Repairing an old workbench - Part I - Wood grubs

**Theodor** · 9th April 2009, 02:10 AM

Well I can hardly say that the bench is an antique, but I trust there is a good brains trust in this forum section to help me. I recently moved into a new house that has a European style workbench in the back shed (so the plans to build a Roubo bench gets shelved again). I have moved the bench into the garage where it'll get a lot more use than in a cramped shed. Unfortunately a lot of firewood is kept in the back shed, so there is some sort of grub which has got into the wood.

As you can see in the attachments below, the grub is pretty small. I live in central Europe, so if anybody has any knowledge of such grubs, then please let me know. As you can see, the holes are only 1-2mm in diameter, and it leaves a very fine dust behind. .

My question is, how do I remove the bug? The less important question is how do I deal with the damage?

The majority of the damage is on the underside of the table, so the damage itself is not a problem. However, getting the bug out is my main concern to avoid further deterioration of the wood.

Once I have dealt with the bug, I will sand the legs and flatten the top, then finish it all (not sure about this at the moment, hence Part II to come).

Thanks in advance.
Mark

**dr4g0nfly** · 9th April 2009, 08:08 AM

Looks like standard woodworm to me, we get them her in the UK as well. the clean 2mm exit / flight holes give it away.

Do you want the bad news or the BAD news,

The bad news is you can get rid of them but the chemical involved is not very nice and you have to squirt it into each hole you can find.

The BAD news is that these are the flight holes, the timber below the surface is very likely riddled with trails. Give it a couple of good whacks with a hammer (use a scrap to protect the surface, just in case) and try to work out how bad the infestation is. If you put a sheet of newspaper underneath you should catch the wood dust that you shake loose - the amount of that might also give you an idea how bad it is. If you sand, cut or plane the surface back you'll just reveal even more of the tracks I'm afraid.

Nah - I've not finished yet - now go check your rafters, floorboards and any other structural woodwork you can see.

Do you want the good news - you just might have to build your Roubo bench yet.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings.

**echnidna** · 9th April 2009, 10:04 AM

If you can soak it in turps overnight the turps will get into all the insect galleries and kill the eggs as well as the insects.

You might be able to roll it around and soak a section at a time.

You could soak it in petrol with the same final effect but its a bit more flammable so you need to take care.

**Theodor** · 9th April 2009, 05:55 PM

Originally Posted by echnidna

If you can soak it in turps overnight the turps will get into all the insect galleries and kill the eggs as well as the insects.

You might be able to roll it around and soak a section at a time.

You could soak it in petrol with the same final effect but its a bit more flammable so you need to take care.

Soaking the entire bench would be rather hard. Fortunately the holes are mainly just in the middle section of the front of the bench. I will lay a few rags soaked with turps on it as a start.

**koala** · 9th April 2009, 08:02 PM

Hello

I found a page that describes the problem and some solutions - for those that can read Slovene

They offer chemical and/or bilological and the NEW method of electomagnetic waves!!

(which eliminates any toxic materials being used). I don't know if it works but that's what they say.

See the link below.
http://www.promin.si/hylotrupes/unic...sko.htm#lesvin

Happy worm hunting.

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