Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Anybody KNOW about Thousand Cankers Disease?
Barry Irby
I have been offered some walnut in an adjacent county. Both counties are quarantined for Thousand Cankers Disease. I would like to have the wood and want to know how to handle it if there is a safe way.
Can I have it cut, sawed and kiln dried? And then use it?
Re: Anybody KNOW about Thousand Cankers Disease?
Don Stephan
Check with the two counties for best information. May be restrictions on even transporting within. Likely the kiln operation would have to be in one of the two counties.
Re: Anybody KNOW about Thousand Cankers Disease?
Tom Dunlap
Like Don says...its a local/state issue.
sometimes having any wood debarked...or...lumber milled to exclude sapwood.
Moving wood is the main vector for invasive species/diseases to move around.
Re: Anybody KNOW about Thousand Cankers Disease?
paul in AZ
Have you looked up your state's regulations?
Some states forbid transport of logs, lumber, firewood or any byproduct of infected trees. Recommendation is 'if you have it, burn or bury the tree'.
No point in becoming another Typhoid Mary just to save a few dollars.
Re: Anybody KNOW about Thousand Cankers Disease?
Barry Irby
You are absolutely correct, I will talk to the Forestry Dept. today.
I am wondering if anyone can tell if these trees are infected and if they are does running the wood through a kiln cure the problem. And does making furniture out of them risk spreading the disease?
The more I think about it the less interested I am. I need some thicker walnut for legs and such. It occurs to me I can buy the limited stock I need at exorbitant prices cheaper than buying 8 or 10 trees and having them milled. And, I get to pick and choose.
Call
Mark Mandell - Gone Round In New Jersey
your County Extension office.
T-C (a fungus??) is carried and spread by the (domestic) Walnut Twig beetle. It disrupts the tree's vascular system and the tree dies from the crown down.
The quarantine rules are usually for logs, bolt sections, unprocessed lumber, and sawdust chips/etc. Kiln drying will kill the bugs and (IIRC) the fungus. You'll have to find a kiln in the county where the trees are cut and milled.
Re: Anybody KNOW about Thousand Cankers Disease?
Don Stephan
Please let us know what you learn from the counties/state.
What I found out.....
Barry Irby
I made about a dozen calls and E-mails to various .....VA Tech Department of Forestry, County agent, Local Timber dealers, local sawmills, and some guy standing on the corner looking for a handout. I finally got the phone number for a scientist with the Va Dept of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Could not have been a nicer guy.
The answer is I can cut the trees and move them in the quarantined area from county to county as long as I do not go outside the quarantined area. Then, I can have the lumber sawed, all bark removed, and then kiln dried. Then I can move the resulting lumber any where without danger of spreading the contamination. Now to find a mill with a kiln.
You are overlooking a step-air drying
Bill Tindall, E.Tn.
You might find a kiln that will dry green lumber and the operators might know what they are doing and it might get dried without drying downgrade. Otherwise, you are going to have to arrange to air dry the lumber somewhere.
An alternative sterilization is steaming, something desirable to do to walnut if you can find a steamer, or make one by renting a steam jenny.
Why you are fretting about the quarantine is a puzzle.
Re: You are overlooking a step-air drying
Don Stephan
"Why you are fretting about the quarantine is a puzzle."
That statement is even more of a puzzle. Don't worry if diseases/pests can be spread by moving wood?
Re: You are overlooking a step-air drying
Barry Irby
I am puzzled also.
What do you mean? Should I not buy the walnut from the quarantined zone? Should I ignore the quarantine?
I did not know about the necessity to air dry first.
How is the steaming accomplished?
Re: You are overlooking a step-air drying
Bill Tindall, E.Tn.
It would be unrealistic to expect in a Forum post that I can explain the details of walnut steaming and how to ensure a small kiln drying operation doesn't screw up valuable lumber . Small kiln drying operations are notorious for screwing up individual's lumber, in my experience. The risk is greatly lessened if the kiln operator is presented with thoroughly air dried lumber.
Government rules are made to ensure the ignorant and disreputable don't cause harm. I would study the bug's life cycle and requirements. Mill and handle the lumber to preclude any risk of moving bugs. You are probably going to treat with borax anyway.