Anyone ever worry about or have a termite problem in militaria?

[RelicHunter]

Sometimes there is old wooden items, coming from god knows where and they may show signs of termites or other wood eating bugs. Anyone ever deal with this? Anything safe to ensure they're gone?

[Paul R.]

Sometimes there is old wooden items, coming from god knows where and they may show signs of termites or other wood eating bugs. Anyone ever deal with this? Anything safe to ensure they're gone?

There is only one way to stop termites is a commercial fumigation. It's the last ditch attempt to stop them. How ever it takes quite awhile to complete the cycle. The items have to be placed in a air tight tenting and then slowly adding the fumigation chemicals. After several months the fumigation has to be neutralized adding on several weeks to complete. The cost is high due in part the process has to be monitored by a professional exterminator. A couple of museums that I worked in the past has used fumigation process with great sucess but was very costly.

[RelicHunter]

I have an item that shows signs of once housing powderpost beetles (tiny pinholes in the wood caused by larvae boring). While not nearly as destructive as termites, I want to make sure they no longer exist in this piece. I can't see any of them anywhere in it, but it makes me a bit nervous.

[Paul R.]

The eggs can take awhile to hatch out and emerge. I wouldn't store that item(s) anything else. Best to call and professional exterminator

[Steve Sherlock]

If the item isn't too big, wouldn't freezing work?

Steve

[Paul R.]

Freezing usually will not kill all the eggs off. Some museums that I have worked at have tried that method with limited success.

[Stahlhelm]

This is one problem I'm happy to say I've never had! While freezing might do the trick, I can't be sure of what adverse effects that could also have on the wood. Even a professional exterminator might only choose to expose it to an insect killing chemical--another treatment I'm not sure about. This is a tought one.

Chris

[RelicHunter]

My father refinishes antique furniture for a living, and told me that he runs into signs of powderpost beetles all the time. But after thirty years of experience, he has never come across live beetles or eggs. Its always been old damage.

[Michael Fay]

I have an item that shows signs of once housing powderpost beetles (tiny pinholes in the wood caused by larvae boring). While not nearly as destructive as termites, I want to make sure they no longer exist in this piece. I can't see any of them anywhere in it, but it makes me a bit nervous.

Now this strikes fear in my bones.
Having a massive collection of all types of paper in books, etc. I have over time realized I am always bringing home new threats of the bug type with every new find, be it shipped from Europe or a garage sale or found in pile next to a trash can in the city(yes, there are rare books and magazines to be found in a trash pile sometimes).
Anyway, I have found cellulose eating bugs in them and once evidence of a boring bug that fits the description above as a powderpost beetle.

Not exactly loaded with the deep pockets of a museum, all I could do was triple bag them with hundreds of human brain damaging mothballs for 3 weeks to 3 months or more depending on my own feelings as to damage, etc.

This may not be kosher, but I dont have much options I reckon.

[juoneen]

I had a hand carved cane with those in it once, I took it outside sprayed it with brake cleaner in every hole,(being careful to wear a face shield in the open air, so it wouldn't get in my eyes and lungs , and wore gloves ), then let it sit till it dried, then used one of those oil less compressed air cans with capillary tube attachment that comes with it, for cleaning keyboards for a computer into each hole, and after that used a vaccume cleaner with a soft round brush attachment to vacuume it all over, and after that bagged it in a plastic garbage bag wrapped in tape on top to seal out any air, and still later be able to remove the plastic bag easily ,and let it sit in the hot sun for a few days outside in the summer , and they were gone. The bugs Left the cane with an interesting look, as it was carved faces all over it, but now with tiny holes in every one....kinda gave it that wormy chesnut look , and then it was able to go back into the house with no problems.