Replies

1. 
   DWRead | Nov 04, 2002 03:12am | #1

   How about Safer houseplant insecticide?

2. 
   bobhallsr | Nov 04, 2002 03:20am | #2

   Stick it in the microwave and "nuke" it. Don't over do it or you may drive out enough water to split it or even heat up the inside and char it. Just watch it while it is cooking and don't walk too far away from it.

   Maybe some one else can add useful info here.

   BTW if you want a serious mallet head, turn it from the root knot. Turn the handle from the lower trunk and flare it out to mallet size as you get into the root. In an earlier America, thats the way a good splinter resistant riving mallet was made.

   BJ

   Gardening, cooking and woodworking in Southern Maryland
3. 
   RW | Nov 04, 2002 05:31am | #3

   http://www.cce.cornell.edu/factsheets/pest-fact-sheets/powder-post-beetles.html

4. 
   Shepherd1800 | Nov 04, 2002 06:43pm | #4

   Place the pieces of dogwood in a plastic bag and place a piece of dry ice in the bag and seal it loosely with the opening of the bag facing up.  The dry ice gives off carbon dioxide which is heavier than air. The carbon dioxide given off will kill the little buggers and not bother the wood.

   Stephen Shepherd

1. 
   RSRose | Nov 04, 2002 07:01pm | #5

   Stephen,

   I had been thinking of that solution as a good non-toxic way to solve the problem. But I had never tried it and had no idea if it would really work. If the carbon dioxide completely (or mostly) replaces the air in the container, any thing that needs oxygen should die.

   Have you actually used this method? How long does it take to work? If the organisms that one is trying to kill can go into a "hybernation" they may be able to survive a long time without dying.

   Rich

1. 
   Shepherd1800 | Nov 04, 2002 07:34pm | #6

   I usually leave the piece in the bag for a couple of days up to a week.  Some of the stuff was old furniture and some were new infested wood.  I think it will probably off the bugs who are dormant because even those sleeping critters need to absorb oxygen.  It kills eggs as well.

    

   Stephen Shepherd

1. 
   fredsmart48 | Nov 04, 2002 08:09pm | #7

   If you don't have dry ice.

   vinegar and baking soda when you combine it makes co2

   but co1 = carbon monoxide would work better to kill then the co2 at least it dose on humans.  co1 binds to the blood easier then co2   car exaust in the plastic bag. 

2. 
   RSRose | Nov 04, 2002 11:42pm | #8

   How does carbon dioxide kill eggs? They don't need to breathe.

   Rich