Restoring old barn Timbers

[Yellowhair42]

Might be able to sand blast them using a very fine medium/powder. Have seen it done for homes in Colorado using walnut or pecan hulls too.

^This is the way to go. Fine glass bead or baking soda is not too agressive.

 

[sawtooth]

What is something good to use to treat for bugs? Since they will be in the house i want to make sure its safe to use.

Thanks

 

[TomSeller]

What is something good to use to treat for bugs? Since they will be in the house i want to make sure its safe to use.

Thanks

What kind of bugs? Around here we have boring beetles in old timber. Not something to be ignored.

 

[KUBOTA OWNER]

I own a cabin that was remodeled, and the former owner used a couple of old barn beams that look
great. They were never sealed or sanded. -- still can find some bird do do on them. -Well the problem is
what they call powder post beatles. These will leave very small holes in the wood about 1/32" in dia.
When they feed on the wood they leave very fine sawdust the we find on the coffee table ect. --- Each season there is a hatch of adult beatles that can fly, they don't bite and we just vacuum them up, they only hatch for about two weeks. ---I have watched an episode of this old house where they discused the same problem. They talked with an entomologist about how to rid the beams of the beatles. --- They desided to heat the beams to 160F and keep that temp for 24 hours so the heat would penatrate the beams. They built a vis-screen tent out side and with a salamander heater with a thermostat they did it. --Made sense to me. ---- I have thought about starting up the wood stove and stripping down on a hot july day!! Ha --Good luck

 

[TomSeller]

There is a treatment for insects in the timber such as powder beetles.

http://doyourownpestcontrol.com/timbor.htm

I don't know about having this done in your house, but I had it done in an exterior building.

 

[jhasafety1]

I used to restore wood decks and would use Wolmans Deck Bright. It is a peroxide based cleaner and bubbles up and raises dirt and weathered wood off. Rinse with a pressure washer and it will look like new wood but will still have it character. I brought decks back to life that the owners gave up on years before. Give it a try and you will be amazed.

 

[Arkaybee]

There is a treatment for insects in the timber such as powder beetles.

Timbor Insecticide

I don't know about having this done in your house, but I had it done in an exterior building.

Timbor is sodium tetraborate which is borax.

Read a pretty thorough investigative report of potential hazards/or not here:
Getting to the Bottom of Borax: Is it Safe or Not? | Crunchy Betty

HTH

Arkaybee

 

[cletus99]

Timbor is sodium tetraborate which is borax.

Read a pretty thorough investigative report of potential hazards/or not here:
Getting to the Bottom of Borax: Is it Safe or Not? | Crunchy Betty

HTH

Arkaybee

Timbor is Disodium Octaborate Tetrahydrate. Not exactly the same as Borax. Timbor is an insecticide. The chemical makeup of Timbor is Na2B8O13.4H2O and Borax is Na2B4O7.10H2O.

 

[brin]

Google Borax and Boraxo....for insects...You can buy Boraxo at Walmart in the Grocery Section and other stores as well....works for termites and all other insects...at least for us...

 

[TomSeller]

Timbor is Disodium Octaborate Tetrahydrate. Not exactly the same as Borax. Timbor is an insecticide. The chemical makeup of Timbor is Na2B8O13.4H2O and Borax is Na2B4O7.10H2O.

Any concerns on barns and sheds?