Help with bugs: are there any or not?
 

I scored some (almost) free CVG Douglas fir several months ago, and I'm
finally getting around to thinking of its best use. It is beautiful
wood, ruler-straight grain, clear as Lake Tahoe, and has up to 30+ rings
per inch. The pieces were part of an old workbench, and have a few odd
drillholes here and there, but I like used wood a lot.

Unfortunately, there are also a lot of bug holes, from at least two
kinds of bugs, given the diameters of the holes. I have had the wood
for several months now, and have seen absolutely no sign that the bugs
are still in there. No bugs, no eggs, no bug parts, no suspicious
sawdust. I have had carpenter ants in my house twice, and know the look
of ant sawdust, but have seen nothing on this fir.

Is there any way short of cutting the wood into little strips to find
out if the bugs are still present and alive somehow?

Alternatively, I could treat the wood preemptively, just to make sure.
I'd rather not use poison, because I intend to use the wood as part of a
dresser. Does anyone know how much heat it takes to kill most
wood-eating insects? I saw a method for killing bedbugs that uses a
temporary styrofoam heat box for an entire mattress. If some reasonably
low heat could kill the bugs, I could rig one up myself.

Thanks!

Help with bugs: are there any or not?
 

scritch wrote:

I scored some (almost) free CVG Douglas fir several months ago, and I'm
finally getting around to thinking of its best use. It is beautiful
wood, ruler-straight grain, clear as Lake Tahoe, and has up to 30+ rings
per inch. The pieces were part of an old workbench, and have a few odd
drillholes here and there, but I like used wood a lot.

Unfortunately, there are also a lot of bug holes, from at least two
kinds of bugs, given the diameters of the holes. I have had the wood
for several months now, and have seen absolutely no sign that the bugs
are still in there. No bugs, no eggs, no bug parts, no suspicious
sawdust. I have had carpenter ants in my house twice, and know the look
of ant sawdust, but have seen nothing on this fir.

Is there any way short of cutting the wood into little strips to find
out if the bugs are still present and alive somehow?

Alternatively, I could treat the wood preemptively, just to make sure.
I'd rather not use poison, because I intend to use the wood as part of a
dresser. Does anyone know how much heat it takes to kill most
wood-eating insects? I saw a method for killing bedbugs that uses a
temporary styrofoam heat box for an entire mattress. If some reasonably
low heat could kill the bugs, I could rig one up myself.

Thanks!

USDA requires 130 degrees F core temperature for 30 minutes,

This will kill any insects present.

Basilisk

Help with bugs: are there any or not?
 

basilisk wrote:
scritch wrote:

I scored some (almost) free CVG Douglas fir several months ago, and
I'm finally getting around to thinking of its best use. It is
beautiful wood, ruler-straight grain, clear as Lake Tahoe, and has
up to 30+ rings per inch. The pieces were part of an old workbench,
and have a few odd drillholes here and there, but I like used wood a
lot.

Unfortunately, there are also a lot of bug holes, from at least two
kinds of bugs, given the diameters of the holes. I have had the wood
for several months now, and have seen absolutely no sign that the
bugs are still in there. No bugs, no eggs, no bug parts, no
suspicious sawdust. I have had carpenter ants in my house twice,
and know the look of ant sawdust, but have seen nothing on this fir.

Is there any way short of cutting the wood into little strips to find
out if the bugs are still present and alive somehow?

Alternatively, I could treat the wood preemptively, just to make
sure. I'd rather not use poison, because I intend to use the wood as
part of a dresser. Does anyone know how much heat it takes to kill
most wood-eating insects? I saw a method for killing bedbugs that
uses a temporary styrofoam heat box for an entire mattress. If some
reasonably low heat could kill the bugs, I could rig one up myself.

Thanks!

USDA requires 130 degrees F core temperature for 30 minutes,

This will kill any insects present.

Basilisk

Should be able to easily do that with black plastic and sunlight.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

Help with bugs: are there any or not?
 

dadiOH wrote:
basilisk wrote:
scritch wrote:

I scored some (almost) free CVG Douglas fir several months ago, and
I'm finally getting around to thinking of its best use. It is
beautiful wood, ruler-straight grain, clear as Lake Tahoe, and has
up to 30+ rings per inch. The pieces were part of an old workbench,
and have a few odd drillholes here and there, but I like used wood a
lot.

Unfortunately, there are also a lot of bug holes, from at least two
kinds of bugs, given the diameters of the holes. I have had the wood
for several months now, and have seen absolutely no sign that the
bugs are still in there. No bugs, no eggs, no bug parts, no
suspicious sawdust. I have had carpenter ants in my house twice,
and know the look of ant sawdust, but have seen nothing on this fir.

Is there any way short of cutting the wood into little strips to find
out if the bugs are still present and alive somehow?

Alternatively, I could treat the wood preemptively, just to make
sure. I'd rather not use poison, because I intend to use the wood as
part of a dresser. Does anyone know how much heat it takes to kill
most wood-eating insects? I saw a method for killing bedbugs that
uses a temporary styrofoam heat box for an entire mattress. If some
reasonably low heat could kill the bugs, I could rig one up myself.

Thanks!
USDA requires 130 degrees F core temperature for 30 minutes,

This will kill any insects present.

Basilisk

Should be able to easily do that with black plastic and sunlight.



Only 130 F? That seems cool. Maybe that's why I never hear of a
termite problem in Arizona.

Time to set up my temporary "oven"!

Help with bugs: are there any or not?
 

"scritch" wrote in message
...
dadiOH wrote:
basilisk wrote:
scritch wrote:

I scored some (almost) free CVG Douglas fir several months ago, and
I'm finally getting around to thinking of its best use. It is
beautiful wood, ruler-straight grain, clear as Lake Tahoe, and has
up to 30+ rings per inch. The pieces were part of an old workbench,
and have a few odd drillholes here and there, but I like used wood a
lot.

Unfortunately, there are also a lot of bug holes, from at least two
kinds of bugs, given the diameters of the holes. I have had the wood
for several months now, and have seen absolutely no sign that the
bugs are still in there. No bugs, no eggs, no bug parts, no
suspicious sawdust. I have had carpenter ants in my house twice,
and know the look of ant sawdust, but have seen nothing on this fir.

Is there any way short of cutting the wood into little strips to find
out if the bugs are still present and alive somehow?

Alternatively, I could treat the wood preemptively, just to make
sure. I'd rather not use poison, because I intend to use the wood as
part of a dresser. Does anyone know how much heat it takes to kill
most wood-eating insects? I saw a method for killing bedbugs that
uses a temporary styrofoam heat box for an entire mattress. If some
reasonably low heat could kill the bugs, I could rig one up myself.

Thanks!
USDA requires 130 degrees F core temperature for 30 minutes,

This will kill any insects present.

Basilisk

Should be able to easily do that with black plastic and sunlight.



Only 130 F? That seems cool. Maybe that's why I never hear of a termite
problem in Arizona.

Time to set up my temporary "oven"!

there are only 2 kinds of houses in az. those that have termites, and those
that will have them.

ground temps are way under 130. for that matter, the highest recorded temp
in phoenix was only 127F.

regards,
charlie
cave creek, az

Help with bugs: are there any or not?
 

Thanks!
USDA requires 130 degrees F core temperature for 30 minutes,

This will kill any insects present.

Basilisk

Should be able to easily do that with black plastic and sunlight.



Only 130 F? That seems cool. Maybe that's why I never hear of a termite
problem in Arizona.

Time to set up my temporary "oven"!

there are only 2 kinds of houses in az. those that have termites, and
those that will have them.

ground temps are way under 130. for that matter, the highest recorded temp
in phoenix was only 127F.

regards,
charlie
cave creek, az

To be more precise it is 56 C or 132.8 F,
not much different than my original
post but I should have looked it
up in place of relying on my faulty memory.

A lot you wreck menbers may have noticed
the "HT" part of the grade stamp on lumber,
the "HT" indicates that the material meets
these requirements.

basilisk

basilisk

Help with bugs: are there any or not?
 

Redwood dealers - bears, tables... have to have their stuff Gassed.

A company (exterminator) puts it in a container and sets off the gas.
The tank is pressurized to make sure it gets into the wood. I also think
a vacuum is drawn first - to draw the chemical into the wood.

I now this as my table was delayed for almost a week. Ya pays your money
and ya wait!

Martin

scritch wrote:
I scored some (almost) free CVG Douglas fir several months ago, and I'm
finally getting around to thinking of its best use. It is beautiful
wood, ruler-straight grain, clear as Lake Tahoe, and has up to 30+ rings
per inch. The pieces were part of an old workbench, and have a few odd
drillholes here and there, but I like used wood a lot.

Unfortunately, there are also a lot of bug holes, from at least two
kinds of bugs, given the diameters of the holes. I have had the wood
for several months now, and have seen absolutely no sign that the bugs
are still in there. No bugs, no eggs, no bug parts, no suspicious
sawdust. I have had carpenter ants in my house twice, and know the look
of ant sawdust, but have seen nothing on this fir.

Is there any way short of cutting the wood into little strips to find
out if the bugs are still present and alive somehow?

Alternatively, I could treat the wood preemptively, just to make sure.
I'd rather not use poison, because I intend to use the wood as part of a
dresser. Does anyone know how much heat it takes to kill most
wood-eating insects? I saw a method for killing bedbugs that uses a
temporary styrofoam heat box for an entire mattress. If some reasonably
low heat could kill the bugs, I could rig one up myself.

Thanks!

Help with bugs: are there any or not?
 

I have bugs that ate a tree to nothing. I cut a very nasty Honey Locust.
I even thought about trying to turn it - but it was to far gone while green.

The Locust when cut bleed a white sap that must have been the sugar within.
Within months the tree was almost powder - but the fire ants moved in and
got the bugs and then the rest of the sap. Almost powder in a year.

I really wonder about the 130 - likely 130 C if valid.

Martin

scritch wrote:
dadiOH wrote:
basilisk wrote:
scritch wrote:

I scored some (almost) free CVG Douglas fir several months ago, and
I'm finally getting around to thinking of its best use. It is
beautiful wood, ruler-straight grain, clear as Lake Tahoe, and has
up to 30+ rings per inch. The pieces were part of an old workbench,
and have a few odd drillholes here and there, but I like used wood a
lot.

Unfortunately, there are also a lot of bug holes, from at least two
kinds of bugs, given the diameters of the holes. I have had the wood
for several months now, and have seen absolutely no sign that the
bugs are still in there. No bugs, no eggs, no bug parts, no
suspicious sawdust. I have had carpenter ants in my house twice,
and know the look of ant sawdust, but have seen nothing on this fir.

Is there any way short of cutting the wood into little strips to find
out if the bugs are still present and alive somehow?

Alternatively, I could treat the wood preemptively, just to make
sure. I'd rather not use poison, because I intend to use the wood as
part of a dresser. Does anyone know how much heat it takes to kill
most wood-eating insects? I saw a method for killing bedbugs that
uses a temporary styrofoam heat box for an entire mattress. If some
reasonably low heat could kill the bugs, I could rig one up myself.

Thanks!
USDA requires 130 degrees F core temperature for 30 minutes,

This will kill any insects present.

Basilisk

Should be able to easily do that with black plastic and sunlight.



Only 130 F? That seems cool. Maybe that's why I never hear of a
termite problem in Arizona.

Time to set up my temporary "oven"!

Help with bugs: are there any or not?
 

Martin H. Eastburn wrote:

I have bugs that ate a tree to nothing. I cut a very nasty Honey Locust.
I even thought about trying to turn it - but it was to far gone while
green.

The Locust when cut bleed a white sap that must have been the sugar
within. Within months the tree was almost powder - but the fire ants moved
in and
got the bugs and then the rest of the sap. Almost powder in a year.

I really wonder about the 130 - likely 130 C if valid.

Martin

here's the cite forthe requirements.

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_exp...reatment.shtml

basilisk