Pianotech

  • 1.  Wood worm

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-14-2016 18:28

    Hi folks,

    I have a client who believes several small holes in the inside of the case of his C3 may have been caused by wood worm. I have not been to see it yet but thought I'd send out a preliminary question to the list - anyone with experience in this area willing to share some of your findings re: identifying/remediating the situation?

    Thanks!

    ------------------------------
    Robby Rothschild
    Santa Fe NM
    505-603-7906
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Wood worm

    Member
    Posted 03-14-2016 22:11

    Where was the piano before its current location ? It is important to know but I would suggest you contact a local pest service perhaps one of the national names to get a good identification, I had a client here who brought a piano up from Florida. He told me in advance that it had some type of wood boring insect problem and that one of his keys was stuck in the down position. He also mentioned that I would think the piano had chicken pox because all of the little holes the borers created got filled in. Long story short the stuck key had been bored through almost as good as with a spade drill bit and the tunnel went through neighboring keys. In addition I noted active sawdust and saw a worm peeking out. The white powder under the keys was not teflon- it was powdered Sevin. I packed up my stuff and told him the best thing he could do was put it in hid yard and make a bonfire. When I explained the experience to a pest service expert at a local home show he told me that it was a wood borer worse then termites.  Proceed with caution and be careful where you set your tools.

    ------------------------------
    James Kelly
    Pawleys Island SC
    843-325-4357

    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Wood worm

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-15-2016 02:47

    Robert,

    I am an entomologist & piano technician.

    While a wood borer infestation can be a serious problem I have often seen wood borer holes inside piano cases that were from the wood used in manufacture and not from infestations. The only way I know to verify a borer infestation is to find active larvae or fresh frass (the white sawdust coming from bore holes).  Failure to treat the problem could allow the beetles to infest other furniture or the house fixtures.

    The piano could be treated with the standard termite and borer treatment using Vikane gas, but the treatment might be too expensive to justify treating the piano alone.  If the rest of the household is being treated including the piano in the treatment should permanently solve the problem.  If only the piano is to be treated it can be covered in a trap or enclosed in a small space (a rented trailer) and fumigated there.  Any qualified pest control company can do this.  Vikane has been thoroughly tested on household materials and is known to be safe for use around pianos.

    A museum might use CO2, nitrogen or low oxygen environments, but that can take weeks to work.  Both extreme heat and cold also work, but both might damage the piano.

    ------------------------------
    Blaine Hebert
    Duarte CA
    626-795-5170

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Wood worm

    Posted 03-15-2016 05:10
    Hi, Blaine,

    Thanks very much for this...very helpful.

    In case it matters, while I'm not sure about NM, in CA it's either heat
    or Vikane (with a tent, for five days) for house infestations.

    Robby, I wonder if there is any other indication of wood worms/etc
    around your client's home.

    Kind regards.

    Horace



    On 3/14/2016 11:46 PM, Blaine Hebert via Piano Technicians Guild wrote:
    > Please do not forward this message due to Auto Login.
    >
    >
    > Robert,
    >
    >
    > I am an entomologist & piano technician.
    >
    >
    > While a wood borer infestation can be a serious problem I have often seen wood borer holes inside piano cases that were from the wood used in manufacture and not from infestations. The only way I know to verify a borer infestation is to find active larvae or fresh frass (the white sawdust coming from bore holes). Failure to treat the problem could allow the beetles to infest other furniture or the house fixtures.
    >
    >
    > The piano could be treated with the standard termite and borer treatment using Vikane gas, but the treatment might be too expensive to justify treating the piano alone. If the rest of the household is being treated including the piano in the treatment should permanently solve the problem. If only the piano is to be treated it can be covered in a trap or enclosed in a small space (a rented trailer) and fumigated there. Any qualified pest control company can do this. Vikane has been thoroughly tested on household materials and is known to be safe for use around pianos.
    >
    >
    > A museum might use CO2, nitrogen or low oxygen environments, but that can take weeks to work. Both extreme heat and cold also work, but both might damage the piano.
    > ------------------------------
    > Blaine Hebert
    > Duarte CA
    > 626-795-5170
    > -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    > Original Message:
    > Sent: 03-14-2016 18:28
    > From: Robert Rothschild
    > Subject: Wood worm
    >
    >
    > Hi folks,
    >
    >
    > I have a client who believes several small holes in the inside of the case of his C3 may have been caused by wood worm. I have not been to see it yet but thought I'd send out a preliminary question to the list - anyone with experience in this area willing to share some of your findings re: identifying/remediating the situation?
    >
    >
    > Thanks!
    > ------------------------------
    > Robby Rothschild
    > Santa Fe NM
    > 505-603-7906
    > ------------------------------
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Wood worm

    Registered Piano Technician
    Posted 03-16-2016 00:51

    Thanks to all of you for your ideas. I will obtain more info from the gentleman whose piano it is and be in touch.

    ------------------------------
    Robby Rothschild
    Santa Fe NM
    505-603-7906

    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Wood worm

    Member
    Posted 03-16-2016 21:34

    I do recall the client stating that he had the piano treated in Florida. I also remember the frass deposits and the side of the case feeling hollow. When I saw those little things peaking out of holes in the piano I packed up. The pest guy told me that they have had the frames on pictures hanging on walls totally hollowed out. Even if I could treat a piano I am not sure I would want it in my house or advise someone to get it treated. How can you be 100 % sure you got all of the worms, grubs, larvae ? It will be interesting to know the history of the piano if it can be documented.

    ------------------------------
    James Kelly
    Pawleys Island SC
    843-325-4357

    Original Message