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How do you protect your guitar wood from insects? http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=33864	Page 1 of 1

Author:	LaurieW [ Wed Oct 12, 2011 10:51 pm ]
Post subject:	How do you protect your guitar wood from insects?
Well, I just looked through the wood pile and noticed a small insect hole in my very special figured claro walnut back. Then I noticed the myrtle back below it also had small "trails" on it too. Looks like something decided to eat and run as the trail was a couple of inches total. I know these were perfect when i put them there and even even a few months ago. I did see a small (say 1/8") white blob that upon closer inspection looked like a larvae of some kind of insect. The shop is a 16 x 20 stand alone garage, heated and humidity controlled as best I can. Any ideas? No major damage this time, but it could have been a real PITA. Thanks, Laurie

Author:	ernie [ Thu Oct 13, 2011 9:20 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: How do you protect your guitar wood from insects?
Laurie don/ t know where you live in canada , When I first came to LA moths ate through an expensive jacket, I put in tennesee red cedar to repel them . Did the same to keep bowbugs from eating the horsehair for vln bows . In canada you could try western red cedar, it might work. If you have an infestation in the wood . Freezing the critters for several days will kill them , and then there are special chemicals one can inject with needle into the infected wood

Author:	Kevin Waldron [ Fri Oct 14, 2011 8:04 am ]
Post subject:	Re: How do you protect your guitar wood from insects?
Kiln drying!!!!!!!!!! Tempatures over 140 degrees for extended time kills most....... freezing want kill all bugs........ Nor will Tennessee Aromatic Cedar...... cedar also has pest of it's on..... live in Tenn. kevin

Author:	ernie [ Fri Oct 14, 2011 8:15 am ]
Post subject:	Re: How do you protect your guitar wood from insects?
kev never seen a pest in tenn cedar here in KC or LA or st louis. Do they move south for the winter?

Author:	David LaPlante [ Fri Oct 14, 2011 8:27 am ]
Post subject:	Re: How do you protect your guitar wood from insects?
This sounds like it could be Powder Post beetles, in which case you might have a larger problem than just guitar wood. The cure for this is to tent the structure and fumigate with ethylene bromide which of course needs to be done professionally. Are there any other little holes around with "dust" at their entrances?

Author:	Mike OMelia [ Fri Oct 14, 2011 8:58 am ]
Post subject:	Re: How do you protect your guitar wood from insects?
Keep mine indoors. But, those trails sound like termite trails. Just for safety, call a pest control service and have them inspect.

Author:	David LaPlante [ Fri Oct 14, 2011 11:14 am ]
Post subject:	Re: How do you protect your guitar wood from insects?
Mike, termites require very specific temperature and humidity to survive and thus live in a closed system. Those dirt tubes that you see on the surface of a cement foundation that lead to the wood parts of the house are what they need to survive. Unless wood is kept in contact with the ground or some other way they could build a bridge to it. I think termites are unlikely as the cause here.

Author:	Mike OMelia [ Fri Oct 14, 2011 4:31 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: How do you protect your guitar wood from insects?
Good point David. I like a good mystery. Here is an interesting link on powder post beetles: http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef616.asp The take away point I got from that is that the burrowing is done INSIDE the wood. External evidence is "shot holes" where the beetles emerge as adults. But the description of the damage I read in the OP was about surface damage. So, if not termites (and their damage does resemble that described by the OP) then what else? I'm no expert. Just asking. My suggestion would be to see if there are any holes in the drywall (assuming there is drywall) where termites could be entering. This would hide their pathway. And any damage behind the wall. I assume that would be the bigger concern. Mike

Author:	Mike OMelia [ Fri Oct 14, 2011 4:38 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: How do you protect your guitar wood from insects?
OK, after looking at more pictures, and finding out that the beetles are a problem in Canada, I'm beginning to believe it's that. Since the damage occured between two boards, it could make sense. Probably, the boards were already infected? Mike

Author:	B. Howard [ Fri Oct 14, 2011 7:21 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: How do you protect your guitar wood from insects?
How thick is the wood? 3/16" tops and such? Doubt the beetle larvae could be contained in pieces that thin.at least the ones I've seen. Had a house we built several years back, timber frame with reclaimed floors. Flooring was not kilned as it was over 100 years old. It had powder post beetle larvae in it. They ate a good bit till we got em eliminated. Call an exterminator and have the whole building checked out.

Author:	Larry Drover [ Fri Oct 14, 2011 9:23 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: How do you protect your guitar wood from insects?
Hey Laurie...LMAO at some of these replies...You got some bugs from the States...You live in Labrador..Wait a couple of Months for the temperature to hit minus 40 and cut the heat....Should take care of your problem....

Author:	Eric Reid [ Fri Oct 14, 2011 10:48 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: How do you protect your guitar wood from insects?
Powder post beetles are the devil. I'm not saying that they're like the devil. They are the devil. Where I live, we have all kinds of nasty, wood eating bugs. We have tropical termites that can live in wood (even dry wood), without access to the ground. We have the other termites, too. We have carpenter ants, and carpenter bees. We have long horn beetles, and we have powder post beetles. Count your blessings, but I gather that Canada has powder post beetles, too. The small hole they make when they deposit an egg is not too bad. Cut the wood open a few months later, and it looks like an ant colony. Heat is a good suggestion. Window screens. Listen. Move to Antartica. Avoid suicide. Powder post beetles are attracted to the smell of shellac.

Author:	truckjohn [ Sat Oct 15, 2011 7:45 am ]
Post subject:	Re: How do you protect your guitar wood from insects?
With thin guitar plates - you could try putting them in the oven set on "Warm" for a couple hours.... The 150-170F temps in an average home oven are plenty to kill whatever is in there.... Thanks

Author:	LaurieW [ Mon Oct 17, 2011 8:31 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: How do you protect your guitar wood from insects?
Thanks everyone.....I'll keep an eye on it. The plates are about 3/16", and no other sign of holes with sawdust. This feels like an isolated event, but it gives me a reason to pull the wood out of the pile regularly and inspect/tap/smell/admire it. ( I can't be the only one who does that...right?) I checked the sides too, and no issues. Could just be a remnant of my older garage, but if there is a sign of anything else, I'll call the only pest control company in town. I'll probablt try to freeze the wood just in case! Laurie

Author:	Steve Davis [ Tue Oct 18, 2011 7:04 am ]
Post subject:	Re: How do you protect your guitar wood from insects?
Spalted Maple or Koa anyone? Termite damage Attachment: P1000799 (640x480).jpg Attachment: P1000805 (640x480).jpg

Author:	Michael Lloyd [ Tue Oct 18, 2011 12:09 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: How do you protect your guitar wood from insects?
Try ORTHO Defence Max http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/2/OutdoorLiving/MosquitoPestControl/InsectControl/PRDOVR~0593601P/Ortho+Home+DefenceMax+No+Pest+Strip.jsp?locale=en I've have one of these in the workshop for years and have no pest problems. Inexpensive and easy to use.

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