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Paul Q · July 22, 2023, 06:57:38 PM

Hi I'm new to posting on this site I have spent a lot of time reading other post and I admire the knowledge on this site. So my first question is are ppb more likely to infest into live edge lumber ? Second question is it possible to tell how dry the lumber is in a dehumidifier kiln by the humidity level? I do own a pin type moisture meter which I use but just curious
Thank you in advance for your feedback

Don P · July 22, 2023, 07:53:19 PM

Hi Paul, yes, they are more attracted to sapwood, that is where the starch they feed on is.
If it has been in there for a year or so at a constant RH yes, it should be at emc with that humidity level, short of that it would be speculation.

Paul Q · July 23, 2023, 06:59:58 AM

Ok thanks for your time

K-Guy · July 24, 2023, 08:15:01 AM

You can get an estimate by humidity level but if you have a pin type meter it's better to do a core and surface check, then average them.

Better than that, use sample boards and make sure you do it correctly.

Stephen1 · August 04, 2023, 01:50:47 PM

Welcome to the FF Paul Q
Are PPB in live edge? Maybe depends on bark, but you tend to find more insects under the bark . but I have seen PPB out of regular lumber no live edge.

Ianab · August 04, 2023, 08:11:59 PM

Quote from: Paul Q on July 22, 2023, 06:57:38 PMSo my first question is are ppb more likely to infest into live edge lumber ?

A little more likely because even in species that are considered bug resistant, the sapwood can be vulnerable, and any live edge has some sapwood. Other species that are not bug resistant, the grubs can attack the heartwood anyway, so the risk would be the same.

One thing about the PPB is that they attack dry wood, they won't be in green fresh cut stuff, Other bugs maybe, but those ones don't like dry wood. A heat treat period in the kiln is the way to make 100% sure, but a DH system won't get hot enough, so people add in heaters / heat lamps so they can turn off the DH and just crank the temp up for the last day. After that how the wood is stored is what matters, Keep it away from any wood that might have PPBs in it, The bugs don't travel very far, so keeping things tidy with no scrap wood for them to live in reduces the risk of infestation.

Paul Q · August 07, 2023, 03:42:49 PM

Thank you all for your help the ppb seemed to be mostly in the sap wood. I was able to get my kiln to 140 for 24hrs so I should be good I only had 4/4 and 6/4 in the kiln. I have to seal up my kiln better so I can reach the 150 thanks again
Paul

K-Guy · August 08, 2023, 10:59:17 AM

Quote from: Paul Q on August 07, 2023, 03:42:49 PMThank you all for your help the ppb seemed to be mostly in the sap wood. I was able to get my kiln to 140

140°F is fine for hardwoods but higher is better for pine to set pitch.

Sod saw · August 14, 2023, 08:20:48 PM

.

K-Guy,

In your experience, what is the best temperature to set pitch and for how long should that temperature be held for the pitch?

.

Don P · August 14, 2023, 08:44:40 PM

I've measured 180 on blistering shingles on the mirror side of heat mirror glass. 150 in transit in a truck. The SYP gristmill in the back of a box truck has probably seen 130 back there and must have seen more in its past. I'm thinking about adding a little more heat and be able to kill anything in there. Windowsills get hot if they are looking at the sun, any trims or siding. And then the hotter the better if you are rubbing sandpaper on it for more than a second. It depends on service.

K-Guy · August 15, 2023, 08:11:45 AM

@Sod saw

In a DH kiln 160°F for
4/4 depending on how sappy the wood is. For low sap woods 24 hours, more for pine with more sap like SYP. The best is to put in full dimension scrap boards, pull one out at 24 hours, allow it to fully cool, then cut it in several places to see if the sap has crystalized, if not go longer(12 hours) and test again, repeat till it's done.

sawwood · August 19, 2023, 10:11:30 PM

I have some white oak that I put in my solar kiln after it was air dried for a year. The oak is 5/4 thick and about 200 bf. I had the wood in the kiln for about 4 months. When i checked it was reading about 9 %. So i planed it and let it set in the shop for a week. When i looked at it some of it had little piles of sawdust on some of it. I think this is PPB in the wood right. Now if so how can i treat it to kill what is in the wood ? I had planed to use it to make kitchen chairs but not now. Let me if i can treat it or burn it.

Stephen1 · August 20, 2023, 08:36:05 AM

If you can heat it up to get the core above 133F or more for a few hours you will be okay.

K-Guy · August 21, 2023, 08:13:12 AM

According to the USDA, if you have a core temp of 133°F for 45 minutes, no bug or fungus can survive. I use 24 hours at 140° as a way to be sure you have reached that in 4/4 wood. It's probably overkill but better safe than sorry.

YellowHammer · August 21, 2023, 08:25:35 AM

Heat it up, kill them all. I do 150 for 24 hours.

K-Guy · August 21, 2023, 08:48:17 AM

Robert, you are such a tough guy!!!

smiley_jester

YellowHammer · August 21, 2023, 09:10:45 AM

Yep, bugs is bugs and bugs in wood is bad.

Makes it virtually radioactive.

Had another customer come in this weekend asking about bugs, we usually get one or two a week who buy "other people's wood" but then come to us asking for help when their "other" wood has problems. :

They were asking what they could do about some of their hickory flooring they bought from a local mill that had "little volcanos of sawdust" erupting from the flooring shortly after it had been installed in the new house they were building. I said call your insurance company, a good lawyer, and next time buy your wood from us.

sawwood · August 21, 2023, 12:39:00 PM

It has been hot here in Mo. My shop has been in the 115 Deg last week and going to be this week. So I stacked the oak on stickers and added a small heater blowing threw the stack. I hope this will kill them bugs. I have the window fan off so any wet heat can leave the shop.

customsawyer · August 22, 2023, 06:47:27 AM

I doubt if that will be enough. Most small heaters turn off at about 104°. You need to get the core of the lumber above 133° for sterilization.

sawwood · August 22, 2023, 10:41:13 AM

I have checked the shop a couple of times yesterday and the heater has been running ok. The shop temp has been almost up to 118 deg. i checked this morning and the wood is down to 9.9 %. is the core of the wood need to be 133% ? I do have my shop heater but I don't really want to run it. Can you spray some type of PPB killer on the wood to kill them?

Stephen1 · August 25, 2023, 08:13:32 AM

You can spray what ever you want , but it will not kill the bugs or the eggs until you get the core temperature of the wood up to the recommended 133F .

scsmith42 · August 25, 2023, 08:40:48 AM

Yes, you can treat the wood.

Personally there is no way that I would intentionally introduce ppb infested wood into my shop. Too much chance that the PPB's will infect the other wood in my shop!

You can easily make a home made sterilization chamber from foam board and a space heater. About 14 years ago there as an article in Fine Woodworking magazine about doing so. I'll send you a PM with a copy of the article. It's pretty simple.

You don't need to leave your windows open, as at 9% humidity there won't be much moisture coming out of the wood.