Bugs in Lumber

  • August 20, 2023 6:56 AM
    Message # 13243185

    Last night while rearranging some Apple lumber I found a few little pyramids of wood dust.  Is there a preparation that will kill wood borers without heat?  I don’t have a kiln or a large steamer.

  • August 21, 2023 6:34 AM
    Reply # 13243465 on 13243185

    I have heard about using borax and water but I don’t know the proper ratio. 

  • August 21, 2023 7:09 AM
    Reply # 13243468 on 13243185

    First and foremost, move the lumber outside, preferably on concrete or asphalt. Get some bug spray, strongest possible, find the holes and fill with bug killer. I use wasp spray, seems to be the harshest bug killer out there. I'll treat a couple of times to be sure I got all, then monitor for a couple of weeks to make sure their gone. I would leave the boards outside and covered with a tarp before bringing back inside. Also sticker the stack.

  • August 21, 2023 9:22 AM
    Reply # 13243520 on 13243185

    Tom and Jim,

    Thanks for your helpful comments.  I'm going to try the bug spray as recommended by Jim, followed by a treatment with a borax product called Tim-Bor (get it?).

  • August 21, 2023 3:41 PM
    Reply # 13243737 on 13243185

    found this:


    Concentration: 1kg of powder per 25 litres of water for Woodworm, 5% (mild to medium attacks) and 2.5 kgs of powder per 25 litres of water for Woodworm, 12.25% (heavy attack), Death Watch Beetle, Dry Rot and Wet Rot.

    Saturate the wood.

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