Replies

1. 
   kenshep | Apr 27, 2005 05:05am | #1

   I hear Borax will kill mold.  You might want to try it and finish the test piece a week or so later to see if the treated wood takes the finish.

    

   Regards,

   Ken

   "Do as you would be done by." C.S. Lewis

1. 
   WillGeorge | Apr 29, 2005 09:39pm | #9

   20 Mule Team Borax kills anything cept humans unless we eat it I think!

2. 
   JeffHeath | Apr 27, 2005 06:53am | #2

   I'm not an expert, but it's my understanding that once the moisture content (MC) is below 20 percent, the mold simply dies, as it no longer has the proper amount of moisture.  Planing it off should not leave you with a problem, unless the exposed wood is rotted.

   I cut and dry all my own hardwood, and have never had a problem with mold on North American hardwoods.  I don't know if Jatoba is any different, I've never used it.

   Jeff

3. 
   forestgirl | Apr 27, 2005 10:32am | #3

   One thing I would suggest is cleaning off the mold before you machine the wood.  I'd spray with a 10% solution of bleach, let it sit for 10 mins. or so, and wipe off.  Mold reproduces via spores, and you don't want them flying around in your air, or getting pushed/mushed into the stock while milling.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
   Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   BarryO | Apr 27, 2005 10:47am | #4

   Mold reproduces via spores, and you don't want them flying around in your air

   I think you'd be hard pressed to find any air, outside of a semiconductor clean room or a hospital operating room, that didn't already have mold spores flying around.  The stuff is ubiquitous; always has been, despite what the last toxic mold job-security-for-lawyers hype would have one think.

   Also, regarding bleach, while clorine bleach is a wonderful, powerful, cheap disinfectant, the one thing it isn't very effective against it mold spores.  Mold spores are the one infective agent that the more expensive chemicals are needed for.   the conventional wisdom to treat household mold infestations doesn't make alot of sense, but then the whole toxic-mold hype doesn't in the first place.

   How do I know this?  'just remembering having to deal with a bout of a disease called aspyrgillosis (caused by mold) in a bird population, a long time ago.

1. 
   forestgirl | Apr 27, 2005 10:57am | #5

   Hi, Barry, yep there are mold spores ever present (living in the Great Northwest, I'm constantly reminded of this, unfortunately) but adding to the load in an enclosed room by jet-propelling them along with sawdust just doesn't seem like a good idea to me. 

   Bleach would kill any living mold, right?  A step in the right direction anyway, and combined with the wetting/wiping process should at least reduce the load of spores.  No scientific evidence though.  forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   BarryO | Apr 27, 2005 07:23pm | #6

   Yea, it kills living mold.  Doesn't effect the spores.

    

4. 
   Dale | Apr 27, 2005 08:34pm | #7

   Mold is caused by a moisture problem.  Air the lumber out of a few days/weeks and should be fine, plane and get to working.  Ideally, check the moldy areas with moisture meter when you believe it to be dry.....Dale

1. 
   Ing | Apr 29, 2005 02:43am | #8

   Thanks for all the info, didn't want to waste any of the wood if I didn't have to.  After jointing a few pieces I think 99% of the wood will be usable. Seems to be plenty dry. Thanks again. 

1. 
   AndyE | Apr 30, 2005 12:06am | #10

   I agree with forestgirl. I got a load of poplar trim from a friend when he moved that was in his crawlspace for about 3 years. Some of that stuff looked like it could have walked away on its own. I washed it down with a bleach solution and let it dry in the sun for the afternoon. Haven't seen any mold on it since, and I get a good close up view every time I knock my head on it walking around the TS. Gotta move that rack somewhere else.Andy"It seemed like a good idea at the time"

1. 
   LeeGrindinger | Apr 30, 2005 03:25am | #11

   Mold cannot grow on lumber whose moisture content is below 18%. Whatever mold you see has stopped if it's been dried. It's a push to get lumber below this critical point because of sticker stain, most other problems associated with mold are inconsequential if it occurs in the normal course of dryingLeeMontanaFest