Cob Re: GBlist: Wood

[Bruce]

Speireag Alden wrote:
> 
> Howdy, all!
> 
>     I will be using local timber, cut on my property, for our house.  I may
> be able to use some which are already down.
> 
>     I hear bug-killed vigas mentioned sometimes.  I also hear about
> pine-borers and such.  Around here, the bugs will pretty reliably get into
> the wood if you let it sit for a year (unless it's stored inside somewhere).
> 
>     How can you safely use such wood?  How do you get rid of pine-borers?
> Do carpenter ants vacate after the wood is dry, or once they're started
> into green wood, are they ensconced and must be poisoned out (or boraxed).
> 
>Howdy Speireag,
You can kill most anything in wood if you get it hot enough. I've had
good success with powderpost beetles and some other unidentified borers
by stickering and wrapping small units with black plastic in hte hot
sun. When the interior temperature gets to about 150 degrees F for a
while it usually kills off the larvae and eggs of most insects. I try to
let my heap get hot for a few different days just to be sure. This is
the time of year for it. If you have too much wood to treat this way, it
might be more economical to kiln dry it. If you have a small lumber mill
around, they might be able to do this for you.
Bruce Donelson
A Better Builder
Takilma Oregon