination
:-) ?

In the past I've put smaller pieces of wood in a microwave to zap the
little suckers who might be burrowing away inside. The wood I have
prepared for the cutting board won't fit in a microwave...

Thanks for any suggestions.


I've never tried it myself, but maybe you could put it in a regular
oven at 200d or so. Be worth testing to see if it adversely affects
the wood, anyway. Other than that I can't think of any method that
doesn't involve chemicals. I wonder what kindo f machine they use to
irradiate food?
--
When the game is over, the pawn and the king are returned to the same box.

Larry Wasserman - Baltimore Maryland -

[[email protected]]

wrote:
...

I've never tried it myself, but maybe you could put it in a regular
oven at 200d or so. Be worth testing to see if it adversely affects
the wood, anyway. Other than that I can't think of any method that
doesn't involve chemicals. I wonder what kindo f machine they use to
irradiate food?

It's been done with a Cesium source. It could be done with X-rays
I suppose. There are already X-Ray units used to promote crosslinking
of polymers, like electrical insulation.

--

FF

[Andrew Barss]

wrote:
: I pulled some logs off my log pile to turn into lumber to make a
: cutting board, but naturally there are bugs in the wood... So, since
: this project will be a cutting board and in contact with food, what is
: the best way to kill the bugs and not kill me from cross contamination
: :-) ?

: In the past I've put smaller pieces of wood in a microwave to zap the
: little suckers who might be burrowing away inside. The wood I have
: prepared for the cutting board won't fit in a microwave...



Personally, I'd put the stuff right back on the woodpile (or
maybe directly into the fireplace), go to a wood store, and buy
proper kiln-dried lumber without bugs in it.


But I'm funny that way about insects in my food.

-- Andy Barss

[George E. Cawthon]

wrote:

Another fella suggested using better (non-bug) wood. I think I'll go
that route and fumigate/soak/microwave/radiate this wood for something
else...

OTOH, you might consider another approach to the problem and build the
contraption used for steaming wood in preparation for bending - and
just steam the little buggers right where they are. If you can get
their burrows up close to steam temperature, they (and their eggs)
shouldn't pose any future problems.

That's a good idea. Do you know if there are (free) plans for this on
the net somewhere. I think I've seen steel pipe with fittings and stuff
in a magazine that mentioned building a steam contraption...

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto

Heat kills, you don't necessarily need water
(steam). If this were summer all you would have
to do is wrap the boards in clear-translucent
plastic and set them it in the sun for a few
hours. Heck, you could set the boards in my car
and it would be hot enough to kill the bugs.

You could wrap the boards into a package with
visqueen covering it and run a tube from the car
exhaust into the package. Between the heat
generated and CO it shouldn't take more than 15
minutes to kill everything. OTOH, if your boards
are that buggy?

[Robatoy]

wrote:
I pulled some logs off my log pile to turn into lumber to make a
cutting board, but naturally there are bugs in the wood... So, since
this project will be a cutting board and in contact with food, what is
the best way to kill the bugs and not kill me from cross contamination
:-) ?

In the past I've put smaller pieces of wood in a microwave to zap the
little suckers who might be burrowing away inside. The wood I have
prepared for the cutting board won't fit in a microwave...

Thanks for any suggestions.

What did those bugs ever do to you?
Seriously, would you really want that much protein? After you kill
those critters, you'll still be left with tiny corpses and waste from
the days when they were still alive going kaka in your cutting board.
I suppose if you encased the whole slab of material in super-thick
clear epoxy, it wouldn't matter if you killed them first.

[Phisherman]

On 30 Dec 2006 05:28:55 -0800, wrote:

I pulled some logs off my log pile to turn into lumber to make a
cutting board, but naturally there are bugs in the wood... So, since
this project will be a cutting board and in contact with food, what is
the best way to kill the bugs and not kill me from cross contamination
:-) ?

In the past I've put smaller pieces of wood in a microwave to zap the
little suckers who might be burrowing away inside. The wood I have
prepared for the cutting board won't fit in a microwave...

Thanks for any suggestions.


Save the holy wood for another project.

[John Grossbohlin]

"Robatoy" wrote in message
oups.com...

wrote:
I pulled some logs off my log pile to turn into lumber to make a
cutting board, but naturally there are bugs in the wood... So, since
this project will be a cutting board and in contact with food, what is
the best way to kill the bugs and not kill me from cross contamination
:-) ?

In the past I've put smaller pieces of wood in a microwave to zap the
little suckers who might be burrowing away inside. The wood I have
prepared for the cutting board won't fit in a microwave...

Thanks for any suggestions.

What did those bugs ever do to you?
Seriously, would you really want that much protein? After you kill
those critters, you'll still be left with tiny corpses and waste from
the days when they were still alive going kaka in your cutting board.
I suppose if you encased the whole slab of material in super-thick
clear epoxy, it wouldn't matter if you killed them first.

The volume probably wouldn't exceed the acceptable limits for insects and
insect parts in things like flour and corn meal... ;~)

[Wiley C. Oyote]

Microwaving may not necessarily be the choice of champions. Case in point...

I was in college in the early 1980's when microwaves were becoming
semi-affordable. Having our inquisitive minds fueled by copious quantities
of alcohol one evening, one of my friends caught a roach running across the
countertop in the kitchen. He grabbed it and tossed it into the microwave.
Expecting the roach to go poof like a kernel of popcorn, we watched this
stupid roach run around for over 30 minutes of nuking before we got bored.
Next morning, the roach (still confined to the microwave) was still alive
and well. Our experiment ended when he escaped from the microwave and was
crushed under an empty beer bottle.

Microwave ovens are typically set to a frequency to cause water molecules to
vibrate faster generating heat. Some bugs do not have enough moisture in
their bodies to suffer much damage from microwaves.

You might consider
1. boiling
2. freezing
3. vacuum sealing or
4. storing the wood in an inert environment such as nitrogen or carbon
dioxide

smile for the last two, I leave it to you to find out how long a bug can
go without air.

Tom
--
Measure twice, cut once... if it is too
short, consider design modification...
--
The Source For Premium Newsgroup Access
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[A.M. Wood]

wrote:
I pulled some logs off my log pile to turn into lumber to make a
cutting board, but naturally there are bugs in the wood... So, since
this project will be a cutting board and in contact with food, what is
the best way to kill the bugs and not kill me from cross contamination
:-) ?

In the past I've put smaller pieces of wood in a microwave to zap the
little suckers who might be burrowing away inside. The wood I have
prepared for the cutting board won't fit in a microwave...

Thanks for any suggestions.

Don't use that wood. It's just gross to think of cutting food on
something that's had bugs crawling all through it. I'm sure they can
be killed, but....