I recently purchased some old black walnut that has supposedly been around since the sixties. I can see some bug holes in the sap wood on some of the boards. I have approx 500 bf of this stuff and I’m worried about bug infestation in some of it. I haven’t seen any bugs, but who knows, I could have a problem, I might not. But if I do…it’s likely to spread to the rest of my wood stockpile and THAT would be a disaster and and expensive disaster at that as I have considerable amount of money tied up in hardwood inventory.
Is there some product that I can treat the wood with that won’t affect it’s color (this black walnut is BEAUTIFUL wood). I’m thinking I could wrap it in plastic sheeting and then pump in some kind of weaponized biological bug killer spray. Anyone have any experience with this sort of thing???
Jeff
Replies
Boracare. http://www.nisuscorp.com/boracare.html is the manufacturer. http://www.pestproducts.com/bora_care_info.htm is a retailer. Google for others.
I would make sure I had a true bug problem before exposing myself to insecticide and the expense. The bug holes you see may be from the 60s. Someone on the forum must be able to tell you how to find out if they are active or not.
I have had some bug issues in the sapwood of some maple that I had sawn. I cut out the sapwood with bug holes and store this wood away from my other wood. I haven't had a problem since.
More than likely the signs you see are from powder post beetles. The larvae go dormant once the wood is fairly dry. As mentioned you can treat it with BoraCare. A similar product that is usually a little bit cheaper is Tim-Bor. Both products are pure borate. Think Boraxo hand soap or 20 Mule Team Borax, but in a much finer form. Once the powder is mixed up, it is no more toxic than the hand cleaner & will not discolor the wood.
http://www.doityourselfpestcontrol.com/
is a pretty extensive web site with pictures and descriptions of the types of critters that you might have. They are also a source for the above products.
Jeff: The one thing I know is to look for small fresh piles of sawdust near the holes. That would indicate active bugs. Don't know how to tell if there are inactive ones.
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