Replies

1. 
   rez | Apr 19, 2002 05:15am | #1

   Greetings Stealth:   So you're wondering about the Trojan horse aye?  Bang it rough to knock the loose dust off it, vacuum it well and keep an eagle eye on it since it's already up. I heard that borax makes a liquid product that will take care of critters in wood for future reference. I put a 23ft barn beam in my kitchen and had many thoughts similar to yours. I didn't know about the borax back then but used different solvents on it and watched it close for a while before bringing it in. Maybe some other guys out there have had more experience with this. best to ya

2. 
   fdampier | Apr 19, 2002 05:23am | #2

   The only way to make certain that your wood doesn't contain any bugs is to heat to 170 degrees for over an hour. that will kill most of the bugs and eggs.   I reject about 15% of my wood and consign it to the fireplace rather than put it in my house. 

     I sell construction equipment to the building industry and I'm in new homes 5 to 10 times a day.  So far I've never, repeat never seen a home that doesn't have signs of insect damage in the 2x4's or 2x6's . usually I can spot it within 5 minutes of entering the house, seldom does it take me more than  20 minutes to spot some.  Some of these homes are multimillion dollar places.

     What does that mean in the real world?  probably nothing,  (I'm an anal retentive butthole and need to worry about every little aspect since this is my dream house)  if it's any consolation most bugs are wood specfic and one that  loves pine won't touch oak and visa versa.  So the wood is a little lighter next year than now, big whoopie, more charcter.   In additon they need moisture to do a lot of damage, one heating cycle (winter)   should discourage them.

1. 
   Stealthborne | Apr 19, 2002 05:29pm | #5

   Hi frenchy,

   Your advice is much appreciated and will take comfort in knowing I'm not the only person in the world who's had these fears. I am most likely over-reacting to a little dust showing up in an isolated spot,but will continue to keep an obsessive/compulsive watch on the rest of my new project. The wood in question was reclaimed from a barn floor on an ancestor's old home-place.The oak was harvested from my family's land close to 100 years ago, sawn in their own mill, and used to build almost every home within a 10 mile radius.I am grateful for the opportunity to save some of my heritage,which has been in place since 1813 here in Alabama. Thank you for your prompt response. I hope all members are as receptive as you.

1. 
   fdampier | Apr 22, 2002 11:47am | #6

   I'm just passing on what I"ve learned in this forum from Doug Doud and others.  I was able to confirm what I learned so it's plenty valid.  This site is great!  I check it several times a week.  Seem to learn something every week.

     Thanks Taunton Press ,....... (still prefer the old forum)

2. 
   IronHelix | Apr 22, 2002 01:43pm | #7

   In your message you refer to a "little dust"...... could that possibly be a problem with a powder post beetle, or a wood bore?   These critters are a completely different story than a termite.

   Check it out at the MSU site..........................................Iron Helix

3. 
   IronHelix | Apr 19, 2002 02:21pm | #3

   Termites live in the ground the same way as ants do. 

   As we all can see anthills and watch the workers carry soil to the surface or follow trails to forage for food and return it to the hill, the same thing occurs with a colony of termites.........EXCEPT

   Termites don't like sunlight, so they borrow the soil to find their favorite food, wood.  An unprotected house for a termite is like finding a fully stocked quadruple door commercial refrigerator.   

   The nest remains in the ground, the queen lays the eggs, the workers build the tunnels and tubes into the house and the foragers collect cellulose from the soft portions of the house parts. The cellulose feeds the colony.  Water must come from the soil or wet conditions within the house.

   If you rip out an infested piece of wood and store it for use later, it will have worker termites inside it if was an active area.  These workers do not reproduce and soon die when separated from the colony.

   IMHO.....wood that has been cleaned, trimmed to useful lenghts, stored under noninfested  conditions should contain no hazards in terms of latent infections of termites......BUT

   I'm not a certified entymologist only a zoologist from 30 years past.  Get a professionals up-to-date opinion.   Call your local Extension Service or a University Library or maybe just an encyclopedia.

   ...................................Iron Helix

1. 
   JasonMI | Apr 19, 2002 02:43pm | #4

   Here's a link for you for the largest online extension resources:

   http://www.msu.edu/home/

   Click on MSU Extension, and start searching to your hearts content.

   Here's the actual Extension database:

   http://www.msue.msu.edu/home/info_resource.htm

   But there's tons more out there on their (MSU Extension's), home page.