REPAIRING TURNED OBJECTS WITH BUG HOLES

I recently acquired a stash of 6/4 ash and thought I had a treasure. Then I discovered that it had a lot of damage from bugs, probably powder post beetles. I decided that I could at least make some platters, but after turning one side, I could see that something had to be done with the bug tracks and holes.

Here is a picture of some of the blanks. They are 1 ½’ thick in the rough.

I am putting each piece into the microwave oven before turning so I can be sure all the bugs are dead.

After cutting all the blanks I saw that I had a large amount of sawdust under my bandsaw.

I decided that the sawdust needed some color, so I wet it with water and then added some analine dyes.

I mixed white glue into the dyed sawdust so I could add it to my turned piece.

I used a rubber glove to force the glued sawdust into the bug holes.

Then I put the piece back into the lathe so I could sand and finish the surface.

After sanding it was necessary to add some more glued sawdust to fill any area that I missed the first time. Then I finished the back and gave it one coat of super blonde shellac.

It is now ready to go into my bowl chuck so I can turn the inside face of the platter.

I now put the piece into my bowl chuck to turn the inside face.

I was surprised that there were almost no termite tracks on the inside. I decided to leave the inside face as is. This was a fun project, and now that I have done one of these, I know I don’t have to throw away a piece of wood just because it has bug holes and tracks.

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!