paul269 wrote:...I have attached a photo of the lumber showing the infestation. I think the easiest solution is to find another piece of lumber.
Paul, it is times like this that make us scratch our heads. We really don't know if the insect in your wood has only one generation in lumber (as mentioned in the reference) or will continue to try and go through more life cycles. In any event, I'd bet that they will only have one generation per year. Rather than discard the lumber, you can (a tedious job) mark all of the holes with an indelible marker - then see if any more holes appear.
If you want to get rid of the little buggers, the best way is to get the boards down to 6% moisture content. Good luck with doing that in Indiana! This year especially. I think the borate solution would work pretty well. A borate solution is not toxic to humans unless you drink it. A borate slurry was the first stuff dropped from fire retardant aircraft, on forest fires. Borate mud was, and may be still, used as a sealant and lubricant (I think) in oil wells. I really don't know the function of borate to kill insects, but guess it's drying and sealant properties make it hard for larvae to live and maybe will dry out some eggs.
I really have no idea of how dried borate would affect wood, except at first the wood would be very wet - some drying time would be necessary. Here's some guesses at other effects; I suppose it would be a lot like a muddy board. Maybe some very small granules - don't think there would be any damage to carbide blades. The surface stuff should wipe/sand right off.
Octogenarian's have an earned right to be a curmudgeon.
Chuck in Lancaster, CA
