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I have and old timber frame that I want to bug proof and stabilize and minimize shrinking and twisting during low humidity winters.
Boric acid (Timbor) solution soaking is reccomended for checking beetle infestation, and PEG (polyethylene glycol) for stabilizing moisture content. Anyone have any experience with either or both used on timber frames or old wood? would they be compatible?
Jim Fackert
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I haven't used it but I understand that the way PEG works is to replace water by driving it out and then take its place in the wood fibres. If your place is already old and cured I'm unsure that it would do much good.
The imbor is a good idea though. It protects against molds and fungus also.
*Jim, Piffan is right, you don't need peg. If they are old timbers and done drying peg won't do much for you. The timbers have already shrunk as much as they will and whatever checks/ twists and etc. are in those timbers will stay and peg won't fix them. If you have seasonal movement, try to drive in the pegs a little bit during the dry months and tap them out a little during the moist months. Borax or any chemical treatment only will affect that which it can get to. If you can't get to the critters they won't be affected. For example what if you treat it for infestation and somehow the eggs don't get touched. The next hatch will produce a whole new crop of bugs. Think of it as closing the barn door after the horse gets out. A visual examination should reveil any infestations. If there are signs of it, I wouldn't use the timber. Yes it might work, yes, maybe it will kill everything. But why take a chance on maybe? The main expense of a home is labor not material. I'd go buy some new timbers to replace any suspect ones. If you like the distressed look of old timbers that can be replicated. If you like the hand hewn look that too can be replicated. In fact with a little attention to detail the only differance between old timbers and new is the closeness of the grain. (It's pretty hard to replicate the tight grain of old growth timbers) Unless you can get some new old growth (which really isn't as weird as it sounds, just takes some effort. I bought oak timbers for my home and I was able to get a lot of trees that were well over 200 years old which makes them old growth.
*Actually frenchy the borates can gewt to the bugs. When theyu crawl through it they get coated and haul it home with them. Also Borates will move through the wood eventually via moisture wicking. They have dowels that you drill into the wood every six to sixteen inches depending on........Still I like new wood buut it sounds like this guy has a preexisting he's trying to save.
*Hi Jim, do a net search on a product called BORA-CARE. It is made by the Nysis corporation, I think. It is a glycol based borate. Not cheap, but good stuff. If I remember correctly the glycol base is adsorbed into dry wood easier than a water based product like Tim-bor. My termite guy say's the Bora-Care is one of the best products available but most folks won't go for the price. I couldn't afford it from him, "professionally applied" but he gave the basics and sent me to their web site, and recomended I treat the basement myself. But please, go check out their web site. It has been over 4 years since I did this little excercise. I know I am forgeting something. Bill
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I have and old timber frame that I want to bug proof and stabilize and minimize shrinking and twisting during low humidity winters.
Boric acid (Timbor) solution soaking is reccomended for checking beetle infestation, and PEG (polyethylene glycol) for stabilizing moisture content. Anyone have any experience with either or both used on timber frames or old wood? would they be compatible?
Jim Fackert