Good questions J. since rough cut wood will many times conceal all kinds of insects. Bark beetles are usually easy to see but other pests like CARPENTER BEES, CARPENTER ANTS, POWDERPOST BEETLES, BARK BEETLES and even TERMITES can be present. Pine isn't normally home to Powderpost beetles but there are some other small beetle species which like it so the list of potential problem pests is quite long for White Pine to say the least.  Regardless, it's easy to miss some activity any one tree may have since so many pests could be attracted to it. For this reason it makes sense to do some preventive treatment prior to the installation. This is especially true when the wood is to be kept large in size and diameter. Many pests will burrow deep into the timber, far beyond where Bark Beetles live, and are difficult to see or identify. Wood which is to be kept larger than 2×4's can easily conceal significant insect activity.

The good news is that products like BORACARE make safeguarding and protecting large wood possible. And by treating logs ahead of time, one can avoid a lot of hassle before the problem spreads. This unique product works so well because it penetrates wood getting deep down to the heart of the log where chewing and eating larva can do real damage. As explained in our POWDERPOST BEETLE CONTROL ARTICLE, it's not uncommon for different species of insects to live deep in the wood waiting to emerge when conditions get right. This might not be for years after the installation but during this time they could be doing all kinds of damage and destruction.

To avoid this happening, treat all rough cut lumber with BORACARE. It's easy to use as our video demonstrates but more importantly, once applied insects and destructive wood fungi won't stand a chance. Since this lumber is to be used inside, I'm sure one treatment will last at least 5-10 years. This will both safeguard it from future problems and be sure to knock out anything active at the time of the treatment. Once allowed to dry 48-72 hours, all treated lumber can be further processed and installed. True it takes longer to completely cure but you can handle and process the wood earlier if need be. Otherwise letting it sit for several weeks would be find too. The point is getting it installed insect free and well treated would be smart. We deal with so many cases where it's too late and the homeowner is confronted with some horrific options due to complex construction, the size of the lumber, etc. The bottom line is an ounce of prevention can go a long way here for sure.

Give us a call on our toll free 1-800-877-7290 for further details or to answer any of your questions but the videos we have posted combined with the detailed directions should be enough to get you treating without delay. Since you intend on "air drying" the finished wood, this fits in perfect with what one would do when using this product anyway.

It sounds like you have some kind of wood borer living in the piece and not termites. Borers will produce a powder when emerging; termites will expel droppings that are like pellets and not a powder. As our Powder Post Beetle article explains, there are several species of insects which eat wood. Larval stages (little worm like maggots) chew through the wood to get their food requirement. Once this requirement is met, they will pupate to adults and emerge. In most cases, the emerging adults will create a fine talc like powder that will be visible alongside the infested piece of wood. There will also be small exit holes through which this powder came.

There are two treatment options for this problem. One would be to inject some Baygon into all the holes you find. This is how furniture which gets infested can be treated and the same approach will work for hand carved wood statues too. If the piece is small, this might do the job quickly. If the piece is large, you might getter better results with the Jecta Gel. This product can be applied through the bottom of the piece into holes you can create by drilling into the base and then filling it with the Gel. Over time the Gel will permeate to throughout the wood and once the wood is completely treated, all the feeding larva will die.

In both cases there should be no impact on the finish or the piece except the damage caused by the infesting bug. Get rid of the pest and the piece should be savable.