killing bus in wood

[fshenkin94]

I have a nice slab of hickory that I am going to use for a table. It has been air drying for several years and is to the point that it is ready to work. The only problem is that there are bugs in the wood. I can actually hear them. Any idea how best to kill them?

 

[CrazyBear]

I just wanna know what kinda 'bus' you got stuck in our wood.greyhound.stagecoach or school bus [][][][]

 

[BRobbins629]

If you can seal it off in a plastic bag, I think there are some fumigants that can be sprayed inside and left for a few days. I knew someone who did this successfully, only not sure what chemical he used.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Originally posted by BRobbins629
<br />If you can seal it off in a plastic bag, I think there are some fumigants that can be sprayed inside and left for a few days. I knew someone who did this successfully, only not sure what chemical he used.

Not likely that would always be successful. I have tried different remedies and the buggies are very resistant. For smaller pieces, the wood could be microwaved. Putting in a large plastic bag and using exhaust from a gas engine might work. Offhand, I would say that his wood is scrap.

 

[byounghusband]

Fred,
You really caught my attention with the title of this post.... I used to be a bus driver, and so did the Mrs. []

But now that you have my attention, here's what I would try.....

Use the ol' "Rubbing Alcohol trick"..... Put this piece in a couple thick black plastic trash bags and pour about 1/2 gallon of rubbing alcohol in, seal it up, and let it sit for about two months. This will kill the bugs.[xx(][xx(]

I used it to kill the bugs in a BIG Mesquite bowl blank.

 

[Ron in Drums PA]

Once upon a time I was given a nice chunk of mesquite.

I noticed that there where bugs in the wood, so I placed it in a big black plastic bag along with a jar of acetone. I sealed the bag up real good and let it sit on my blacktop drive way.

This was in July. We had a heat wave in August and I bet it was a easy 130+ degrees in that bag.

Time went on and from time to time I would check the acetone making sure the fumes where still potent

January we had a cold snap, easy -20 below.

February, I started up the chainsaw and cut that frozen wood up for a bowl blank.

I mounted that blank on my lathe and started to turn. I tell you, frozen chips hurt, but it cut like butter... ok frozen butter.

That was the day I learned the only way to kill these juicy buggers was to have them go splat on my face mask.

 

[gerryr]

Simple. Soak the wood with kerosene, add match, bugs burn up.[]

 

[GaryMGg]

Other than bagging it and maintaining a high temp for hours -- google it, I'm sure I don't remember the figures off-hand but it's around 140-160 degrees for 12-16 hours.
You could take the slabs to a kiln and ask them to put it in with their regular load.
Kiln drying should kill 'em dead.

Good luck.

 

[Dario]

You might get some answers reading this... http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Bugs_in_airdried_ash.html

 

[Dario]

Originally posted by Ron in Drums PA
<br />Once upon a time I was given a nice chunk of mesquite.

I noticed that there where bugs in the wood, so I placed it in a big black plastic bag along with a jar of acetone. I sealed the bag up real good and let it sit on my blacktop drive way.

This was in July. We had a heat wave in August and I bet it was a easy 130+ degrees in that bag.

Time went on and from time to time I would check the acetone making sure the fumes where still potent

January we had a cold snap, easy -20 below.

February, I started up the chainsaw and cut that frozen wood up for a bowl blank.

I mounted that blank on my lathe and started to turn. I tell you, frozen chips hurt, but it cut like butter... ok frozen butter.

That was the day I learned the only way to kill these juicy buggers was to have them go splat on my face mask.

LOL very true but not all bugs are as bad as those TX bugs!

 

[low_48]

Heat is the only healthy way. Sanding wood that has been treated with pesticide or petroleum based something or other will be unhealthy. If you get the center of the wood up to 130 degrees for several hours it will do the job. A small insulated box with a couple light bulbs will probably do the job for a single board or two.

 

[TowMater]

I've heard bagging with mothballs recommended elsewhere. I haven't done this myself so I can't vouch for the results, just thought I'd throw it out there.

 

[redfishsc]

Take a metal or a solvent-resistant plastic 5 gallon bucket, cut the wood into the smallest useable size you can, put it in the bucket, pour in a gallon of denatured alcohol (or even lacquer thinner) and put the lid on it tightly, store in a cool place. The fumes should do the trick in a few days for sure.



EDIT:

Never mind, I am a dork. This won't work if you are making a table out of it (ie, big pieces of wood). Works great for bowl and pen blanks though

 

[Rojo22]

Now what kind of "table manners" does a bug have if you can HEAR it eating??????

 

[redfishsc]

If you could find a good anteater you'd be fine.[]