I'm into working with wood that I collect outdoors, but I'm worried about bringing in any potential bugs, especially powder-post beetles. I recently came across the Zappbug bedbug heater and was curious if anyone here has tried it for treating wood. I had been thinking about building a solar kiln, but if this bedbug heater works well, it could save me a lot of hassle. While I don't mind waiting for the wood to naturally dry, I just want to ensure it's free of bugs before bringing it inside.
1 Answer
A bedbug heater is basically just a heater like any other kiln. What you really need is a heater that can reach a high enough temperature. Just make sure to check the wattage of the bug heater you're considering. You'll also want an insulated area to minimize heat loss, so you can hit those target temperatures efficiently.
Haha, true! They say it can reach 155F, so I think that should work. I've noticed that when people talk about making indoor or solar kilns, they often mention airflow, but I guess that's more for moisture than actually killing bugs, right?