Ridding wood of insects - any suggestions !!

[woeco]

Hello nice people !!

I have been carving wood spirits, etc. in large (cut up) sections of cottonwood - approximately 12-16 inches in diameter and 36-48 inches in length. Although dead for some time some of the pieces are home to various insects -most being small wood bees.

Any suggestion on how to rid the wood of these critters would be greatly appreciated - cant really get these peices in a microwave. Most of my carvings are left outside but a few are being placed indoors -- thus my need for eliminating the bugs. I finish these carving with 3 coats of Polyurethane Gloss Varnish.

Happy carving to all !!!!

WOECO

[Colin-Partridge]

You could try spraying them with bug spray to rid them of the wood bee's. I would think that the three coats of varnish would kill the bugs anyway and seal them inside. Never had a problem with insects that is to my knowledge I usually just coat them with the finish and have never had a problem. I am sure there is someone here who may have had the same problem as you and will advise you better than I can.
Colin

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I had a piece of ironwood that was full of termites, I put it in a garbage sack and filled the bag with exhaust from the car.....then to be positive, I put it in the freezer for about 2 or 3 days.....no bugs! which one worked? I haven't the slightest idea LOL

[Irish]

Hi Woeco,

I really can't suggest anything for the insects that are already there but may I offer an idea for the future. Wood Bees love pine, nice sappy pine to create their nests. Around our area because the honey bee is in deline due to a virual infection wood bees are very important for polination. So we hang 12" to 18" pieces of white pine around the areas of the house to offer homes for them. Perhaps by offering your wood bees a nicer apartment complex they will chose to relocate?

Susan

[Hugh]

Just got to add my five cents worth. You need two pieces of scrap wood, 6" long, and 2" wide by 1" thick, label the two blocks A and B, catch the bug place it on block A, and squash it with block B. It works every time.

[Kenny_S]

Great Idea HUgh. Do you think the same method would work for the little bride?

[don]

I think Hugh's method would work for anyone. If your bride can catch the bugs surely she could squash them. Hammer don Wink

[Irish]

Now my Michael says to go to the store, buy several boxes of moth balls. Put the carving and the moth balls into a large air tight bag. Then let it sit for several days. He calls it "The poor man's method of fumigation!" After everyone is dead the carving won't smell very good for a while but at least it will not be saturated with chemical insecticides as from a liquid or spray.

Susan

[Goody]

I read an article on carving driftwood a few years ago. Freshwater driftwood seemed to be a problem for the author. Larve can live in wood for years before it hatches. She had bought a used microwave oven and nuked her wood before carving it. I have used Mikes method but emptied a can of raid in the bag instead of moth balls and left it sit for a month and then dry out for a month. I used to use driftwood for the bases of some of my duck carvings.
Goody

[Hugh]

Lol, Lol, Lol, Lol