woodworkers extraordinaire

**fletty** · 12th June 2009, 07:03 PM

This week I had a face to face encounter with woodworkers far more diligent and persevering than any of us ... shedotermes (?) ,,,,
I went into my study, to my rolltop desk, my pride and joy, rolled back the top and there were HUGE cracks in the top and these cracks had frass inside them. I reached for the first drawer, which is an extended writing surface, and I couldnt open it. I took the top off and, there they were .... termites. I traced the path back to the wall, bored a hole into the wall, and another, and another ... the damage now extends to 3 downstairs rooms and the experts are coming next week to see how far they have gone.
Traumatic? yes you bet, I am worried sick about my desk!
I have brushed off the mudtracks and tunnels that were patiently created to get to the juicy bit which was obviously the writing top as you can see below, sprayed on a preservative to the other affected bits and, as soon as it is politically correct to do so, I will make a new one.
It's not been a good year so far ..... but next week IS Sydney WWW ....
Fletty

**wheelinround** · 12th June 2009, 07:38 PM

The House that Fletty built .

I'm heading out into the bitter cold night with spray can in hand to spray my Rosewood and Oregon.

Allan not good guess we know what will be the next woodworking project............after the wood show.

**orraloon** · 12th June 2009, 08:56 PM

Fletty,
I know how you must feel. I had them eat out a fair bit of frame around my kitchen. Only found them as the roof was starting to sag and the gyproc was cracking. They dont take long when they get started. I got away with only one rooms worth of damage. Hope the damage is not too extensive.
Regards
John

**jimbur** · 12th June 2009, 11:37 PM

It makes you feel sick when you find them. I've just replaced 5 out of ten floor joists in the hall so know how you feel.
Jim

**Durdge39** · 12th June 2009, 11:52 PM

Good tip for the lot of you: don't be so hasty and hating towards the presence of black ants in your walls. They may come out now and again, might even get into your sugar, but they do no harm, and kill termites.

**Buzzard** · 13th June 2009, 09:15 AM

This thread is so boring!

I lost an interior wall in my house... could have been a lot worse if it hadn't been spotted in time. Almost lost my shed at the farm as well but they mainly amused themselves eating my pine bench which tipped me off before they could get serious with the hardwood framing!

Buzz

**jimbur** · 13th June 2009, 11:40 AM

the thing to remember is that they aren't as fussy eaters as some people think. they ate the hardwood joists, made a mess of the baltic pine flooring even had a go at the lino covering it. I just wonder if there really is a timber they won't touch if they get the urge.
Jim

**jimbur** · 13th June 2009, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by Durdge39

Good tip for the lot of you: don't be so hasty and hating towards the presence of black ants in your walls. They may come out now and again, might even get into your sugar, but they do no harm, and kill termites.

When you pull an infested piece out, it is good to see the black ants eating the buggers

Jim

**AlexS** · 13th June 2009, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by jimbur

I just wonder if there really is a timber they won't touch if they get the urge.
Jim

Not according to the pest control bloke who did our old place (after the other pest control bloke said it was termite free

). They just have preferences eg, they won't take on cypress if there's something more palatable, but if there isn't, they're into it.

**Buzzard** · 13th June 2009, 05:22 PM

They seem to turn their little noses up at turpentine and white mahogany but as you say, if that's all they've got, they're into it! Think I'll emigrate to the U.S.

Buzz

**fletty** · 13th June 2009, 05:59 PM

Thanks for the support guys, I have found more damage today

so I'm now going to stop looking

!
I have been unloading the study, mine and my late fathers photo collections, about 250,000 original aircraft photos and slides, hundreds of aviation books, thousands of aircraft, aircraft scale modelling and woodwork magazines.
So far, other than the desk, none of the contents have been damaged.
My remaining hope is that as I do have black ants in the roof, the stories ARE correct and they have kept the white ants downstairs.
Don't worry Ray, the rosewood and oregon were kept only in the shed and it is unaffected. In fact, plan D has us living in the shed if the damage requires a major rebuild!!
I'm about to open a nice red, clean and cheer myself up, and watch the Rugby.

Fletty

**Tex B** · 13th June 2009, 06:02 PM

Fletty, that is as sad a story as I've ever heard. Termites in the house, well, that's tough, but in the roll top desk!! How dare they!

Unfortunately, Buzz, the US also has termites. Probably anywhere there is wood ...

Tex

**Buzzard** · 13th June 2009, 06:13 PM

Originally Posted by Tex B

Unfortunately, Buzz, the US also has termites. Probably anywhere there is wood ...

Tex

You're kidding? I would have thought that Obama would have waved his mighty hand and got rid of them!

Buzz

**wheelinround** · 13th June 2009, 06:36 PM

Originally Posted by fletty

Thanks for the support guys, I have found more damage today

so I'm now going to stop looking

!
I have been unloading the study, mine and my late fathers photo collections, about 250,000 original aircraft photos and slides, hundreds of aviation books, thousands of aircraft, aircraft scale modelling and woodwork magazines.
So far, other than the desk, none of the contents have been damaged.
My remaining hope is that as I do have black ants in the roof, the stories ARE correct and they have kept the white ants downstairs.
Don't worry Ray, the rosewood and oregon were kept only in the shed and it is unaffected. In fact, plan D has us living in the shed if the damage requires a major rebuild!!
I'm about to open a nice red, clean and cheer myself up, and watch the Rugby.

Fletty

Not to many Red's those white ant's may look that way in the morning.
Allan I'd get al the stuff into storage for safe keeping
no dancing upstairs

one of thee comes to mind

**Frank Drew** · 14th June 2009, 12:44 AM

Yes, we have termites in the U.S., but I've never heard of any so aggressive or fast working.

I feel for you, brother Fletty, I really do; it must be very depressing.

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