Homebrew Wood Rot & Insect Treatment

[@sheemondallasgeorgia]

Please do not be depressed about turning 40. I am turning 70 this week. Much to be thankful for. A lot to be happy it is over and done, never to be through it again, and much trepidation of what is ahead. Be thankful and happy for the gorgeous life you are living, and continue to do good by others. I cannot wait to see you machining again. Simon

[@kevinhornbuckle]

SheemOn Dallas Hear hear.

[@billwessels207]

Getting old is definitely not for sissies (72)

[@Denzie53]

Steve, now that a couple of years have passed, it would be helpful if you could do a follow-up video showing how this glycol/borate treatment is holding up over time.

[@burtreynolds3143]

I would also like to see if it kept the mold away. I've tried similar concoctions but always coated them afterward to keep them from washing off.

[@markwatters6875]

Mate, don’t stress it! 40 is just a number. Ya young, ya fit and ya got a good family. Look after yourself and your loved ones. Happy Birthday, Happy Anniversary and keep on doing what you do. All the best from Australia mate.

[@tedmattingly7564]

We're Michigan people and just this past weekend made the 8 hr trip to the Upper Penninsula to Pictured Rocks and the leaves are turning beautiful. Happy Birthday to you sir. According to the Dr's and my cancer, I don't have any options left for treatment and I'll be lucky to make it to my 45th Birthday. Here's to a very good 40th Birthday for you, and excellent anniversary for you and your lovely wife and a 60th (WOW) to your parents. All amazing feats in this day and age. I feel privileged to have celebrated 20 yrs with my amazing wife this year too. Thankfully my son was able to make it home from Korea where he's stationed to spend a little time with me too. Congratulations to you and your family sir and I'll be praying for many more great years for you all. Cheers

[@kevinhornbuckle]

Ted Mattingly Bless you and your family.

[@SteveSummers]

So sorry to hear that, hopefully things will improve. Life is a wonderful gift. Sharing it with the people who you care about is really all that matters. I wish you the best. My hope is that I can get my children raised.. everything after that is a bonus.

[@tedmattingly7564]

@@SteveSummers kids are things to not mess around with

[@MRCNC1967]

It's mid-October and Steve is standing over a cauldron making up a potion and stirring it with a "magic" spoon, then he bends glass with his bare hand, spooky! And on a side note, all that lumber leaning up against the wall just over the window is making me very nervous. Minute 14:30 wood gone, phew! AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO YOU AND YOUR FOLKS! 40? "You're just a kid" is what mom would say!

[@bigclivedotcom]

I've come across that wood treatment recipe in the past. I'm not sure about the boiling though, as I would expect the excess boric acid and borax to precipitate back out as it cooled down. I have some I made here using plain clear ethylene glycol with just as much boric acid and borax as would dissolve in it naturally at room temperature. I've not used it yet, so It'll be interesting to see how your test of it works out. I have used the diagonal hole technique and a spray bottle to deeply soak wood with preservative.

[@SteveSummers]

It all stayed in solution very well. I didn't notice it fall out at all. I was very surprised given the amount of solids vs liquid. Seemed stable. Hopefully it works, it should. Great to see you Clive 👍

[@bigclivedotcom]

@@SteveSummers Boric acid is extremely useful. It acts as a fire retarder in materials, can be mixed with sugar for ants to carry back to their colonies and remove them, treat stinky boots and foot issues and loads of other things.

[@tsclly2377]

I'm using borax as an additive to a white-wash (some portland, 2/1. for better sticking effect) for a basement that is stone set and high moisture, on the floor joists and upper-floor-ceiling lumber and the walls.. Borax is also a fire retardant. My moisture level this summer only got down to 60% with help from a dehumidifier and the floor was not entirely semi sealed with concrete pavers set into higher limestone-sand mortar. Water is able to precipitate through the mortar, but it has been getting dry. Before, the floor was coated with coal and ash and I removed 2 to 4 inches of this mix, bucket by bucket, a couple of tons. Old houses are something else.. Makes one wonder just how long most older houses from the 1900s are really going to last (in the USA). I bought this one with land and it had just has a really nice lipstick-job on the rest of the interior (not inspected and the plumbing sucks as it was not just the replacement of existing, but done that way).

[@molitovv]

Fancy seeing you here Big Clive.

[@fama5736]

bigclivedotcom hey Clive, good seeing you here from the stream, you could also try the charring of the wood surface method I mention in the comments here, maybe something to mention in your stream in the months to come about how well it preserved the wood, continued success Sincerely Fabrizio

[@molitovv]

5:49 - Needs more Eye of Newt.

[@MJTVideos]

A nice bonus to this is that the boric acid and borax mixture is an excellent flame retardant! I’ve used the two in combination exactly for that purpose and it’s incredibly flame retardant.

[@andrewf2630]

It's used as an additive in some insulation and paints for that purpose

[@HoneyRowland]

Can y'all expand on how you used it? And your recipe for adding to the paint/insulation? Thank you!

[@arnoldsmachinetool4632]

Just rolled back home from a great motorcycle trip to the NC & TN mountains to see all the fall colors. Happy birthday 🎂

[@petew5272]

Thank you from a UK viewer for this video. Many years ago I worked with a guy who had prevciously been a linesman for the GPO (that's the General Post Office - they were then responsible for the UK telephone & telegraph system.). Among other things he told us about the linesman's life, he said that an important item in his toolkit had been a hammer. This hammer wasn't for driving nails - it was used to 'sound' the base of a telegraph pole before climbing it. If a hammer blow gave the wrong sound it indicated that the pole was rotten at the base. The lineman was not to go 'up the stick' but was to invoke the procesure to get the pole replaced. Do you know that ethylene glycol is irrestable to cats? If they find it they can't resist drinking it but it destroys their kidneys and they die a painful death! I believe that UK regulations now require car anti-freeze to contain a bad-tasting additive to repel cats. I see that Evan Jones agrees with me.

[@midgoog2]

If my fading memory still serves, I believe some German wines were "fortified" with glycol to provide a degree of sweetness. That mix is a treatment used in boat repairs where the wood has stared to rot. Cheers Eric

[@William_Hada]

Both the Borax and Boric Acid are probably in the hydrated crystalline forms. Heating it removes the water and coverts it to the anhydrous forms which are more soluble in pure ethylene glycol than the hydrated forms. Happy Birthday Steve!

[@burtreynolds3143]

I've tried this in both ethylene glycol and propylene glycol (boyh from WalMart) the propylene glycol seemed to have a lot of water premixed into it. I used an outdoor electric hot plate but was never able to get the grainy/sandy boric acid to get into solution. I tried every combination of Borax/boric acid/ethylene glycol/propylene glycol. Keeping in mind my ingredients were mobile home propylene glycol from WalMart and not pure. The boric acid was pure from on-line. I've used a borate powder and that stuff just mixes readily with water and I can spray it on but it will wash off easily if not coated and leave a white residue. Possible that I'm not boiling off all the water and that is keeping the temperature down too low to get the boric acid into solution ?

[@William_Hada]

@@burtreynolds3143 It is very important that all the water is removed from the glycol in order to get the solid borates into solution. You really should be using a thermometer to make sure you are getting up to the temperatures stated in the video. My guess is that you aren't getting it hot enough to boil off all the water. After you add the borates you will have to continue boiling off any water introduced by the borates. They look dry but there is water of hydration locked into the borate crystals also. Stick with ethylene glycol not propylene glycol. I think the borates are less soluble in propylene glycol.

[@burtreynolds3143]

@@William_Hada It was last summer. I think I bought a thermometer to use just for that. You are probably right. Not hot enough. I had it on there all day. I think the anti freeze had a lot of water in it from the factory. I was trying to make it cheap. If I remember right, it smelled heating it up. Glad I did it outside.

[@edsmachine93]

Happy Birthday Steve. Happy anniversary. 40 is nothing, you're still a real young man. Relish all your days, young or old. Great content.

[@ramosel]

Happy Birthday! Happy Anniversary! My folks too made it past their 60th Anniversary. It's a rare happening in today's world, we are lucky. My 40th was now 21 years ago. My folks have been gone almost half of that. Enjoy these next years with your folks as much as you can. I'll save this video, I have a future need for your witches' brew.

[@I_Am_Michael]

40? still a child. make sure you give your wife a big, giant hug. another good video. thanks a lot.

[@azenginerd9498]

A consideration about painting your walls: reflecting (white) really helps with the effectiveness of your shop lighting.

[@jenniferwhitewolf3784]

Sure does! White ceiling too.

[@b00kyman]

I once witnessed a crew drilling a small hole, at a downward angle, in the base of a wooden power pole; into which they injected what I assumed was a black creosote liquid. A wood plug was then driven into the hole to cap it. I have seen such plugs in in several power poles.

[@edpopelas2844]

Happy 40th 18th and 60th. I once worked with a guy who didn’t know how old he was, I think he had it right. Great video as always!

[@Godwithinme]

I think I would go for the 50/50 motor oil and diesel 😊

[@louroberts5567]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BROTHER! 40!? 40 is a cake walk! hahaha! It's just a number. I'm 61, my body is beat to heck from all the jobs over the years, injuries and surgeries but, I STILL feel like I did in my 20s and 30s. It's all how you live. What you take in is what you put out. I wish you a long life filled with God, happiness, love, fun, laughter and prosperity with your beautiful family. ENJOY IT!! Happy Anniversary to your parents! God bless you all.

[@zvonibab]

Happy Birthday Mr Summers and many happy returns, 40 is just a number! Cheers

[@kentuckycowboy2]

Happy belated birthday, Don't sweat it, life is about the journey, the people, and how each other is treated it seems you are very blessed!

[@mikesportsman1811]

Happy Birthday and Anniversary Steve. I am having a Birthday next week and turning 50. Hang in there the 40s are not that bad :-)

[@richardcurtis556]

Happy Birthday! From the perspective of 78 years, you have many good days ahead.

[@AVBros37]

Hey Steve, If the mold was due to excess moisture in the air you would see it uniformly over the whole plywood. The fact that it's only happening next to the seal plate probably means either your roof is leaking or your block wall is wicking up moisture from the ground. In any case keep us updated about this concoction :)

[@charlesbeining4358]

My wife and I came home through Kentucky. A lot of nice scenery with the changing of the colors

[@heywood62]

Congratulations on your anniversary, and happy birthday. My brother-in-law will be 50 this December and is all bummed out about it. Me, well, I'm 65. So like someone else stated you're still a kid. lol You look a lot younger so it surprised me when you said how old you'll be. I love your sense of humor and your videos are some of the best I watch on the tube. You have done one hell of a great job rebuilding that section of the shop, I look forward to whatever you share with us. Best wishes and take care.

[@AlexanderPonniahthiyagaraj-f2y]

What is the mixing ratio

[@kentpanter2044]

Happy Birthday! While not yet 80, I am 76 and still having fun. As long as you continue to enjoy aspects, keep yourself above grass,

[@BrainHurricanes]

Happy anniversary Steve and Elizabeth, wishing you many more lovely years for the lovely couple you are!

[@MaturePatriot]

My pencils used to get flexible like the thermometer, back in school. LOL A lot of us hear that screaming in our heads. Happy Birthday! My son is 40. Glad you took some time to yourself. We all need that occasionally. See you next week.

[@spikekent]

All the way from the UK, I wish you Happy birthday and congratulations to you, Elizabeth and your parents on the Anniversaries.

[@ianide2480]

One thing I have learned about major insect infestation, the cause is usually large amounts of moisture. In fact we used to use a method that we called "follow the ants" to find where a roof is leaking. The excess water creates an ideal condition of temperature and moisture for them to live in. Get rid of the leaks and you will get rid of the destructive bugs. Of course it does not help to live in high humidity, mold grows on everything and retains even more moisture. You should definitely paint all surfaces to help keep excess anything from growing aggressively.

[@MattysWorkshop]

Gday Steve, 🥳 Happy Birthday, Happy Wedding Anniversary, and Happy Anniversary to your Mum and Dad, good to see you had an easy week, You really haven’t had a break since you started the shop rebuild, the country side there looks absolutely beautiful this time of year, thanks Steve for another shop update and please take it easy up on the roof, take care, Matty

[@glennstasse5698]

I enjoyed that ride through the country. My favorite time of year. Happy 40th, too as well as your wedding anniversary and Mom and Dad’s as well. REAL family values on display here, not the hypocritical nonsense frequently on display by public figures.

[@eliduttman315]

Steve, the ethylene glycol in car anti-freeze is already watered down. Pure ethylene glycol is viscous, much like glycerin. Hydrogen bonding is the reason. Borates have been used for a very long time in insect control.

[@SeanBZA]

Yes the borax will preserve the wood, and the white surface is the excess borax. Been using it for a while, injecting into the damaged areas with termites, and it kills them, and they will not eat the wood further. Not as toxic as other wood preservatives.

[@chrisbalchin1481]

We have pencils in England that behave just like your thermometers. Mind blowing stuff Steve

[@davidm1a2]

Happy birthday and happy anniversary Steve. Love the videos.

[@mattmongin]

Happy birthday and anniversary, man!

[@papaburf7275]

Congratulations to your mom and dad on 60 years together! Many folks in the cities we live in have no concept of that type of commitment. Congratulations to you and Elizabeth as well! Happy 40th! Remember, life is not a sprint to the finish line, and you will be happy to say 41, 42, 43,,,,,,,,,,, All good stuff. Thanks so much for the content.

[@RRaucina]

Local utility had crews here all summer drilling and inserting "Impel" rods - boric acid -into the base of all wood poles and then tagging them. Log home builders use them on the weather exposed log ends to stop any rot for about forever.

[@carlbliim4456]

Happy birthday Steve, only 40, mine is 2nd December when I turn 91. Great to see that you have celebrated yours and your parents anniversary's this week as well. Your are a fortunate man to have such a loving wife and family. Keep up the good work and keep asafe and well. Carl Woy Woy Australia.

[@nikond90ful1]

Thanks for the video Steve. Happy birthday. Remember you are not a year older just a day. Congrats to your wife and parents. You all keep safe and stay well.

[@terrellfarms1]

Just got back from Elkhorn City and Pikeville last weekend to attend my wife's dads funeral and the leaves were beautiful in the mountains. Just wish we could have been there under better circumstances.

[@Uncleroger1225]

Happy another Saturday mornin with Steve and Family! Always instructive and entertaining. Makes my Saturday mornin, Steve and Grits. Stay safe, God Bless.

[@horstszibulski19]

All the best for all of you! :-D I turned 49 this year, slowly moving to the dready 50's... Thx for your vids! :-D

[@bcbloc02]

I just sprayed boric acid and water on mine. So far no bugs I have seen in 3. Years.

[@OffAndOnTheRange]

Happy Birthday! Happy wedding anniversary to both you and your parents.

[@danielmlinac3479]

Happy 40th Steve. And happy anniversary.

[@elcaminolife4ever874]

Happy Birthday Steve and Happy early Anniversary!

[@jonnafry]

Forty Shmorty ... it's the new 30 and you've got the energy of a dude in his 20's so it's all cool. Lovely countryside you live in there with the rock formations etc. Happy 40th ... it just gets better!

[@evanking6329]

Steve, you live in a beautiful part of the world, thanks for sharing brief snippets of the beauty...

[@sthenzel]

We got an old timber frame building (everything above the brick basement) from the 1880s, where the oak uprights appear to have been treated with creosot oil from coal tar (typical smell when drilled). Some work had to be done to a 1960s extension, during that we found one of the new uprights fully permeated and covered with some fungus, maybe serpula lacrymans or such, but the old wood right next to it was totally unaffected, it had was too hard to get any screw in without predrilling. In the old days telegraph poles and railroad ties were treated with this stuff and they lasted really long. Bugs don´t want to eat such wood (like your salvaged floor boards), and it seems to be pretty toxic for everything alive. Here in Europe this treatment is no longer possible, it´s outlawed. But in the US, maybe it´s still around. Another somewhat more recent discovery of mine: If there is wood to put on something stone, concrete or metal pole shoe, put a piece of lead flashing inbetween. I had to rebuild a pergola, the upper parts had rotted everywhere they could not dry out fast, except for the bottom end of the poles, they sat on a piece of lead sheet, the wood there was perfectly fine after over 30 years. The lead styed where it was when I placed the new poles Lead isn´t that toxic, but once a little acidity is introduced by some organisms, that will change. A piece of copper should also work, most organisms do not react well to it, copper sulfate is used to prevent algae growth in pools (maybe a little of that for your concoction?). Founs something: www.ehow.com/about_6328075_copper-sulfate-wood-treatment.html

[@billyring4]

Happy Birthday Steve and Happy Anniversary

[@TimTurner115]

Happy birthday sir. 40 is a fun age. Happy anniversary. Tell your mom and dad happy anniversary 60 years is a long time to spend with somebody you're not related to.

[@danielgordon7727]

Happy birthday!!! And happy anniversary!!

[@MoondyneJoe]

Congratulations on reaching 40 Steve, I remember 40, I was 20 at the time! Watch out for the aches and pains, unlike wisdom, they come looking for YOU! I HOPE That you celebrate a wonderful year and also your wedding anniversary with Elizabeth. 17 year's in today's society is quite an achievement. Well done folks. I wish you all the best best for the future. BTW my mum is 94 she still lives in her own house and has a mind like a steel trap, she says about anybody younger than her is just a young Whippersnapper, don't let the number you reach bother you, just be glad you got there as the alternative is pretty grim! Tony from Western Australia

[@patrickcolahan7499]

Congrats on your anniversary. This last February we celebrated our 35th and Happy Birthday. Don't sweat the year, after all, on your birthday, you were only one day older than you were the day before and tomorrow only one day older. I remember turning 40, I guess I thought about it more than all the others. Not sure why. But haven't really cared about any since then.

[@brosselot1]

Wish I was 40 again. Happy birthday Steve.

[@gillesgarcia1426]

Hello Steve... Happy birthday from France...!!! Best wishes to both of you, and to everyone you love. Gilles

[@RPMoore55]

Happy Birthday !!!!!!! and Happy Anniversary !!!!

[@dannyl2598]

Thanks Steve. Happy birthday and happy anniversary to all.

[@llapmsp]

Happy birthday Steve, and happy anniversary to you and Elizabeth. Shop project is looking very nice.

[@erichoff7926]

Steve, may I suggest painting the shop walls white. It will make the shop look brighter in the dark days of winter. Happy bd and anniversaries!

[@knas5289]

I second this. Painting the walls and ceiling white makes the room look both bigger and brighter.

[@1pcfred]

@@knas5289 I tried that with my garage and it didn't work. After I painted it I filled it full of junk and it does not look or feel very big to me at all.

[@thosoz3431]

40. That's luxury that is... All my best wishes for your birthday, and to you both, for your anniversary. The Autumn leaves turn, the years roll on.

[@tonybell1597]

Happy Birthday Steve, and Anniversary! 40 is great, it gets better as you get older 😁

[@Ham68229]

Treated lumber will still rot just as fast as untreated pending on the conditions. Personally, used oil has been our go to product along with roofing tar. In my area, anything going into the ground, Osage Orange or Hedge. Doesn't rot anything like any other wood does, in fact it petrifies itself. Trying to use it in building materials... not practical. Happy 40th. Happy anniversary as well. Great video, cheers :)

[@2dividedby3equals666]

Happy birthday, anniversary and all the best for you and yours in the many years to come!!

[@Dan.Whiteford]

My goodness you look much better this week - not so somehow exhausted!! Congrats to you, both of you for your anniversary and to your folks.

[@garytodd5605]

I liked the wood perservative. Glad to see your project coming along nicely. The drive was bueatiful. Driving in your neck of the woods is the only thing i miss about not traveling on my job. Happy birthday and happy anniversary to you and Elizabeth. May God grant you many, many, more years with enjoyment togeather.

[@t.d.mich.7064]

Hi Steve, 60 wasn't bad, 50 was pretty good, 40 was excellent! Looking at 70 this month myself, and I think a person is only as old as they let their mind make them. Stay active in ALL aspects of life and you will grow old with grace, make that Elizibeth.

[@Farmboymarko]

Happy birthday Steve, happy anniversary to you and your wife. Enjoy every video, thank you for sharing your experiences with us.

[@Streaml1neJMoose]

Happy 40th Steve. Got there myself earlier this year, it's not so bad =)

[@ZRXRICK]

One day you turn 40, then you blink & you're 60...

[@RoyBlumenthal]

Yup. I also heard the mould screaming. Great microphone.

[@daviddeakin2006]

Hi Steve happy birthday from Australia. Hope you had a great day . Sometime you have stop and smell the roses !

[@817charger]

Happy Birthday Steve!

[@CRUZER1800]

Seeing that turtle took me back to my childhood in Kansas..... thanks for that.... Russ

[@johnmccanntruth]

You’re always working so hard, you need to take a break every now and then. Happy Birthday! Happy Anniversary! God bless!

[@Godzilla032]

Looking real good for your age Steve. Im coming up on 40 next year myself.

[@GMCShazamataz]

Happy Birthday Steve. Welcome to the naughty forty's club. Thanks for all your hard work, look forward to your videos every week. Cheers

[@MikeBramm]

Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary!

[@akfarmboy49]

I really like the big windows in your shop.

[@georgesherman5345]

I'm 79 & still going strong, so don't worry about 40. Just keep working/exercising and you'll live to be 100.

[@brucewilliams6292]

Happy Birthday, Happy Anniversary, and all the best. :)

[@jonathangriffin1120]

"Propane and propane accessories!" Hope you had a good birthday Steve, I was 71 on Wednesday BTW, have a Happy Anniversary and your folks as well. All The Best from Somerset UK.

[@skitzochik]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEVE !!

[@AdrianHeptinstall]

Happy Birthday and congrats all round sir, like the videos for sure

[@dashahearne4540]

Happy Birthday ! and anniversary !

[@Mistakeful_Learning]

I also turned 40 this year and after a few months I feel no different then 35. Don’t let it get you down, we’re still young at heart.

[@1pcfred]

Over 50 the old ticker doesn't feel too young then.

[@ronwhite6719]

Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary Steve! Best wishes to you and your family.

[@haydnjenkins7607]

Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary to you both

[@ecogiful]

40?... you did it son! Lived a good life, happy wife, good kids. That's all you need to put one in the black column.

[@SteveSummers]

I agree 👍

[@Chris-bg8mk]

I've used warm water and borax sprayed on with a hardware store sprayer. 20 plus years later and no termites! Happy anniversaries! 60 more healthy happy years to go!

[@bradsmith1189]

i soaked a tub of borax n water in a tub. put in a tree stump that had woodboarers in it. left it soaking for a week. took it out , then the borers started eating away again. I even drilled holes and hydro needle squirted borax and water into the tree. I even used a benzomatic heat and fireblaster to the holes ... them sons wont die. Texas bugs are a bitch to kill. so.. im still looking ..probably just burn em in my firepit and go get my tree guy to give me stumps that arent recently cut down.. adios amigo..

[@kevinhornbuckle]

New roof sheathing should get a coat of that home brew wood preservative on the underside. Treat the 4x8 sheets before you install them by leaning them against the wall and roll or spray. Better than doing it overhead after they’re installed.

[@vincei4252]

Happy Birthday, Steve. Way ahead of ya.

[@alanmccooker7829]

My dad use to take fence post and drill a half inch hole in top about 2 to 3 inches deep and fill with burnt/used motor oil. Then he would place metal caps usually galvanized tin over the tops. I saw him paint the bottoms before putting them in the ground too. Creosote use to be an available back then not sure it is now but my dad said the motor oil did just as good.

[@infrared411]

Happy birthday Steve and happy anniversary. Keep up the hard work

[@hisab-n8c]

Congratulations to you and your family !

[@bazzaf246]

Happy 40th Steve! I couldn't of guessed, you're a young 40 👌 I'm sure the family has spoilt you, as you deserve. Thanks for the progress update this week 👍 looking good.