Woodworm - Should I panic?

[Harbo]

Sorting out some sawn timber the other day I came across a couple of oak boards with newish woodworm exit holes! They are fairly large 3 to 5mm with quite large grubs so I am assuming Death Watch Beetle? Splitting it up to investigate, the wood was full of white grubs about 7 to 10mm long!
Needless to say the infected timber has now been destroyed. Going by the bark and colouring, the two pieces seem to have come from the same tree which I am assuming were infected in the wild or at the timber yard - I bought it last summer and it has been in my workshop ever since.
I have looked carefully through my other timber - oak, ash, beech, sycamore and walnut which was stacked with it and can see no other attacks.
What do you suggest I do? I do not want to destroy the other boards!
Should I spray it all or just keep an eye on it?
I have read that the grubs can work away for up to 10 years before pupating - I am hoping that they are all fairly young and there are no beetles wandering about?

Rod

 

[devonwoody]

Because there are no exit holes on your other timber stock doesn't mean it is free of worm. It could mean they haven't come out for some erotic act of in ter c.....

Serious comment above as well as trying to crack a funny. :x

 

[Jaco]

Panic! Yes.
Not quite, heard one can fumigate, dunk the wood in killer mixture (?), and then there is Diesel. Diesel is quite expensive option.
I kept a whole lot of logs outside under cover, waiting to dry out for the lathe, found some quite large holes last weekend, the logs are now on the pavement as part of the garden. There were some very nice pieces .....

 

[Keith Smith]

Panic! Yes.

Because there are no exit holes on your other timber stock doesn't mean it is free of worm. It could mean they haven't come out for some erotic act of in ter c.....

:lol:


These are almost certainly longhorn beetles, they do like oak and make pretty nasty holes but they specialise in sap wood so won't normally infest the rest of the board.

Just cut away any sap wood, you can't miss the holes, once there are no holes, then you have eradicated the problem; for that board at least :roll:

Then just check through the rest of the timber for sap wood and cut it all away. They can move from board to board but in my experience only if the boards are packed tightly together and then only if you have sap wood against sap wood. If they exit a board into heartwood they soon turn back.

Keith

 

[Anonymous]

I work in old buildings and woodworm is everywhere. I always ignore it until it manifests as an actual problem e.g. in my bentwood rocking chair which could be weakened if not treated.
I had a few holes appear in a sycamore kitchen tabel-top once but I convinced the client that it proved that the wood was organic and non-toxic. Valid point really - I wouldn't want to eat from a preservative soaked surface.
Woodworm is very selective - in my experience certain species are vulnerable; sycamore, beech, walnut, and sap wood in general, but the change to a drier environment of a finished piece usually means no more woodworm.
Just take no notice of it.

cheers
Jacob

 

[ByronBlack]

I intend to buy a few boards of oak soon - what is the best way of storing/looking after these to avoid any chance of woodworm or other wood-based pests.

Death-watch beetle sounds like something from a sci-fi film!

 

[Keith Smith]

Just take no notice of it.

Not so easy when they do this sort of damage :evil:

This was after cutting 30mm off :roll:

 

[DomValente]

I intend to buy a few boards of oak soon - what is the best way of storing/looking after these to avoid any chance of woodwork !

Er, don't go into the workshop

Sorry Byron, couldn't resisit it.

Dom

 

[ByronBlack]

ha - picking apart an injured mans typing mistakes, that should be beneath you Dom! I'm shocked and appalled, and will now be leaving this forum!

 

[DomValente]

HA- It worked :twisted:

But before you go Byron, I've found checking the wood before storage helps, then if possible store off the ground and in stick, i.e cut strips of wood approximately three quarters of an inch square and at least as long as your boards are wide, then place the sticks across the board at 3ft. intervals place the next board on top and place more sticks directly in line with the previous ones and so on. This helps air to circulate and thus keep your timber dry and keep infestation at bay because they love moisture.

Dom

 

[dave261266]

I had an infestation in some ash boards that I'd bought for a bed a couple of years ago. As you did I got rid of the worst affected boards where it was impraticle to use them and I trested the other boards.

It actually looks quite nice with the holes in as they are not as big as the ones that you suffered.

 

[orchard]

I bought some 'dry' sawn Elm last week to put down and store until my skills are up to it, but noticed quite a few holes tonight, probably 1mm-2mm wide, running the length either side of the heartwood. There are no signs of recent exit (dust) afaik.
What should I do guys please? Is this normal when sawn board's left to dry outdoors in stick? Should I leave it with the rest of my wood? Should I have spotted this and paid less also springs to mind...
Thanks in advance chaps

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

I've always found that all forms of Coleoptera (beetles) have a strange aversion to fire. Simply place affected timber into a large one, light blue touch paper and retire to a safe distance. Does make finishing the boards more tricky mind!

 

[Harbo]

This brings back distant memories the thread is 5 years old!!

Rod

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

:lol: the woodworm might be butterflies by now!

 

[orchard]

Cheers chaps, I thought I'd re-use an appropriate thread
So, if I set fire to my good wood and hold this plank over the top and check for evacuees to establish whether it's infested is method of choice at the moment.
Cheers

 

[mickthetree]

hahaha well that just might work...

On a serious note, I would be giving the timber merchant a call. If reputable I would have thought they would replace the wood, or at least give some good will gesture for future purchases.
Cheers

 

[orchard]

hahaha well that just might work...

On a serious note, I would be giving the timber merchant a call. If reputable I would have thought they would replace the wood, or at least give some good will gesture for future purchases.
Cheers

Thanks for that-- as a noob I was wondering whether it was taken as acceptable buying from a tree sugeon in stick. It's a board that's 4cmx45x230 that I paid 120 for, I'll probably lose 30pc of the board when I come to trimming it tonight

 

[marcros]

how much??????????

 

[orchard]

how much??????????

--do go on, what do you think it's with with and without the pets?