black walnut

[Dave Boyt]

Dave THANK YOU for your insight. I will read your posted link to better inform myself. All the lumber I have has not been through a kiln. Do you know if a solar kiln would get hot enough to do the job? (Building a solar kiln is on the to do list for later this summer).

The wood needs to be at least 135 degrees F long enough for the temperature to reach the center of the boards for at least an hour to kill the bugs. Higher that most solar kilns, though you might be able to reach and maintain it long enough in the summer. Might be able to supplement the heat with a wood furnace. As far as I know, the beetles are in the cambium layer just under the bark, so shipping slabs with the bark on is especially risky. Part of the problem is it takes years for an infected tree to start to show symptoms, so even a healthy walnut tree can harbor the beetle.

If a tree is found to have the disease, all walnut lumber from that county and surrounding counties is quarantined by the USDA. That should give you an idea how seriously they take it.

Thank you for your interest!

 

[Nato]

I never knew walnut could have epidemic diseases like other specie of trees do. I would hate to think that I contributed to the spread of something like this. Ahhh, much to learn so little time. Thank you again, Nate O.

 

[rarefish383]

Rarefish my wife has 16 in as of now. She just had her "tune up" knee surgery. Jumping in and out of trucks for 9+ hours a day isn't easy on a man let alone a woman. She's a tuff chick though. Thank god for good health care.

Yep, both of my knees are shot, and my left hip is about gone from favoring the knee. I'm lucky I work in a big hub where we work round the clock. Four years ago I got lucky and got a job in the yard shifting the trailers. During the peak at night we have at least 15 shifters going. Five us are full time shifters that never leave the yard so we don't have or need CDL's or DOT's. Saved my career, Joe.