I just picked up an entrenching tool for pretty cheap. It's in relatively decent displayable condition and will suit that purpose just fine. But since I got it off the Internet, I failed to notice the little holes in the handle. Apparently there was 6 or so little holes from some sort of borer. Now I could freeze this, but winter doesn't seem to kill bugs that effectively. But I remembered something from high school agriculture class. If you dip the abdomen of an insect in any sort of oil, they suffocate and die. So if I put boiled linseed oil in the holes, would this stop the potential issue I may have? I don't know if the holes are old or new. Plus the handle is pretty dry and I don't think a little oil will hurt it. Any ideas?

Thanks, Mike

I would soak the whole handle in boiled Linseed oil, it can't hurt and will go along way to restore.

I would soak the whole handle in boiled Linseed oil, it can't hurt and will go along way to restore.

I took an eye dropper and filled the holes and let it soak in and repeated a few times. I figured they would drown or suffocate if there is any in there.

If you know someone in the extermination business, ask them to place it in the next house they fumigate. It will take care of the problem with no damage to the wood.

If you know someone in the extermination business, ask them to place it in the next house they fumigate. It will take care of the problem with no damage to the wood.

I had thought about some kind of chemical, but I hadn't thought of that.

As long as the homeowner, or the company is good with it, and it's identified as yours, go for it!

I wonder if I took a 5 gallon bucket with a lid and stuck the entrenching tool in it with a capful of Malathion and sealed it up. If I'm not mistaken, the fumes actually do the killing by affecting the nervous system. It smells like hell, but should do the trick without affecting the shovel.

hi

looks like woodworm to me.

you can buy woodworm killer at any hardware store in small or big cans.

at least you can in the uk its called rentokill or cuprenol.

hope this info might help.

On many of my items, most of these holes tend to be from a long time ago. Before you go dipping and gassing make sure it is a case of recent infestation. If not you could be wasting time on long empty trenches!

On many of my items, most of these holes tend to be from a long time ago. Before you go dipping and gassing make sure it is a case of recent infestation. If not you could be wasting time on long empty trenches!

 

True. But I don't want them moving from the trenches and waiting 20 years and starting another World War on my preservation effort.

hi

woodworm travel around as a grub in the wood for about an year before emergin as a small beetle.

look for fresh sawdust around june and july thats when they come out of the wood.

thats also

when they mate and lay eggs on the wood they hatch and the grub starts boring back into the wood.

and the cycle starts all over again.

a small can should be enough for your handle.

IIRC they are called Powder Post Beetles here in the states.Powder around holes=beetles, linseed oil would not hurt.

Okay, now here is the best way to get results without using chemicals. Take all of the medal off the handle, cut the handle in three pieces and place the pieces in a microwave oven for three minutes, on HIGH. DONE..NO MAS Pests!!

Okay, now here is the best way to get results without using chemicals. Take all of the medal off the handle, cut the handle in three pieces and place the pieces in a microwave oven for three minutes, on HIGH. DONE..NO MAS Pests!!

LOL! Do you think I should recycle the metal?

OH NO!!!! Don't break up the group!