microwaving for pests - how to?

Well I do this on a regular basis . I have an older Sears Micro that has push buttons and I don't have a clue what they are all for :-) I use mine on high power and give the log a 3 minute zap. Take it out and feel how hot it is. If only warm do it again. What you are looking for is enough heat in the log that makes it uncomfortable to hold. Don't give it 1 long zap as you can burn the inside very easily. Normally I do it on semi-dry wood so there is quite a bit of steam generated and this is a good indicator, when it steams you're done!

buttons and I don't have a clue what they are all for :-)

how hot it is. If only warm do it again. What you are looking for is enough heat in the log that makes it uncomfortable to hold.

and this is a good indicator, when it steams you're done!

Thanks.. I'll try it tomorrow.. (when my wife is shopping in town)

mac

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Just do not tell your kids the noise of the escaping steam is really bugs and critters screaming to get out of the log. LOL

Jon

Back in my college days, we decided to microwave a cockroach. It didn't seem to have any effect on the insect. Now I know what will still be alive after the world nuclear bombing. If you really want to remove wood pests, put the wood into a plastic garbage bag, spray in some Raid (a 5-second spray will do), close it up tight, wait 2 days to remove the wood. Can't guarantee this will work on a roach.

Well, since my youngest kid is 26, he'd probably thing it was pretty cool.. lol

mac

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On Fri, 30 Nov 2007 14:28:28 -0500, JoanD'arcRoast recipes for wood sizes and your particular microwave. Cherry burns

not much green cherry here in Mexico, but I'll remember that should some nice person bring me some from the States.. This is oak from California that's been sitting on the carport for about 6 month.. don't want to have any lives bugs from there or scorpions from here in it when it's on the lathe..

mac

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I never bothered with whole log/blanks, as anything in that part of the wood that's turned away, will be sliced up several times. The left-over piece (bowl or whatever) could be put in the microwave, but the microwaves are very spotty in coverage and penetration very shallow, also heating my turnings has never been my favorite past- time, as I normally turn green wood (first time) anytime there's an indication of wildlife in there, I will either submerge in a petroleum product, like paint thinner, diesel fuel, etc for a couple of days then let that evaporate, there's not a bug that survives that treatment, though I don't like the smell and cost involved, also the wood might split drying in that way, so my usual is double wrap in plastic bags and then add a couple of moth-balls, leave for a few weeks and I have never found any sign off bugs after that. Have fun and take care Leo Van Der Loo

Keep a good garbage can or other "pop" seal container at hand, and remember to put the moth balls in a glass dish in case it's the wrong kind of plastic. Good method.

Thanks, George & Leo.. gotta get some moth balls... (ok, I won't make any jokes about that)

I tried plastic bags and the stuff we spray to kill bugs with here but I still had a few worms left alive in some plum burl..

mac

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ah come on man haven't you ever seen a dizzy bug fly at 2000 rpm....?

I've had a few worms hit me when I wasn't wearing a face mask.. yuck..

Worst one was a mushroom that was one of a set that a client bought.. She asked me how to clean the saw dust off it.. (it had been buffed and waxed.. sawdust?)

She said that she cleaned up the sawdust and the mushroom, but a few days later there was more sawdust.. I exchanged it and gave it a good spraying... a few days later, I found a little hole on the bottom of the cap and shook 2 dead worms out of it..

mac

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