Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Jul 12, 1999 08:15am | #1

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   John,

   The people who sell reclaimed timbers will tent and fumigate it before the sale. Check around and you might find an exterminating company that can do this for you.

   Good luck,

   Ed. Williams

1. 
   Guest_ | Jul 12, 1999 08:50am | #2

   *John,With stacked and stickered wood, its common to make a poly tent around it and set off a couple of flea foggers in it. You can probably figure out how to do something similar in place with your mantle. Try not to blow the place up, avoid open flames. I seem to recall reading about a rather spectacular incident in Nevada involving a couple of dozen foggers, a double wide and a pilot flame.JonC

1. 
   Guest_ | Jul 12, 1999 08:55am | #3

   *JonC man, does the fogger alter the appearance of the lumber at all? without the foggiest - jb

1. 
   Guest_ | Jul 12, 1999 09:22am | #4

   *Jim, I've only done 2 small batches this way, both rough cut, one Myrtle and one Ash. I didnt see any problem with either when finished and I havent heard of any problems. I know my turner friend has done this alot with Cherry and Chestnut. The fogger itself will end up sitting in some residue from its last sputters so if you sit it on the top of the stack I'd put some newspaper under it.Tonkas rule, JonC

2. 
   JJ_Shaw | Jul 13, 1999 07:18pm | #5

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   John,

   Depending on the size of the mantel, you might try "cooking" it. Build a temporary enclosure out of concrete block and stick a portable heater at one end. Obviously, you need to exercise common sense to avoid a fire. This worked well for me, though I was working with smaller pieces. Powder post beetles pack sawdust behind them as they burrow through wood. I was worried that insecticide may not reach them to kill them. There was no escape from the heat. The critical piece of information, of course, is "how hot?". It's been a dozen years and I just plain can't remember. I do know that I found info on this method rather easily. Perhaps someone else in cyberland has a better memory than myself.

   Good luck

1. 
   Nickb1 | Jul 13, 1999 09:07pm | #6

   *I don't know what the minimum temp to kill powder post beetles is, but kiln drying at 160 F gets hot enough to kill them.NickB

3. 
   John_T._Mitchell | Jul 13, 1999 09:07pm | #7

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   A friend killed a copperhead snake hidden in a crack in chestnut timber from a crumbling barn to cut out a nice old mantle piece, complete with hand hewn finish. I've put it in place, but while deciding how or whether to finish it, the owners have noticed the fine sawdust accummulating below some of the many small critter holes in this wormy old chestnut. Any ideas on how to kill the little critters without damaging the wood?