I have some poplar boards , from the recent group buy, that have powder post beetles. There are also a few red oak boards with beetles holes in the sapwood. I have isolated these boards, OUTSIDE my shop while I decide if this wood is worth the risk of trying to save it.
From the entomology reports I read, the holes just show where the last crop of adults have left the wood. The adults tend to exit in the Spring. They leave their eggs and larvae behind. The larvae stage lasts about a year. The eggs can continue to hatch for several years.
Treating the surface with Boracare or similar products, will kill the adults as they exit. It might penetrate far enough to kill some of the grubs. But it has little effect on the eggs. So These boards are still a risk for a couple of years. You won't know if they are all dead until several Spring-times have passed and there are no new holes or piles of dusty frass.
You can cook the boards in a kiln. But that is not an option for most of us.
Would you risk keeping this wood ?
From the entomology reports I read, the holes just show where the last crop of adults have left the wood. The adults tend to exit in the Spring. They leave their eggs and larvae behind. The larvae stage lasts about a year. The eggs can continue to hatch for several years.
Treating the surface with Boracare or similar products, will kill the adults as they exit. It might penetrate far enough to kill some of the grubs. But it has little effect on the eggs. So These boards are still a risk for a couple of years. You won't know if they are all dead until several Spring-times have passed and there are no new holes or piles of dusty frass.
You can cook the boards in a kiln. But that is not an option for most of us.
Would you risk keeping this wood ?