Hican

[SawyerBrown]

Had an inquiry about sawing up (live edge) a Hican tree. I had to look it up to find its a cross between hickory and pecan.  Assume that's done by grafting?  He says it looks like there's a graft, so should we cut the log there?  Apparently this thing is decent size, he says 22" at base. Thanks for any and all advice!

[WDH]

If you leave the bark on it, the boards need treating because powderpost beetles prefer pecan and hickory. 

[SawyerBrown]

OK thanks.  I know kiln drying will kill powder post beetles, but is there a chemical alternative?  Or other?

[WDH]

If you kiln dry and sterilize the hican, that will kill all bugs, larvae, eggs, etc.  However, if you put it in an unprotected place after drying and sterilizing, like a shed or a closed barn, they can still infest it post kiln drying.  If you spray it cut green, even after kiln drying, they will not be able to live in the wood.  I spray a solution of disodium octaborate tetrahydrate at a little more than 1# of powder to 1 gallon of water.