Best method to treat koa lumber for termites
Bond008
| Posted in Wood and Materials on
I am fortunate enough to have some salvaged Hawaiian koa wood that is rough cut. It is from a tree that was cut down 4 years ago. Unfortunately the wood was not properly cared for and I suspect it has termites. There was a small amount of evidence where it’s been stored for the past year.
What is the best method to kill the termites while preserving the ability to use the wood for fine woodworking? Koa is beautiful wood and I have quite a good amount of it and hope to be able to use it.
Ive read about borate solutions or orange oil, but I really could use the advice of someone with more experience.
Thanks in advance!
Replies
Termites are easy. They need moisture, and they need contact with the soil. If the wood is kept dry and off the ground, termites can't be an ongoing issue. Beetles and other insects can be though.
There is more than one kind of termite. The termites I am most familiar with are called Drywood termites. They do not need soil contact (they fly to your wood) and there is enough moisture in kiln dried wood to keep them happy. The safest treatments are various borate compounds. The one I used is called Timbor. It is available as a powder. A 10% solution sprayed on the wood works well. It is safe for people and pets and does not affect the wood in any way.
How big is the piece? What is your evidence of termites?
Take a small board that you think is infested and seal it (very) well in black plastic...leave it to bake in the hot sun for a good long time to kill what's in it before cutting it up to see how far gone it is. If you find that the tunneling is extreme you can kill the termites with a wood stove or firepit before they get to anything else on your property.
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