Can you ever be too careful?

ATLGA · August 29, 2013, 12:21:57 PM

We kiln dry all our lumber with a heat treatment at 160 to finish. We just recently got a load of logs with some Powder Post Beatles and my partner with a background in the tree service industry wants to spray the logs with Cyfluthrin or Bifen. He hates those things and says we shouldn't let them survive any part of processing.
Thoughts ?? :P :P :P
Thanks fellas!!!

Ianab · August 29, 2013, 12:28:57 PM

The heat in the kiln will kill the bugs better than any spray, and no chance of chemical residue causing issues later on.

Also, PBB beetles only infest dry wood, they don't attack green logs. You may have bugs in the green logs, but they are a different species, and will probably die as the wood dries. The kiln just makes this 100% certain.

Ian

dboyt · August 29, 2013, 12:50:25 PM

Quote from: Ianab on August 29, 2013, 12:28:57 PM
The heat in the kiln will kill the bugs better than any spray, and no chance of chemical residue causing issues later on.

Also, PBB beetles only infest dry wood, they don't attack green logs. You may have bugs in the green logs, but they are a different species, and will probably die as the wood dries. The kiln just makes this 100% certain.

Ian

I agree with Ian. If you can hold 160, you'll kill whatever is in the wood. No need for chemical treatment. I'm not familiar with the chemicals you named... do they penetrate through the entire board? I've had PPB in the house and believe me, I hate 'em too!

drobertson · August 29, 2013, 01:09:35 PM

If this chemical is proven, and your business partner wants to do it, then I would say do it, if it is cost effective. I don't know too many of us that saw that like any bugs, they are a nuisance, I know I will douse logs that are known to harbor ants with a good mix of soap water, just to keep them from the mill and area in general. david

Tom the Sawyer · August 29, 2013, 09:15:34 PM

If you treat lumber with anything aren't you required to label each product with MSDS info or something similar? Like those little tags stapled to the end of every pressure treated board you buy?

ATLGA · August 30, 2013, 09:29:46 AM

Hey fellas thanks for all the input. We haven't decided to use the chems yet. I just wanted to see what other minds thought about it. We dont have any problem heat treating the wood. I think my partner just wants to be proactive and has a background in treating trees that have these bugs.

dboyt · August 30, 2013, 09:52:54 AM

Last summer, it was so hot here in Missouri, I think the trees were heat treated on the stump. Unfortunately, a lot of trees died, but the bugs didn't.

Migal · September 02, 2013, 07:14:14 PM

Quote from: dboyt on August 30, 2013, 09:52:54 AM
Last summer, it was so hot here in Missouri, I think the trees were heat treated on the stump. Unfortunately, a lot of trees died, but the bugs didn't.

I would have to say in East Texas that statement is true also.
I treat my lumber while sawing with diesel fuel as a lube. ;D