Thread: Imported timber fumigation temperature question?

Is the log still green? If it is and being a log it will most likely have a high MC, I think it's a fair question to ask, I don't know specifically whether it will be harmful or not, I had some dry stuff fumigated from NZ with no issues thus far, perhaps you can ask the fumigators more about the process.
Outline your concerns, they probably won't be able to be specific re potential timber damage but they should know whether the process has a low or high moisture content, the gas might be hygroscopic (likes water) which at a guess would be better than if it repelled water.



Pete

ETHYLENE OXIDES ARE APPLIED UNDER VACUUM NOT HEAT. Whoever told you otherwise doesn't know what they're talking about.

Methyl Bromides are used to fumigate in container and AQIS sets a mimimum loading of fumigant per container volume. It's the easiest most commonly used method for green timber treatment.

Sulphuryl flouride loadings are set based on ambient heat... the hotter it gets the less loading you need. I suspect this is what whoever spoke to you was thinking about.


Get them to arrange for kiln drying prior to shipment. It will need certification about MC reached, but that's not real hard for most kiln operators to supply. Once it's KD it doesn't need to be fumigated.

(Never imported timber, but we do export it)

Approved treatments for timber and wooden related products - Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

for more details.

Unfortunately kiln drying doesn't seem to be an approved treatment for timber that still has bark on it, and likewise methyl bromide also isn't allowed
Its either ethylene oxide, gamma irradiation or destruction of the whole thing (at my expense).

Thus far i'm still weighing up whether the final cost is really worth it for a burly log that needs to be slabbed up which could have internal voids or issues compared to just buying slabbed straight grained rosewood (where i can already see most major issues).

Decisions Decisions...i've still got another 3 months or so of saving left to go before i can really make a move either way, so there's a reasonable amount of time left to make up my mind, assuming the pieces i want aren't sold in the meantime and that CITES doesnt place them on the endangered species list haha

Unfortunately it will also depend on who looks at the load in Customs. I get small bundles sent through that are kiln dried with certificates but was still forced to have one gamma treated on one occasion - $40 for $80 worth of timber .

I've decided to buy a few already slabbed up pieces, though apparently they're only partially air dried, so that could cause issues.

I'll let you know as i go along how all of this develops.

Funny how it works, if you could bring it back in a suitcase, they would just look for visible crawlies, tap it on a piece of white paper and see if any fall out, then send you on your way