Between 485 & 705 SQ/FT Bob Heine's Auto Emporium

[krcoomer]

Bob: When you were sharing your sharpening tales I told you I would share a pic of my saw. My dad had a finishing foreman at one if his customers (Tom) who had a son about my age that he had a strong friendship with. The son passed away some years ago from leukemia in his late 20's or early 30's. While Tom was staying with him during his treatments he would paint saws. He gave one to my dad for his birthday and sent this one to me for Christmas. Notice there are only 7 teeth on this blade. The one he gave my dad had more on it. This is a "Guaranteed Superior". My wife "decided" that it would look better in the shop than the family room.

Fast forward a few years and my wife and I struck up a conversation with a lady at a craft fair from the same small town. As these things often happen she knew Tom and his family. When I told her I had one of his saws she got a somber look to her and told me he quit painting them after his son passed. We made our purchase and moved on. A year or so later I got an email from her that Tom had passed away. Since my dad had retired I was able to let him know.

Needless to say, this is a cherished item and I will cherish the other one when my dad is gone.


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[Bob Heine]

What's a hacksaw?

Must be one of those life hack things I've seen lately.

Used blades make great roll paper cutter.

Stewart, a hacksaw is the tool you reach for when your leg is trapped beneath a huge battery. It allows you to cleanly hack off the leg, leaving a smooth stump behind. Definitely a life hack!

I have a masking stool with a saw blade for cutting the tape and paper -- now I can make another dispenser for narrower paper. Thanks for that!

GJ member: why is it so quiet in here?

Bob: did your wife leave you?

GJ member: you had me scared, it was just my hearing aid battery.

Andy, I am living on the edge here. Even joking about her leaving makes me quiver.

You've got some sharpening to do! Those are all reusable. Reciprocating saw blades make great knives.

Good thinking Andy! The smaller ones would be good practice.

Bob: When you were sharing your sharpening tales I told you I would share a pic of my saw. My dad had a finishing foreman at one if his customers (Tom) who had a son about my age that he had a strong friendship with. The son passed away some years ago from leukemia in his late 20's or early 30's. While Tom was staying with him during his treatments he would paint saws. He gave one to my dad for his birthday and sent this one to me for Christmas. Notice there are only 7 teeth on this blade. The one he gave my dad had more on it. This is a "Guaranteed Superior". My wife "decided" that it would look better in the shop than the family room.

Fast forward a few years and my wife and I struck up a conversation with a lady at a craft fair from the same small town. As these things often happen she knew Tom and his family. When I told her I had one of his saws she got a somber look to her and told me he quit painting them after his son passed. We made our purchase and moved on. A year or so later I got an email from her that Tom had passed away. Since my dad had retired I was able to let him know.

Needless to say, this is a cherished item and I will cherish the other one when my dad is gone.

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Kenny, what a great story and that's a work of art you are rightfully proud to hang in the garage.

 

[BBChevro]

Stewart, a hacksaw is the tool you reach for when your leg is trapped beneath a huge battery. It allows you to cleanly hack off the leg, leaving a smooth stump behind. Definitely a life hack!
...

That's why this thread has a disclaimer.

 

[Bob Heine]

That's why this thread has a disclaimer.

Thanks Mark, I sometimes forget!

 

[Bob Heine]

I don't know if it's just me but every time I do a small repair to an appliance the appliance takes offense and commits suicide. Last year I replaced the pump on our front-load washing machine and the drum bearing disintegrated. I recently replaced a movable row of tines in the dishwasher that had corroded away. Two days later the super quiet machine started making loud growling noises. Hoping it was nothing serious, I ignored it. Next day it would not run so I checked the price of a new pump motor for this 13-year-old dishwasher. Just over $130 so I think I'm going to order it. But first I have to get the water out of the machine. Press the CANCEL button and I hear the pump running. I'm having deja-vu all over again.

My wife does not want me to disassemble the dishwasher and have the kitchen torn up for days. I order a new dishwasher (same brand - Kitchenaid) and skip the installation charge as well as the plumbing kit. I have lots of plumbing supplies and can use the power cord from the old machine. Machine arrives and it has a new supply line setup. The old one needed a 3/8" copper line with a compression fitting. The new one needs a 90-degree garden hose fitting to adapt to the 3/8" compression fitting. After the dreaded Home Depot visit I have the parts and the dishwasher is all hooked up.

When I trial fitted the new dishwasher, the handle just barely cleared the silverware drawer next to it. Once the power, water supply and drain lines are connected and routed behind the machine, the dishwasher handle is blocking the silverware drawer.

I decided the easiest fix was to notch the drawer face. A little blue tape and a Silver Sharpie (recent acquisition I didn't know I needed) and I know how big a notch to make.

Now all I have to do is remove the drawer-front. After I remove the 4 screws, it still won't come off. I figure something sticky got in there so I go get my 1969 Shell Steak Knife and try to pop it off. No such luck so I get out the jack hammers and dynamite. Turns out the drawer fronts are stapled on the drawer and then the screws were added over them.

A little work with a coping saw and a drill-mounted sanding drum and I have a notch that matches the Silver Sharpie mark. I probably have a can of stain somewhere that would be a decent match but I choose a no-wait-to-dry solution: brown shoe polish. Even this is overkill because you can't see the notch when it all goes back together. You also can't see the chip in the laminate...

It all goes back together with a little fussing. Drive the staples back into the drawer, get some longer screws to align the holes, hammer the staples back in place and then re-install the short screws. Drawer opens without hitting the dishwasher handle.

 

[shortykorte]

I don't know if it's just me but every time I do a small repair to an appliance the appliance takes offense and commits suicide. Last year I replaced the pump on our front-load washing machine and the drum bearing disintegrated. I recently replaced a movable row of tines in the dishwasher that had corroded away. Two days later the super quiet machine started making loud growling noises. Hoping it was nothing serious, I ignored it. Next day it would not run so I checked the price of a new pump motor for this 13-year-old dishwasher. Just over $130 so I think I'm going to order it. But first I have to get the water out of the machine. Press the CANCEL button and I hear the pump running. I'm having deja-vu all over again.

My wife does not want me to disassemble the dishwasher and have the kitchen torn up for days. I order a new dishwasher (same brand - Kitchenaid) and skip the installation charge as well as the plumbing kit. I have lots of plumbing supplies and can use the power cord from the old machine. Machine arrives and it has a new supply line setup. The old one needed a 3/8" copper line with a compression fitting. The new one needs a 90-degree garden hose fitting to adapt to the 3/8" compression fitting. After the dreaded Home Depot visit I have the parts and the dishwasher is all hooked up.

When I trial fitted the new dishwasher, the handle just barely cleared the silverware drawer next to it. Once the power, water supply and drain lines are connected and routed behind the machine, the dishwasher handle is blocking the silverware drawer.

I decided the easiest fix was to notch the drawer face. A little blue tape and a Silver Sharpie (recent acquisition I didn't know I needed) and I know how big a notch to make.

Now all I have to do is remove the drawer-front. After I remove the 4 screws, it still won't come off. I figure something sticky got in there so I go get my 1969 Shell Steak Knife and try to pop it off. No such luck so I get out the jack hammers and dynamite. Turns out the drawer fronts are stapled on the drawer and then the screws were added over them.

A little work with a coping saw and a drill-mounted sanding drum and I have a notch that matches the Silver Sharpie mark. I probably have a can of stain somewhere that would be a decent match but I choose a no-wait-to-dry solution: brown shoe polish. Even this is overkill because you can't see the notch when it all goes back together. You also can't see the chip in the laminate...

It all goes back together with a little fussing. Drive the staples back into the drawer, get some longer screws to align the holes, hammer the staples back in place and then re-install the short screws. Drawer opens without hitting the dishwasher handle.

Nice save. You could have removed the DW handle and welded a cable pull to the middle of the DW door.


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[Bob Heine]

May is a special time of year in South Florida. It's when termites swarm and for the fifth May in a row, drywood termites have swarmed in our laundry room. Each year Terminix comes out and "treats" the problem and we're good for a year. Except that the swarm means they are making a nest. For the first time, the nest has exposed itself.

Years ago my wife had me put a closet rod and shelf in the laundry room so she could drip dry dress shirts and blouses. Over time her blouses have become permanent residents on the rod that extends from the washing machine to the closet in the laundry room, blocking the window. When she saw a flying termite this year, she looked behind the 150 hanging blouses and saw this:

If you live somewhere where termites are not a problem, you may not recognize TERMITE $HIT! The really damaging Subterranean Termite can eat all the studs in a wall in a couple of years but they live inside mud tubes and require a constant supply of water to make the mud. Drywood Termites just make tunnels in the wood and don't need much water to survive. Once one of their tunnels breaks through a wall, their turds, which look like coffee grounds, start falling out and creating piles like this one:

I pay for two kinds of treatment annually and the contract for drywood termites covers tenting whenever a major infestation is detected. Drilling and injecting poison or setting out bait traps for subterranean termites is covered in the second contract. I want to have the house tented but my wife doesn't. For that reason, I'm going to be removing the drywall from the laundry room one stud bay at a time until I find the queen's nest. Then Terminix will treat the exposed area and I will replace the damaged wood (without tearing off the sheathing and stucco on the outside).

Wish me luck and if you don't hear from me again, the termites have won!

 

[zmotorsports]

Pretty good solution to the kitchen drawer Bob. You can barely tell afterwards and if you weren't looking for it probably wouldn't notice.

Mike.

 

[shortykorte]

Ouch. Doesn't sound like a fun project. Too bad Bob Jr. doesn't like termites.


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[BBChevro]

Hey Bob, if the old dishwasher still functions, they make a pretty good parts washer.

As for the termites, I have put small vents in various places (mainly out of sight - behind furniture or in cupboards) - the vents allow airflow in the wall cavities and I can easily remove them to inspect for termite activity (with one of those new-fangle miniature inspection cameras).


The notch on the drawer front is a clever solution to the interference issue.

 

[oldironfarmer]

Once again you delight in showing us your drawers

And we seem to like it.

If you ignore termites they will go away.

Eventually.

When all the wood is gone

 

[ajohno]

Great job on the drawer Bob.

I hope you get onto the termites before they start do any damage.

 

[sawduststeve]

Evening Bob,

I've seen Breaking Bad, you're going to tent the house and set up a meths lab, should we call you Heisenberg(sp) now. Shouldn't your yearly treatment have stopped the infestation or are they just to numerous to stop? on the upside at least you don't have a wooden leg.
Good work around with the dish washer handle.

Regards
Steve.

 

[Bob Heine]

Pretty good solution to the kitchen drawer Bob. You can barely tell afterwards and if you weren't looking for it probably wouldn't notice.

Mike.

Thanks Mike. And thank you for taking time to read along. You've got a full plate right now.

Ouch. Doesn't sound like a fun project. Too bad Bob Jr. doesn't like termites.


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Stewart, this one shouldn't be too bad. Back in 2000 we had a massive subterranean termite infestation in the garage side walls and three walls in the front bedroom. That was way beyond fun.

Hey Bob, if the old dishwasher still functions, they make a pretty good parts washer.

As for the termites, I have put small vents in various places (mainly out of sight - behind furniture or in cupboards) - the vents allow airflow in the wall cavities and I can easily remove them to inspect for termite activity (with one of those new-fangle miniature inspection cameras).


The notch on the drawer front is a clever solution to the interference issue.

Mark, if my wife saw me fixing the old dishwasher, it would not be good. I'm pretty sure it's a problem in the main circuit board and my luck repairing those has not been good. Andy and I suffer the same genetic trait when it comes to electronics.

I envy your double-brick construction at the moment. This house was built by a Connecticut Yankee general contractor for a Connecticut immigrant so it's a stick-built frame house with plain wood studs on the perimeter with fiberglass insulation in the spaces between studs and stucco on the outside. The interior walls are drywall on steel studs. I knew I was making a mistake when I bought the house but my wife and I liked the layout so much I just said WTF and expected to have to rebuild parts of it every once in a while. I can handle stick built repairs and just make sure I repair it using treated wood.

Once again you delight in showing us your drawers

And we seem to like it.

If you ignore termites they will go away.

Eventually.

When all the wood is gone

Andy, most of my drawers are plaid so the skid marks aren't so noticeable.

I have been ignoring the termites for several years and after each year's swarm they do go away. This year they are crapping all over my wife's favorite room, the laundry, so I have to fight back.

Great job on the drawer Bob.

I hope you get onto the termites before they start do any damage.

Thanks Aaron! It was one of my simpler projects but came out surprisingly well.

In Florida we have four types of termites, Formosan, Subterranean, Damp Wood and Dry Wood. The Formosan are the worst and can destroy a structure very quickly. Our 2000 infestation was Subterranean, which require water to build mud tunnels and maintain moisture in the wood. Ours attacked because of a faulty roof install. This time it's a Dry Wood infestation and they work at a slower pace. So far it looks like a fairly contained infestation.

I sometimes wish our termites built their nests above ground like they do in Queensland.

Evening Bob,

I've seen Breaking Bad, you're going to tent the house and set up a meths lab, should we call you Heisenberg(sp) now. Shouldn't your yearly treatment have stopped the infestation or are they just to numerous to stop? on the upside at least you don't have a wooden leg.
Good work around with the dish washer handle.

Regards
Steve.

Steve, I wish you had mentioned that sooner. My wife doesn't want the hassle of finding a motel that will take our dog and also doesn't want to have to pack up all the dry food in the house. The proceeds from a meth lab might have changed her mind. I showed her the damage today so she knows it isn't a massive project like last time.

Appreciate you stopping by and for the compliment on my drawer fix.

 

[Bob Heine]

Spent a couple of hours in the laundry room today, removing drywall above and around the window where we found the Termite $hit. So far it looks like the infestation is confined to the double 2"x12" header and maybe the plywood spacer between the two.

I'm using a cordless multi-tool with a fine-tooth blade to slit the drywall. It still produces the dreaded dust but a fraction of the amount a RotoZip throws off.

From a distance the header wood looks pretty good but when I get closer, I can see the telltale pinholes in the wood. They are scattered across the whole piece but this concentration shows there's damage under the surface (Dry Wood termites avoid eating the surface). The area of interest is below the rectangle of construction gook the builders left on the plank (it was probably used on scaffolding before they cut it up for the header).

A little poking around and I've opened one of the galleries where they've been working.

Toward the back of the interior 2"x12" there were more pinholes and I found another large gallery. These are about a half-inch deep and an inch high. I can't get to the exterior 2"x12" without removing this one so that's the next job, to remove the interior 2"x12". If the exterior one isn't badly damaged, I'll have Terminix thoroughly treat it and the area around it.

 

[oldironfarmer]

Nice pictures!

Did the termites not work their way up from the ground? I think that's how they do it here, but as in most things, I'm a novice but I like to guess.

 

[Craptain]

Nice pictures!

Did the termites not work their way up from the ground? I think that's how they do it here, but as in most things, I'm a novice but I like to guess.

Yours would be the sub-terranium termites. The dry wood termites fly and find their way in through a crack or crevice and then eat their way right in.

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[Toolfool]

I feel your pain my friend. I had carpenter ants in my shop wall last year. Exterminator came and drilled 1/8" holes in the exterior wall between studs and injected a liquid. When I pointed out that the liquid had now compromised the effectiveness of my fiberglass insulation he said he never heard of that. After he left I decided to tear the drywall off , make sure the monsters were dead, and replace 100 Sq.' of insulation.

 

[BBChevro]

Hey Bob, when I mentioned the "cavity" in the walls, I was just referring to the space between the studs - our place is all hardwood frame.

Your damage does look pretty minimal on that header, it appears that you caught the little blighters in time.

 

[sawduststeve]

Evening Bob,

No termites here just various types of woodworm, that like damp/wet wood.No surprise there, this being the uk :roll eyes:.One being the superbly named Death Watch Beetle, which likes hardwoods and can be heard in the timbers, clicking/ticking away.

Good work with getting the little blighters.

Regards
Steve.

 

[Bob Heine]

Nice pictures!

Did the termites not work their way up from the ground? I think that's how they do it here, but as in most things, I'm a novice but I like to guess.

Andy, Andrew (Craptain) has it right. These are the kind that don't work their way up from the ground. On the bad side they have an easier time getting started but on the good side they take a lot longer to completely destroy a piece of wood.

Yours would be the sub-terranium termites. The dry wood termites fly and find their way in through a crack or crevice and then eat their way right in.

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Andrew, thanks for that. I've had and hate both kinds but if I have to choose my poison, I prefer the dry wood variety.

I feel your pain my friend. I had carpenter ants in my shop wall last year. Exterminator came and drilled 1/8" holes in the exterior wall between studs and injected a liquid. When I pointed out that the liquid had now compromised the effectiveness of my fiberglass insulation he said he never heard of that. After he left I decided to tear the drywall off , make sure the monsters were dead, and replace 100 Sq.' of insulation.

John, I hope that was the only area they got into. My termites are a fraction of the size of your carpenter ants but I can see them from ten feet away. My neighbor had an invasion of flying insects and called me up hysterical. I told her I would be right over and brought pictures of both flying ants and termites. She had ants that time but six months later she had dry wood termites. They looked the same to her but I see them as different as cats and dogs (especially cats with 3-segment bodies and dogs with 2-segment bodies).

Hey Bob, when I mentioned the "cavity" in the walls, I was just referring to the space between the studs - our place is all hardwood frame.

Your damage does look pretty minimal on that header, it appears that you caught the little blighters in time.

OK Mark, I get it. Are your cavities filled with insulation?

It looked minimal from the inside and even better once I had the first 2"x12" out. Then it took a turn for the worse.

 

[Bob Heine]

Evening Bob,

No termites here just various types of woodworm, that like damp/wet wood.No surprise there, this being the uk :roll eyes:.One being the superbly named Death Watch Beetle, which likes hardwoods and can be heard in the timbers, clicking/ticking away.

Good work with getting the little blighters.

Regards
Steve.

Steve, you made me feel better. I have seen evidence of your beetles' work when I was visiting. I couldn't believe the mess they made of a beautiful old oak beam. If these little buggers made noise I could hear, I would be tracking them down with a shotgun.

I haven't found a queen yet but I am closing in on the damage.

 

[Bob Heine]

Spent a few more hours on the laundry room today. Before I went to bed last night I gave the room a quick spray with flying insect killer. Looks like it worked because these were resting in piece on the window sill this morning.

That rectangle on the header beam was odd. It showed shallow saw marks and I didn't make them. Looks like the previous owner who built the house must have removed a piece of sheet-rock to inspect for termites and probably treated the exposed area at the time (lots of gunk on the wood. I cut along the joint between the top plate and the window header and the PO cut a bit lower as seen here.

Decided to get to the heavy work and pulled the six ten-penny nails out of the hurricane straps. The nails were in solid and took quite a bit to remove. They also were clean with no sign of rust. I'm feeling good! The beam only had five more nails holding the 2"x12" pair (and plywood) together. There were a few more nails driven in from the sides and top but most of them missed the 2-by and hit the plywood -- lets hear it for 1988 craftsmanship.

The inner 2-by had some hidden damage on one end.

I saw quite a few pinholes on the hidden side of the 2-by so I tapped it with the hammer claw. The damage is deeper on the hidden side but I didn't find live termites. It has to go, not just because of the damage but I suspect these insects leave a smell or pheromones behind. I understand they can train dogs to detect termites in a building.

The most encouraging sight is the plywood spacer. There's no sign of termite damage on either side....

I spoke too soon. The second 2-by is in terrible shape. Not just termite damage, this 2"x12" has huge splits that should have disqualified it from being used for anything but firewood. The termites loved it and the more I tapped, the more galleries I found. Now I know where the piles of $hit were coming from.

One of the galleries I broke into had live winged termites in it. I took a video of them but it isn't very interesting to anyone but me and hopefully Terminix. I don't expect them to repay me for my time but I do expect them to pay for the lumber, drywall and paint to do the repair. Of course they can always tent my house since it's part of my contract. I won't mention that my wife is adamantly opposed to tenting the house. It's good to know she is confident in my ability to fix stuff but sometimes I miss being a renter....

 

[Bighead38]

I gotta get pictures from my boss of a house we worked on in the fall. He's been in construction 40 years and said the house was easily one of the worst he's seen. I feel your pain, termite damage is terrible.

 

[dlcwent]

Bob, although your story is filled with your usual humor, I'm sorry that you are dealing with those little pests. That's not something that I've ever had to deal with. I can imagine how frustrating it is for a homeowner to watch his property being eaten. Good luck.

You have a good woman there, 'cause my wife would not have allowed me to notch out the drawer. We would have had to remodel the whole kitchen.

 

[oldironfarmer]

I'm with Dan, notching the drawer could have led to a major remodel.

You've mentioned at least twice now that your wife does not want the house tented. It must be serious.

Or has your hearing gone and she wants to keep the same colors, does not want it tinted?

Think Bub!!

 

[Bob Heine]

I gotta get pictures from my boss of a house we worked on in the fall. He's been in construction 40 years and said the house was easily one of the worst he's seen. I feel your pain, termite damage is terrible.

Bighead38, thank you for stopping by. Lived on the other side of the river a bit north of you. We had carpenter ants but never termites. This damage is trivial compared to my garage. The garage is 28 feet wide with trusses. I didn't realize I had termites until a door on the wall cabinet hit the garage door track that it had always cleared before. The trusses dropped 3/4-inch to make that happen. Probably a matter of a few weeks or months and the whole corner of the garage would have collapsed. The plywood sheathing and stucco was all that was holding it up and they were seriously working on the plywood.

Bob, although your story is filled with your usual humor, I'm sorry that you are dealing with those little pests. That's not something that I've ever had to deal with. I can imagine how frustrating it is for a homeowner to watch his property being eaten. Good luck.

You have a good woman there, 'cause my wife would not have allowed me to notch out the drawer. We would have had to remodel the whole kitchen.

Dan, I take termites as part of the price I pay not to need a snow shovel (or heat in my garage).

I was three words into the sentence "I'll just remodel the kitchen" when she said no way Jose. There is a huge open space under the counter in the corner where that cabinet and the dishwasher meet. I've always wanted a corner cabinet/lazy Andy turntable in there.

I'm with Dan, notching the drawer could have led to a major remodel.

You've mentioned at least twice now that your wife does not want the house tented. It must be serious.

Or has your hearing gone and she wants to keep the same colors, does not want it tinted?

Think Bub!!

Andy, I wouldn't mind doing a major remodel but dust is my wife's Kryptonite.

****, I need to actually listen when she talks. I wish she didn't sound like Charlie Brown's teacher.

 

[Bob Heine]

I took yesterday off to run errands with my wife. Back at it today. Each evening I spray insecticide in the laundry room and stuff a towel under the door. There were dead termites on the windowsill yesterday morning and more this morning. I vacuumed the room clean before I quit on Monday evening.

I used my frame-less hacksaw to cut through one nail on the end of the board and marked the others, hoping this 2"x12" would come out easy like the first one. I realized I would be there quite a while cutting each nail with a hacksaw blade.

To speed things up I brought out the little one-hand reciprocating saw and cut through the rest of the nails. Couldn't budge it so I switched blades and cut through the 2-by without digging too deep into the plywood sheathing. Couldn't get a good purchase on the block of wood so I drove a #12 screw in and used it as my pry-bar target.

Turns out the sheathing is stapled to the framing with 2-inch staples that are holding real good. I also have some lag bolts mounting the hurricane shutter track above the window so I had to remove those as well.

I continued cutting chunks out until there was only this small piece left. It had some more live winged termites in it that got upset when I broke into their gallery.

Once all the 2-by pieces are gone, I trimmed all the nails and staples flush with the sheathing and studs. Put all the cut pieces of wood in a plastic-lined garbage can to show Terminix. Picked up the small pieces, replaced the vacuum bag and cleaned up the area so it can all be treated. One more blast of insecticide as I left for the day....

 

[shortykorte]

You're getting there. Glad it was localized to just those two header boards.

Digging the 70's phone in every room you have going on.

 

[oldironfarmer]

" I wish she didn't sound like Charlie Brown's teacher."



All the adults sounded that way, didn't they?

Great job on the termite damage. Are you sure the damage is limited to the headers? The plywood spacer looks green, do you suppose it is ground contact treated?

 

[zmotorsports]

Glad the damage wasn't more extensive.

Mike.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Bob, As above /\.

Your termites look way different to what we have out this neck of the woods, ours are more the subterranean variety known out here as white ants..

All the best with your repairs..

 

[Bob Heine]

You're getting there. Glad it was localized to just those two header boards.

Digging the 70's phone in every room you have going on.

Thanks for stopping by Stewart! It has been a pleasant surprise that the damage is so limited.

" I wish she didn't sound like Charlie Brown's teacher."



All the adults sounded that way, didn't they?

Great job on the termite damage. Are you sure the damage is limited to the headers? The plywood spacer looks green, do you suppose it is ground contact treated?

Hi Andy! I'm glad those Peanuts specials hit the airwaves long after I graduated. I would have spent a good deal more time in detention after school because I mimicked the teachers who were trying to lower my IQ (Ignorance Quotient).

I continued removing drywall from the studs and below the window today and there are no further signs of infestation with one exception. The paper (cellulose) on the insulation vapor barrier was pretty chewed up. Maybe I'll install a plastic or Tyvek barrier over un-faced R-13 insulation.

Glad the damage wasn't more extensive.

Mike.

Mike, I'm with you. This is a trivial infestation in terms of wood damage but a major catastrophe for my wife's white blouse/top collection. In a matter of minutes after they lose their wings, they start eating the 100% white cotton items hanging on the rod in front of the window.

The clothes are stacked on the bed in the guest room where I watch "my" shows (Car and Home repair) so my wife can watch hers on the big TV (*********** Your Husband and Get Away with It). Out of curiosity I counted the tops (actually the hangers) and it's something north of 150. All of them came from thrift stores with most on sale for $1.00 or less. I predict a thrift store shopping spree in the near future.

Bob, As above /\.

Your termites look way different to what we have out this neck of the woods, ours are more the subterranean variety known out here as white ants..

All the best with your repairs..

Thank you Steve! These lazy dry wood termites are brown and work slowly. We have the white ones as well and they are voracious. Wait, that sounds awfully racist.
The white ants in Victoria are like our subterranean termites, being invisible until you break a mud tube or infested timber. Being out of sight makes their million worker nests a little less frightening. The Queensland colonies made me shiver. I'm pretty sure the real estate agent will be telling me this is a feature on the block they're offering when I decide to move down under.

Yeah, that's an Aussie termite nest!

 

[shortykorte]

When it comes to clothes and TV shows, I think we married twins.
Looking at that termite mount, our ant mounts aren't so bad now.


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[oldironfarmer]

I never had termites eat clothes!

Now that would be an issue with shop time

 

[Joe-R]

Hi Bob,

Nice job on the drawer notch!!! You make it look easy. And good luck with the termite repair!!! That is no fun at all, been there done that at my old house. We have the mud tube variety here in Missouri. Apparently the little buggers moved to my house after the next door neighbors treated their house. I got my house treated, but not the tiny little one car garage. That was long before GarageJournal for me. The little critters then munched the garage to where it was somewhat questionable from a structural standpoint. But it wasn't discovered until too late in the sale process - the new owners got to deal with it.

Joe

 

[Grizz1963]

Real buggers.

I did start to have visions of you tearing the whole place apart,

 

[Bob Heine]

All, I stepped away for a few days, celebrating grandchildrens' high school graduations. Also following up with Termininx to re-treat the retreated area. Had more termites show up in the laundry room.

When it comes to clothes and TV shows, I think we married twins.
Looking at that termite mount, our ant mounts aren't so bad now.


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Stewart, that made me smile!

I never had termites eat clothes!

Now that would be an issue with shop time

Andy, termites like cellulose in all its forms. Bleached cotton is a wonderful source of cellulose and at least in my wife's case, the only garments they chewed holes in were the 100% white cotton ones. I'm sticking to my colorful shirts (lots of red hides the blood stains).

Hi Bob,

Nice job on the drawer notch!!! You make it look easy. And good luck with the termite repair!!! That is no fun at all, been there done that at my old house. We have the mud tube variety here in Missouri. Apparently the little buggers moved to my house after the next door neighbors treated their house. I got my house treated, but not the tiny little one car garage. That was long before GarageJournal for me. The little critters then munched the garage to where it was somewhat questionable from a structural standpoint. But it wasn't discovered until too late in the sale process - the new owners got to deal with it.

Joe

Thank you Joe and thanks for following along. I feel like I was on the other end of your story. After buying the house, I found out the owners of the lot were fined for allowed illegal fill to be dumped on the property. The fill included lots and lots of tree stumps that were supposedly removed after paying the fines. I believe the house was constructed on top of a giant subterranean termite nest that started with one of the stumps. An improperly installed cedar shake roof sealed the deal. Six months before we bought it they had the house treated but didn't sign up for the guarantee.

Real buggers.

I did start to have visions of you tearing the whole place apart,

Rian, every time I remove drywall I have the same visions. Just to be certain they are gone, I'm leaving the wall section open. Turns out that's not a smart move. I painted the laundry room pink (hey, it's her territory) a year ago and now SWMBO has adopted Aqua (or Turquoise) as THE color of the year. As long as I have to paint that 4'x8' wall section, may as well change the color in the room... and WE may as well paint the adjoining master bath at the same time.

 

[BBChevro]

Hey Bob, nice repair of the termite damage.

 

[dlcwent]

Still here and watching you Bob. I can't let Andy be the spokesman for the group.(Although he's probably the one I'd for if we needed one)

Another fine repair made by the one armed bandit.