[AT] OT - Powder Post Beetles

[Mattias Kessén]

Sounds like you got some good advice. I can tell you one story. At our home Magdalena found some dust one day and called me at work. (we have holes at all places mostly very old some was there before the lumber was sawed more than 100 years ago especially. In the part of the barn where they kept the cattle some beams are all holes at the surface but solid as a rock inside. You get dust allergic if you dust them but can't get a nail through!) Back to story, so I checked with some friends and googled. I found out that there are one kind of theses bugs that likes not heated places like summerhouses that get's cold in the winter and yes, this places has been used asa a summerhouse in the late 70's and all of the 90's prior to this finding. Further more I learned that the dust could stay within the wood and don't get out till it's get humid and expands. This was in a very humid autumn/late summer.
    So when I got home I looked at it and saw some holes with dust that was apparently old, darkcoloured. I later confirmed this with a friend that examines houses before take overs. Since then no signs.
    I have no idea what kind of bugs you have over there we have several and the most dangerous ones are the ones you hardly see any sign off until to late. Anyway my advice would be to get certain and have a second opinion/price before I spend 1000$.

/Mattias


----- Ursprungligt meddelande ----- 
Från: "CEE VILL" <cvee60 at hotmail.com>
Till: <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Skickat: den 13 juni 2004 14:29
Ämne: RE: [AT] OT - Powder Post Beetles


> 
> Rob,
> I would suggest you google this beetle and see what you can learn about it, 
> possible on a Cornell University site or other university site. You should 
> be able to learn what evidence indicates current activity, if any, then make 
> your decision based on your new knowledge combined with your current 
> observation of the beams.
> 
> 
> Older homes with hand hewn beams are fairly common in our area.  When I sold 
> (or attempted to sell) real estate some years back, it was not uncommon the 
> see these beams that looked pretty compromised on the surface.  If the beams 
> looked to be carrying their load well, out simple test was to take a pocket 
> knife or other sharp instrument and push it into the wood to see how far to 
> solid wood.  1/2 inch to 1 inch of punky surface is not a lot of loss in a 
> 12 inch timber.  Some of these may have been hanging around the basement for 
> 150 years, so that is to be expected.  How would anyone know if a particular 
> beam was hewn from an already dead tree and the beetle holes were in the 
> tree before it was put in place as a beam??  I have seen bore holes in new 
> lumber at the lumber yard.  The junk isn't always sorted out.
> 
> Just my $ .02 worth.
> Good luck,
> 
> Charlie V.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> >From: Rob Gray <Robgray at epix.net>
> >Reply-To: Antique tractor email discussion group 
> ><at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> >To: Antique tractor email discussion group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> >Subject: [AT] OT - Powder Post Beetles
> >Date: Sun, 13 Jun 2004 07:15:24 -0400
> >
> >Please excuse the off topic posts, but here is another. I had an 
> >exterminator company come out to look at the house.  In the basement the 
> >inspector found evidence of powder post beetle damage. I now believe that 
> >this damage is at least mostly old because my dad says that these pencil 
> >point sized holes in the old hand hewn beams have been there at least since 
> >1950 when my granpa bought the house. Does anyone on the list know how I 
> >can tell if this pest is currently living in the wood? The exterminator 
> >wants $1,000 to treat the beams, but I don't want to pay if the damage is 
> >old and the bugs are no longer there.
> >
> >The inspector had me real nervous with their description of the potential 
> >damage that these bugs do, so I signed on to have this treatement done, but 
> >now I'm having second thoughts and might want to cancel....
> >
> >Any advice from folks who have had experience with this type of bug would 
> >be greatly appreciated.....
> >
> >Rob Gray
> >NE PA
> >
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