Wood protection

[ghostwriter]

I am working on a way to "heat treat" wood using supper heated steam then allow it to slowly cool down. I don't know if it is a good idea or a bad one but I do know steam is not heavily regulated. Wood treatments are...

[Justloadit]

I am working on a way to "heat treat" wood using supper heated steam then allow it to slowly cool down. I don't know if it is a good idea or a bad one but I do know steam is not heavily regulated. Wood treatments are...

I am no expert, but logic tells me that the heating of the wood with the steam would kill off any insects living in the wood, however this would not be a life long solution, once the water has evaporated out the wood, it would be open for contamination again.

An interesting off shoot of the wood steaming, is that the wood becomes malleable and moulded into shapes which you could not do when in its dry state. During the cooling and drying period, you must maintain the shape you wish the would to remain in.

[Julius Tristan]

In that matter, stains and varnish keep your wood safe against termites. But, I guess it would be better to ask from an expert pest controller. I have known also a spray that would keep away woods to termites. It is borate solution.

[Julius Tristan]

I don't have any idea about this kind of problem. However I want to have some explanation about wood protection.

[Semon]

You can get suggestion from pest exterminators.

[Justloadit]

I have found from experience, that for wood that is to be outdoors, use linseed oil. I made the grand mistake of using varnish, but the african sun bakes the varnish to the point that it cracks and peels off exposing the wood to the moisture and insects.

The wood absorbs the linseed oil, and maintains the wood moist and keeps the insects out. Unfortunately you have to apply the linseed oil every 6 months or, but believe me, it is the best solution, this is recommended due to my experience.

To date though I am not sure which is the better one - raw linseed oil, or boiled linseed oil.
i found this interesting article on linseed oil

[CLIVE-TRIANGLE]

I have found this to work exceptionally well, and application is a doddle
http://www.timberlife.co.za/diy/ctx.htm

[Marq]

What period would that work for - I believe most poisons only last for up to a 3 month period?

[CLIVE-TRIANGLE]

I have no idea Marq.