Woodworm?

[tyred]

I have a few lengths of 2" x 3" timber that I bought several years ago, and then didn't need at the time. It was stored in a shed at home.

I was planning on using some of it to make a workbench for my shed.

I spotted a few small holes when I was starting work on it this evening. I've drawn arrows to mark the holes. (Ignore the X as I was going to drill holes.) I've examined the rest of it and can't find any other holes.

Does this look like woodworm have started on it and is it safe to use? My shed is timber after all. I don't want to risk it getting infected.

 

[Anthony-C]

That looks very much like woodworm. The holes are where the larvae emerge and fly off to eventually lay eggs invisibly in more timber. It's best to treat inside the shed with everything still in it; what you should do if it doubles as your workshop (and breathing space) I don't know.

 

[tyred]

That is what I feared.

Just to clarify, the shed where the wood has been stored for about five years is an old stone farm building of indeterminate age. It's probably a lost cause anyway.

I was going to use the wood to make the frame for a workbench for my new wooden shed. I prefer not to risk infecting my new shed with woodworm.

 

[si_c]

If you're removing it from the old shed, take it out, treat it and it'll be good. It might be old woodworm that's already been treated and is fine anyway.

 

[Webbo2]

The dry the environment the better. I once asked a cabinet maker friend who was doing renovation on a friends French barn conversion had he treated the obvious wood worm infestation. He pointed out all the wood was now dry and said “ Would you eat dry food”

 

[oxoman]

Just treat it and you should be OK. New timber is supposed to be WW resistant / treated, you can always treat the new shed. Either paint on or use like a weedkiller sprayer. Plenty of ventilation required when do it though. Worth checking old building and possibly treating that as well.

 

[tyred]

Thanks folks.

It looks like off to B&Q tomorrow for some treatment.

 

[PeteXXX]

'Woodworm' used to be my CB handle when I delivered furniture 🤷‍♂️

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

I was going to use the wood to make the frame for a workbench for my new wooden shed. I prefer not to risk infecting my new shed with woodworm.

I'm no expert but have never regarded woodworm as a big "infected" threat. Rot & fungus (wet and dry rot) yes but worm not so much.

Easy to treat (particularly in softer wood) and it takes a lot to start structurally impacting most things eg my house:


Even deathwatch beetle. Got a bit more worried when I started finding a new different type but identified them as steely blue beetle which rather than eat the wood instead their larvae live in deathwatch holes and they predate on the deathwatch larvae (so good to have around).

 

[biggs682]

It looks like off to B&Q tomorrow for some treatment.

Never heard of going to B&Q for treatment before

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

It looks like off to B&Q tomorrow for some treatment.

Never heard of going to B&Q for treatment before

General rot and word treatment widely available from many retailers (eg in 1L size https://www.ronseal.com/products/woodworm-killer/) many other brands. I'd be avoiding B&Q own brand (Diall, Goodhome, etc.) stay with a reputable brand even if slightly more expensive.

 

[tyred]

It's all good a good wet coat of a Cuprinols product now. I have some left over so may as well give it another coat later.

The infection risk is probably low enough but may as well play it safe.