Jim Williams Posted May 12, 1999 Report Share Posted May 12, 1999 I believe the standard technique against woodworm in instruments is to flood the infestation with an appropriate liquid killer. Does anybody have another method available such as fumagation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Stancel Posted May 12, 1999 Report Share Posted May 12, 1999 Hello Jim: I don't know about flooding witrh liquid killer...maybe in plank form, but not as a finished violin? One way is high dose x-ray...a little hard to do with bass and cello, but fine with violin and viola. The labs charge same as for body x-rays. One or two high doeses will delete the worms and not harm the instruments. There are some museums which have cyanide chambers for getting wood worms and other pests out of their artifacts. They charge big bucks...well worth it...but the drawbacks are that you have to wait until they schedule a run and your instrument is gone a long time. After the fumigation, they are required by government regulations to detoxify the fumigation room and its contents over a long period of time..don't know the time? Regards, Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Rollinson Posted May 12, 1999 Report Share Posted May 12, 1999 Can a violin be frozen to rid it of an insect infestation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francesco Posted May 12, 1999 Report Share Posted May 12, 1999 We've never used liquid to treat woodworm. For us, the treatment of choice is fumigation. We employ specialists for this with chambers designed for this purpose. Some restorers I know used no-pest strips sealed with the instrument within a plasic garbage bag, when the stuff was available. I've also heard of the X-ray treatment, but it gives me a bit of a chill.. I can't help but wonder what dose is needed to kill the little buggers. Hope they are not as resistant to radiation as cockroaches! Best to all, Jeffrey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victor Posted May 12, 1999 Report Share Posted May 12, 1999 : Can a violin be frozen to rid it of an insect infestation? Yes, but then it would crack, seams would open, or the glue would become brittle. Or some combination. Plus, some insects can survive the freezing temperatures... Victor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady D Posted May 13, 1999 Report Share Posted May 13, 1999 I don't know what dose is lethal to the worms, but as a registered x-ray tech I want to point out that having an x-ray does not make an object radioactive or dangerous. The rays pass right through it...nothing stays in there. Just for the heck of it here's some free advice: Diamonds don't attenuate x-rays, cubic zirconium does. So if in doubt, take the "diamond" to your local hospital on an off-shift and see if you can get the techs to fluoro it for you. You'll know instantly whether you were sold a bill of goods. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted May 19, 1999 Report Share Posted May 19, 1999 Hello. I am studying violin making in England and after reading that,I asked around to people who would know about X rays.I have been told only a nuclear power plant would do the job... Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Stancel Posted May 20, 1999 Report Share Posted May 20, 1999 Hello Paul: I guess it does take a power plant, nuclear or otherwise, to power the X-ray machine (;-)) I have used the X-ray technique twice on fresh worm infestation, and it worked in both cases. Also, for reference, see page 91 of VIOLIN RESTORATION, A MANUAL FOR VIOLIN MAKERS, by Hans Weisshaar and Margaret Shipman, ISBN:0-9621861-0-4, Library of Congress no. 88-90497. Best Regards, Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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