Termites

catnovoa | Posted in General Discussion on May 29, 2019 11:07pm

I buy lumber and it gets acclimated in my shop for years. I just picked up my stash of cherry wood that I bought 5-6 years ago. Few of them have signs that they are beginning to be attacked by termites. Not surprising in a shop that is full of wood. I wonder how could I ‘cure’ this lumber before I work on the planned furniture that I will make for my home–I make my own furniture. The infectation is very limited.

In small pieces I have placed them in the microwave, and I understand that any termite will die in a matter of minutes. But these are very large pieces of lumber. Any advise will be highly appreciated.

Replies

john_c2 | May 30, 2019 02:20pm | #1
Are you sure they are termites? My bet would be something el we. Termites need contact with the ground, and a source of moisture. They normally build a mud tunnel to connect their food source, wood, to the ground.
pintodeluxe | May 30, 2019 02:39pm | #2
Kiln drying is the normal route to kill pests of all sorts. Temperature needs to be 140 degrees F or greater for 3-4 hours to sterilize a load of lumber. If the temp is not quite that high, it can still sterilize lumber, but it takes longer. These figures apply to lumber 8/4 thick and less. Thicker lumber needs higher temp or longer time in the kiln.
Best of luck with your issue!
SherryVan | May 31, 2019 05:57am | #3
You can try fog boric acid. Borax powder and an aqueous solution are prepared and then sprayed on the affected area. This is a non-toxic method that ensures that wood termites disappear after several uses. You can also use this method in conjunction with cardboard trap to get rid of termites and moths. Other ways to kill termites and moths, check it out.https://www.cuou.net/how-to-get-rid-of-moths.html
MarieCurie2 | May 31, 2019 12:22pm | #4
https://www.angieslist.com/articles/boric-acid-safe-use-pest-control.htm
I thought this might help you...😎
Happy furniture making...

P.S. I always mix borax with maple syrup to get rid of the ants that have taken a liking to my kitchen for the past two yrs. Of course, I have to endure the ant "picnic" for about two days... They take the borax back to the nest and, soon, no more ants.