little live worms in stock blank

[RMann]

A friend gave me a maple blank, as a "practice blank" for my first scratch build.  It is a nice piece of maple, but showed a little evidence of worms, and he didn't know if they were still active.  I figured it would be good practice for inletting a swamp barrel, drilling a ramrod hole, inletting a lock and trigger, etc. for the first time.  If it worked out and worm holes minimum, that is fine for me in a plain smr.  Today in cutting out a profile, I found fresh trails and 2 worms. They are a tiny variety, and leave threadlike trails.  I found no evidence while inletting the barrel and ramrod channel, but they are at least in the lower stock.  Anyone have any experience in this area?  We are getting into freezing temps here, so I could try to freeze them but they might just go dormant... I may find a kiln operator who could "cook" the little buggers....  Any ideas?
Thanks in advance,  RMann

[Jim Chambers]

They're most likely powder post beetles.  Freezing won't work.  The best solution I have found is to saturate the stock with lacquer thinner.  I usually spray my inventory of stock blanks once a year with lacquer thinner as a preventive measure.

[Scota4570]

Petroleum ether (hot start for engines) kills bugs and leaves no residue.  I'd make a heavy duty foil wrap that is sealed with tape.  I would then empty a can through little holes in the foil.  Tape  the holes closed and let it marinate for a couple of days, outside for sure.  Do not unnecessarily expose yourself to the vapors.  They will knock you out too and are explosively flammable. 

[WadePatton]

I killed some in Ash with acetone.

I would suggest if you undertake to do the same, don't use nail-polish flavored acetone as I did. That stuff reeks for weeks, or longer.

Won't know how far they got until I pare it down to final dimensions. Was no evidence of them in the barrel channel or lock mortise.  I wouldn't mind a track or two when finished.

[redheart]

"R",
You're lucky. My friends wouldn't give me a stock blank unless they were certain that it had active worms in it!

[RMann]

Thanks for your quick responses!  I'll wrap it up with one of your suggested solvents tomorrow.  I'm glad this stock may be salvageable,  and hopefully the holes will be few..   Thanks again,  RM

[LilysDad]

I heard a story once about a guy who made a headboard for himself with wormy wood he thought he had sanitized. At night when trying to go to sleep, he could hear the sound of chewing.

[Bob Roller]

Maybe these bugs can be trained in the fine art of inletting the contours of a lock mechanism.
Bob Roller

[BOB HILL]

mr. Bob, I’ve seen a few that looked like some that were not that fully trained had inlet them.

[jmf]

Borax solution should work then tent or wrap in saran wrap.