Cleaning out borer channels

Todd · May 10, 2012, 12:10:53 PM

I have some dried Ash that is full of borer channels..(not EAB..down in the wood) I like the look, but the chanbers are hardened and cleaning them out with an awl or knife could wreck the natural texture..too hard for a medium bristle brush. Any ideas on how to get the sawdust/bug doo out of these chambers?

T Welsh · May 10, 2012, 06:03:37 PM

Todd. I run into this a lot with live edge Walnut slabs. Compressed air from a blow gun works pretty good. I have tried wire brushes they work also, you will have to sand a little after using the brush though. Your right using a scratch awl is to slow. Petrified borer dung is some hard stuff. Tim

Todd · May 11, 2012, 07:32:29 AM

I ended up using a dremel with a drill bit to remove alot of it..felt like a mad dentist. By gently using the sides and end of the bit i could remove the dung in the channels without damaging the wood. also found that the small bit pushed into the wood replicated worm holes nicely.

metalspinner · May 11, 2012, 09:13:51 AM

Have you tried wetting the frass?

Once it's moistened, a quick shot of air should dislodge the contents. Use a solvent rather than water if you're worried about moisture content.

Lud · May 12, 2012, 06:05:26 AM

Bumping up the energy level, try a high pressure washer or even a sand blaster. In either case, come in from a distance watching to see the effective range.

I recently washed some wormy chesnut barn beams and it washed out the worm holes pretty well. It even revealed the original lay-out lines around some mortises. ;)