reible wrote:Please keep in mind if you do use any chemicals that it is likely that they will end up with you breathing them in at some point. Sawing, sanding, and clean up puts dust in the air and what ever you sow so shall you reap.
Borax is not a big deal but some of the other things that kill bugs are also not so good for you. This is one of those pet peeves of mine about pallet wood. I never use it. Back in the 70's our wood working club and this guy come in and talk about the subject. Things like PCB's never go away by them selves and who knows where the pallet has been. Ever been at the loading docks, disgusting would be putting it mildly. To make it worse they do in some cases put preservatives to prevent decay and things to keep the bugs away........ and that is on purpose.
Just saying.
Ed
I totally agree! If people really knew what pallets have been exposed to they would never even touch them let alone use them for something in their house. I would not be surprised to see a pallet glow green at night!
I have pretty much stopped collecting fresh cut wood to use in the future. Any wood I do collect I store in a contractor grade black garbage bag. Not only does it speed up the drying process but the heat will kill any bug. Problem is even though the bags are very thick and puncture resistant they will puncture and that throws open the door for a multitude of problems.
While I'm very careful with chemicals that I am exposed to, but I fear termites even more. I took a piece of cedar which is "termite resistant" and placed it near a place I know termites roam. In the pine straw under a pine tree grove. The cedar has lasted 6 years but is the home of carpenter ants, termites and other bugs. My guess there isn't a square inch of wood that is untouched. In cedars defense a piece of ply or 2x4 will last than 6 months. I created the monster about 10 years ago by dumping the contents of my DC3300 in that area. Apparently this was like calling the termites and carpenter ants to set up residence there.
Looks like nothing to worry about. To me the photos look like some type of engraver beetle. Probably in the Ips genus. (Southern Pine Beetle) In persimmon they would have to be a secondary insect - and the tunnels are not very long. Probably didn't like the taste.
Were there any pines that were felled in your vicinity? Ips can attack other downed wood hoping for the best outcome, but their intended trees are pine.
When I look up insects in persimmon, I find only a moth that lays eggs under bark and the pupa (worms) usually bore down into the roots.
If you can find an entomologist or forester, you can ask him/her.
After all, What do I know? All my experience was in the northern Rockies.
Octogenarian's have an earned right to be a curmudgeon.
Chuck in Lancaster, CA
Again, thank you for discussing this subject. I have learned far more than I ever wanted to, but I certainly did need to know and I am sure I need to know more. Several precautions I will be taking immediately.
Treating all my wood with bark with Borax or boric acid.
Burning all infected wood.
Purchasing a metal garbage can. Will wrap all wood with bark in black plastic and then put into the metal garbage can.
Garbage can will be on a concrete pad.
Disposal of all shavings and chips will not be piled in one area, may even put them in the garbage can for landfill.
If these measures do not provide satisfaction, I will return to this thread for further instruction. This has been a welcome learning experience and I truly appreciate all input.
Just for a note: I did spray all my wood with the Home Defense spray and that obviously did not work. Another note is that I always wear a respirator type mask as I have damaged my throat and lungs by not wearing one. I encourage all to wear some type of mask to prevent any type of dust damage. As someone here writes so well, the clock of life is wound only once.
Swamp gator I think you have a good plan. If your putting the wood in metal garbage can with a lid you don't need the black plastic. I think the black plastic works when it is in the sun. The black plastic absorbs the heat and kills the bugs. I would imagine a closed metal container would be like a locked car and heat up quickly.
Incidentally I was told this was a good way to protect against bed bugs. If you stop in a hotel only take in necessary clothing and in the morning throw them into a black plastic bag and the heat in the trunk will kill any bugs you may have picked up. I try to stay far away from hotels and motels.
Also told that the only way to get bed bugs out of a mattress was to plastic bag it and put it in the sun. Local hotel had every piece of furniture in parking lot in sealed black plastic bags and the hotel itself gassed. I don,t know if it worked cause I would not go in to see if it did.
