How to kill bugs in cutting board?

[sawdust]

I pulled some logs off my log pile to turn into lumber to make a cutting board, but naturally there are bugs in the wood... So, since this project will be a cutting board and in contact with food, what is the best way to kill the bugs and not kill me from cross contamination :-) ?

In the past I've put smaller pieces of wood in a microwave to zap the little suckers who might be burrowing away inside. The wood I have prepared for the cutting board won't fit in a microwave...

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Morris Dovey]

[e-mail] wrote: | I pulled some logs off my log pile to turn into lumber to make a | cutting board, but naturally there are bugs in the wood... So, since | this project will be a cutting board and in contact with food, what | is the best way to kill the bugs and not kill me from cross | contamination :-) ? | | In the past I've put smaller pieces of wood in a microwave to zap | the little suckers who might be burrowing away inside. The wood I | have prepared for the cutting board won't fit in a microwave...

Well, the general rule says that if the work grows beyond the limitation of the tool, then it's time to shop for a larger tool - in this case, a bigger microwave oven... Perhaps it's time to seriously consider one of the combination microwave/convection units...

OTOH, you might consider another approach to the problem and build the contraption used for steaming wood in preparation for bending - and just steam the little buggers right where they are. If you can get their burrows up close to steam temperature, they (and their eggs) shouldn't pose any future problems.

-- Morris Dovey DeSoto Solar DeSoto, Iowa USA

[Jay Pique]

If bugs in wood too porous hold germs use good bugless wood enjoy good cutting board. JP

[sawdust]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking, but wasn't sure if there might be another solution... I guess the wood I had planned for a cutting board will be used for something else... Thanks for the input!

[sawdust]

I like that rule :-) ...

Another fella suggested using better (non-bug) wood. I think I'll go that route and fumigate/soak/microwave/radiate this wood for something else...

That's a good idea. Do you know if there are (free) plans for this on the net somewhere. I think I've seen steel pipe with fittings and stuff in a magazine that mentioned building a steam contraption...

[Lee Michaels]

You can always chop the little bugs up and throw them in the chili.

Before all you chili fanatics get upset with me, that was a joke.

But I just can't imagine making something that comes into contact with wood out of something with bugs crawling around in it. I would go to my friendly neighborhood wood dealer and buy some fancy *BUGFREE* hardwood. How much are materials costs for a cutting board? It can't be that much.

[<marierdj]

What type of wood was it?

[Morris Dovey]

[e-mail] wrote: ||| I pulled some logs off my log pile to turn into lumber to make a ||| cutting board, but naturally there are bugs in the wood... So, ||| since this project will be a cutting board and in contact with ||| food, what is the best way to kill the bugs and not kill me from ||| cross contamination :-) ? ||| ||| In the past I've put smaller pieces of wood in a microwave to zap ||| the little suckers who might be burrowing away inside. The wood I ||| have prepared for the cutting board won't fit in a microwave... || || Well, the general rule says that if the work grows beyond the || limitation of the tool, then it's time to shop for a larger tool - || in this case, a bigger microwave oven... | | I like that rule :-) ...

Me too - and this one is probably easiest to get SWMBO actually help establish precedent (a true double win).

| || Perhaps it's time to seriously || consider one of the combination microwave/convection units... | | Another fella suggested using better (non-bug) wood. I think I'll go | that route and fumigate/soak/microwave/radiate this wood for | something else...

Ok, but there're no challenges in that approach might as well just buy a sanitary mildew-resistant plastic board

|| OTOH, you might consider another approach to the problem and build || the contraption used for steaming wood in preparation for bending || - and just steam the little buggers right where they are. If you || can get their burrows up close to steam temperature, they (and || their eggs) shouldn't pose any future problems. | | That's a good idea. Do you know if there are (free) plans for this | on the net somewhere. I think I've seen steel pipe with fittings | and stuff in a magazine that mentioned building a steam | contraption...

Lee valley offers a no-cost (hmm - probably like the catalog is a "no cost" item) booklet that provides useful info. They've also made it available on-line at

anyone too impatient to wait for the postal service.

I've never steamed wood, so can't speak to the quality of the info - but, considering the source, I'd expect it to be fairly good.

-- Morris Dovey DeSoto Solar DeSoto, Iowa USA

[sawdust]

Pecan.

[sawdust]

I also thought plastic would be less resistant to microorganisms, but the following research shows wood beats plastic...

wood have thought...?

[DZIN]

Depending on the size of the pieces you intend to use in the cutting board, you could microwave them. That will kill,but not remove the varmits. The amount of time in the microwave would also depend on the wood's size and density. Try some pieces at differing lengths of times. It's not the heat that kills, so don't over do it. Just fairly warm to the touch should be sufficient.

As an aside, I like to warm completed wood objects > I pulled some logs off my log pile to turn into lumber to make a

[Morris Dovey]

| I tried it only | once AFTER application of Watco. The wife was NOT happy. Took | several heat cycles and some vinegar baths to deodorize the | conventional oven.

Trying to stay somewhat close to the OP's question - and because the wood in question is pecan - I'll add that it's NOT a good idea to try microwaving fresh pecans - the folks who make puffed wheat and puffed rice would've been proud of me. I discovered that a little bit of pecan can go a long way.

-- Morris Dovey DeSoto Solar DeSoto, Iowa USA

[Charley]

Morris,

Chesnuts will do the same thing in a microwave.

[george]

Put them in your freezer for a week.

[<marierdj]

Put them in your freezer for a week.

Sound like a good idea, In this neck of the wood some bug hibernate. I just got some firewood in from the outside at below freezing temperature. Once inside the bugs, if any, will feel the heat and come alive again.

[bent]

[lwasserm]

I've never tried it myself, but maybe you could put it in a regular oven at 200d or so. Be worth testing to see if it adversely affects the wood, anyway. Other than that I can't think of any method that doesn't involve chemicals. I wonder what kindo f machine they use to irradiate food?

[fredfighter]

It's been done with a Cesium source. It could be done with X-rays I suppose. There are already X-Ray units used to promote crosslinking of polymers, like electrical insulation.

[Andrew Barss]

[e-mail] wrote: : I pulled some logs off my log pile to turn into lumber to make a : cutting board, but naturally there are bugs in the wood... So, since : this project will be a cutting board and in contact with food, what is : the best way to kill the bugs and not kill me from cross contamination : :-) ?

: In the past I've put smaller pieces of wood in a microwave to zap the : little suckers who might be burrowing away inside. The wood I have : prepared for the cutting board won't fit in a microwave...

Personally, I'd put the stuff right back on the woodpile (or maybe directly into the fireplace), go to a wood store, and buy proper kiln-dried lumber without bugs in it.

But I'm funny that way about insects in my food.

-- Andy Barss

[George E. Cawthon]

Heat kills, you don't necessarily need water (steam). If this were summer all you would have to do is wrap the boards in clear-translucent plastic and set them it in the sun for a few hours. Heck, you could set the boards in my car and it would be hot enough to kill the bugs.

You could wrap the boards into a package with visqueen covering it and run a tube from the car exhaust into the package. Between the heat generated and CO it shouldn't take more than 15 minutes to kill everything. OTOH, if your boards are that buggy?