50 Handy Tricks

Step 34 Kill Termites by Freezing

I water jet cut some shelf brackets from ash, then realized there were still live beetles in the wood.
I had fantasies that the insects would chew through them, dropping my axe collection on my head.
Then Jesse Hensel told me a trick his dad used. Just put the wood in the freezer and the insects will die.

Comments

[ssouthard]

some times that will not kill them lots of bugs can survive freezing
look up Torpor and Diapause

[hjjusa]

Microwave the wood

[Speidumb]

What you need to do is soak the boards in chocolate... then, when the termites die, they become a great chocolaty evening snack!

[Goislesgo]

i don't know about you, but i think i would AT LEAST remove the ice and food while doing this.

[jesse.hensel]

My father usually seals the wood in a plastic bag, but that just isn't Tim's style.

[ThePyroManiac]

Hmm, He probably should have, I wouldn't like having chunks of wood in my fridge with termites in it :p

[_soapy_]

Just like the ants in 10. ;-)