Plum (prunus) sapwood borers

[stuckinthemud]

I collected a plum stem today - free from a really nice guy - but when I started to split it there came out clouds of wood dust, the cambiium has been completely eaten away. I have no idea of the history of the wood, but I suspect a standing dead stem.  There don't seem to be any galleries beyond the sapwood.  I will cut off all the damaged timber but then what should I do?  The heartwood seems in pretty good shape but I don't want to introduce this timber to my wood store until I know its residents are all gone.

[stuckinthemud]

Also, if you were me, bearing in mind he has a barn full of timber,  would you tell him?

[DC]

Don't know about heartwood only Plum but I would tell him. Nicely

[Pat B]

I would tell him also so he can decide if he wants to treat his lumber or not or even his barn. I'd want to know if it were mine.
The only plum bows I've seen were sapwood from right under the bark but I've never used it myself.

[Hamish]

Some guys paint a solution of borax on the timber to keep the bugs away. Not sure if its effective if the bugs have already got in.

I always debark my timber to reduce the likelihood of bugs.

If the plum isn't totally  dry I would re seal the back with some glue. Dense fruitwoods like to check on the back.

[stuckinthemud]

Spent a few hours rasping off the damaged timber, no way it will make any limbs but stunning colour and figuring for risers, etc.  Any thoughts on white vinegar as an insecticide?

[DC]

They'll probably want salt and ketchup too

[stuckinthemud]

To go with  the chips they've made?

Ooh, there's a play on words that only works on this side of the pond.........

[DC]

We have fish and chips in Canada. I think Americans have French Fries. Actually we have both. I find it hard to find a difference

[stuckinthemud]

Fries are skinny, chips aren't

[Hawkdancer]

Depends on which type of pub you go to, sometimes the chips are really French fries( which aren't French). Some place call chips streak fries, but mostly chips in the States are super thin.  As long as the fish is cooked right it doesn't matter, but hold the vinegar, please !
Hawkdancer