Powder Post Beetles!!!Help

Well, this is not an uncommon problem. It could be that your stock was never kiln dried, or, could have become infested post drying at the yard. In any event, the most practical method -in general- would be to have the stock put back in the oven. If this is not practical in your case then there are a number of agents you can apply. Your local hardware store or lumber yard will carry these products. If you can store the stock in a very low humidity location that might make them move out as well since they require high moisture environments. Lastly, you should consider whether the beetles came with the stock or moved from a section of your place to the stock (that rack, or elsewhere). Check around your sills for that fine powder.

Good luck.

I do a fair amount out of mesquite which is usually infested with powder post beetles. However, they only attach the soft, outer wood. I generally cut off the softwood and any tiny holes that may be at the edge of the heartwood and softwood. The powder post beetles in mesquite, typically don't go to other woods, so I don't have to take much care with the handling.

I am not sure about your particular beetle and how it attacks walnut, but heat can get rid of the pests. There is a schedule for treatment with heat based on thickness, humidity, temperature and length of exposure. However, about 6 hours at 130º F. will kill any of those pest.

You can also you common household cans of fumigant found at hardware and grocery stores. Fumigate in a closed container and leave for a couple of days. I have never used this because I am not sure how a finish would be affected, and when milling, I sure wouldn't want to breathe the dust. Another method is to put the wood in a microwave that is set on defrost for

The above is material I got from "The Magnificent Mesquite", written by Ken E. Rogers ( a professor at Texas A&M )

Preston

I burned a stack of walnut because of those pesky little critters. Then picked up some from some pecan I was working on and they got into my wife's grandmothers dresser. That meant getting rid of them.

There is a product called "Timbor" that does a good job. You can get it in

Mix with water and spray the wood. It may take two applications, but it works.

Deb

Timbor is good for fungus too. If you fumigate, put it all in a big plastic bag and make sure there's space between boards.

Don't freak out, it's something you get used to. Might be termites. They seem to love walnut.

I found that a dilute solution of Ortho's Termite and Ant killer works fine. I had some poplar that was infected. I wiped the wood down in the garage and brought it into the house after it had dried. I found three dead bugs a few days later and no more holes in the wood that I didn't make!

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I don't like the idea of leaving any insecticide on a piece that I will be turning into airborne dust or chips. For beetles (or most any insect), I've been able to get good results by wrapping the piece with a plastic trash bag or similar plastic, then pour in some mineral spirits, 1/2 cup or so, then close it, turn it to allow coverage of all surfaces, and allow to sit overnight. Set aside for another day. All insects should be killed, and the mineral spirits will evaporate out in a few hours. I don't know what wood you're using, but this works on mesquite, and beetles are a MAJOR problem with it. FWIW

Ken Moon Webberville, TX.