Wood with termite (I think) damage - use or throw away?

**LarryLong** · 30th December 2011, 10:39 PM

Hi folks,

I've finally got around to starting a project (a big locker/chest for malibu surfboards) that I've been sitting on for a couple of years. The wood (macrocarpa cypress from memory) has been sitting out the back on some recycled plastic 'bearers' to keep it off the ground and keep the warping to a minimum.

Anyway, I was sawing and sanding today, and noticed a bit of damage to a few bits - what looks to my uneducated eye to be the work of termites. Here are a few pics:

Attachment 192816
Attachment 192817
Attachment 192818
Attachment 192819

I don't know a great deal about termites, so I'm wondering if I'd be OK to use this piece of timber if the damage is old or if the bugs are gone? Normally I would just turf it, but my box needs four 11 foot 'rails' and I only have four long pieces (a couple of which are warped too, but I'll just have to deal with that). The finish isn't overly important because it will be part of the inner frame of the box and won't be seen.

My long term plan is to build a big wooden box and put it on my hardwood deck, so I'm a little worried that if there are nasties in this wood I could be introducing them to my deck.

Any thoughts?

**Scribbly Gum** · 30th December 2011, 10:49 PM

Doesn't look like termites to me Larry. And if the timber is cypress then it probably isn't - white ants don't like it.
Maybe it's just some dry rot. Once you start cutting it you will soon see.
I'd try to salvage it.
Cheers
SG

**Acco** · 30th December 2011, 11:54 PM

Originally Posted by Scribbly Gum

. And if the timber is cypress then it probably isn't - white ants don't like it.

Actually, termites will happily munch away on Macrocarpa Cypress, cannot remember offhand at the moment but I think there is only one species of Cypress in Australia that termites won't touch and it certianly isn't Marcrocarpa of which is also not a native to Australia.

**LarryLong** · 31st December 2011, 12:03 AM

Cheers SG. I won't be cutting this one because I need the full length, but you could be right about the dry rot. It certainly looks a bit like some of the photos I see if I google it.

That's not something that will spread through the rest of the box, is it?

I've got a couple of bits that also had it - I'll post up a pic of one of the cuts and see what people think.

**Scribbly Gum** · 31st December 2011, 07:40 AM

Originally Posted by Acco

Actually, termites will happily munch away on Macrocarpa Cypress, cannot remember offhand at the moment but I think there is only one species of Cypress in Australia that termites won't touch and it certianly isn't Marcrocarpa of which is also not a native to Australia.

Thanks for that Acco.
Rot in timber is quite nasty and weakens it significantly. On its own it has the strength of wet paper.
It will need to be cut out of the pieces that you are using. You can salvage workable timber from this piece by ripping it longways, but the rotted parts are pretty much useless. If this leaves you short of timber Larry, you may have to find a little more.
Cheers
SG

**Maccotter** · 6th January 2012, 08:08 AM

Hi, subteranean termites need moisture and access to the nest to pose a threat to your timber.

Drywood termites can survive with out moisture. they live in small communities of approximately 200 indiviuals. A whole colony could exist in a single piece of timber.
I found a colony of native dywood termites in a 600mm lenghth of hardwood attached to a concrete pier.

**maitreya** · 1st February 2012, 10:17 PM

it doesnt look like termites to me.
if you can put a screwdriver through it then it could be termites.
it might just be the timber.cant tell.

here is my website to have a look at some termite damage check out the case studies.

www.termitesruncorn.com.au

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