Woodworm infestation can be pretty damaging if left unchecked for years. But once treated, you need to fill in the damage done by the insects. This also prevents any future infestations from manifesting.
How can you fill woodworm holes in furniture? For furniture with few woodworm holes, you can use wax sticks to seal the holes up. If there is larger damage, then you would have to use putty to seal the tunnels and holes made by the beetles. This is essential to fill in the gaps and strengthen the furniture for future use.
For furniture having a coat of finish, you can use wax. If you plan to strip or have already stripped the paint off the furniture, it is better to use stucco and sand off the top layer.
Woodworm holes can be filled using many ways based on the furniture and the extent of the damage. But make sure to complete the treatment before you do fill the holes up. This will avoid re-infestation.
What Can I Fill Woodworm Holes With?
Woodworm holes that look hollow are still active. Some dust falls off when you tap them. They need to be treated before filling them in.
Wood worm holes that look black or empty are probably dead for some time. So you can fill them up immediately. Here is how to fill in different holes.
For minor holes:
You can easily fill in small Woodworm holes such as a wicker basket by using soft wax or shellac filler sticks. Pick a colour closest to your furniture. I recommend these:
There are two ways to use these sticks:
- Heat up the wax sticks and melt them directly into the holes.
- Warm a small wax piece in your fingers and push it into the holes.
Use a spatula to scrape off the excess later on. Clean the surface using a clean, buff cloth.
For larger holes:
Larger holes need a more dedicated treatment. Use a wood filler that matches your wood’s shade. I recommend using this:
- First, use a scraper and cover the holes using the filler.
- Then sand off the excess filler applied.
- You will then have to re-polish the area you just sanded.
How to Repair Woodworm Damage
To cover up extensive damage, you may have to use a double volley of wood hardener and wood filler for badly damaged wood. Here is how to do it:
- First, use a wood hardener to strengthen the wood.
- Then strengthen it further by filling it further using a two-part wood filler.
- You will then need to sand it flat again and re-polish it.
- Additionally, you can even paint the furniture as it will hide the filler and filled holes.
Woodworm Repair
The extent of infestation will give you a clearer idea of what to use to repair these woodworm holes. You can even call infestation experts that help you salvage your furniture while treating the woodworm.
In dire cases, they even help save furniture that has tunnels bored into the core.
How Do You Treat Woodworm Holes In Furniture?
Woodworms can be pretty pesky, so it’s better to call restoration specialists to look into the amount of damage. In major infestations, the structural integrity of the furniture is at stake.
These specialists are trained to take care of such situations.
For smaller infestations, you can treat the furniture on your own. Simply rub the affected areas with a woodworm killer. Make sure you get into the crevices and holes too.
Before that, keep in mind to remove any varnish or wax coats over the furniture. However, this may not assure long-term protection, and only the local areas are treated.
Other ways to treat them are to remove the frass covering the holes with a vacuum first. And then cover it with wax or stucco. Follow it with some thorough sanding over the area.
For larger infestations, you can spray an insecticide over the affected areas. Although its advertised for plants I always use this and its worked a treat for me:
This prevents both infestations and future attacks. Make sure these chemicals do not harm the wood’s finish. You must also use them in an open and well-ventilated area.
How To Fill Woodworm Holes In Beams
Filling old woodworm holes in beams is a necessary process to restore the appearance and structural integrity of the affected wood.
The process is identical to filling holes in other types of furniture, beams often play a critical role in supporting a building’s structure. Therefore, ensuring the proper treatment and repair of wood worm holes in beams is essential for maintaining safety and stability.
Filling Woodworm Holes
Filling woodworm holes in beams is a straightforward process that involves inspection, treatment, cleaning, and application of a suitable filler.
The main difference between beams and other types of furniture is the importance of structural integrity, making professional inspection and treatment crucial for active infestations.
A common way of treating woodworm infestation in beams is by applying an agent called Boron. Two coats of treatment should do the job just fine.
You can spray this agent over your beams. It is vapourless and odourless, so it works great for closed or less-ventilated spaces.
Another way to fill old woodworm holes in beams is beeswax. Work the below beeswax into the beam holes to trap the larvae before it leaves the timber.
Here’s the best beeswax I’ve found that spreads evenly and doesn’t leave a shine to the wood:
This will kill it eventually inside. Remember to then fill the holes with wood filler and paint and sand over them. This will hide any holes well.
Insecticides that are surface-based are great to kill beetles that emerge from the timber. This prevents them from mating and starting a new infestation on the furniture.
This is great for fresh infestations as the surface insecticides are only effective in the first one or two millimetres.
Filling Woodworm Holes Before Painting
Most people believe that painting over in or above woodworm holes kills them. But that’s not true.
Paint does not kill the beetles and larvae, nor does it stop the infestation. Also, latex paint or standard oil does not stop woodworm from coming back.
In case your furniture has a varnish or paint over it, remember to remove the paint before applying the woodworm killer or insecticide. After that, it is safe to fill the woodworm holes with wood fillers or wax melts.
You can use a lacquer-based wood filler. Once that is done, and you have sanded off the filled holes, you can paint the surface and varnish it. The infestations will not re-occur.
Filling Wormholes In Wood With Epoxy
Epoxy is one of the best wood fillers around. It not only hides unsightly wood surfaces but also makes the wood durable and strong.
Filling the wood holes with epoxy also makes them more glossy and gives more clarity to the countertop, desk, or wooden floor.
I’ve made mistakes with finding the right Epoxy. This by Gorilla has been the most reliable for me in the past:
Here is how you can fill wood worm holes with epoxy:
- First, calculate the size of the holes in the wood and the amount of epoxy you will require to fill them.
- Choose the best quality resin you can get. The good features to look out for are viscosity, versatility, the colour shade of the resin, and the use of the wood surface before choosing.
- Clear out all the debris in the holes. Use a vacuum if you have to. This is to make sure no debris is caught in the resin after you fill the holes with them.
- Mix the epoxy thoroughly as per the manufacturer’s instructions. Do it carefully so as not to affect the quality of the resin.
- Carefully start from one end of the wooden surface and start filling the epoxy in it. Use epoxy resin for minute holes. You may have to pour it over the whole surface to fill them.
- Sand over the layer of epoxy and try to even out the surface for further activities like painting or polishing.
- If there are any more holes left, refill them with epoxy and sand again till they are filled.
Epoxy is a very powerful agent to fill in wood worm holes. But ensure that the epoxy is mixed well and has no weakness or uneven textures. Also, empty the holes properly before filling them in.
But before using all that, make sure to kill all the beetles and possible larvae infesting the timber.
Related Questions
How Can You Fill Woodworm Holes In Cutting Boards?
You can either use mineral oil to first clean out the holes and then fill them with paraffin wax or beeswax.
This can be followed by the usual sanding and varnish. Or, you can Starboard CA glue to fill insect holes or woodworm holes in serving or cutting boards. This will also prevent reinfestation.
What Is The Best Treatment For Woodworm In Furniture?
Permethrin growth inhibitors are the most common insecticide used to kill and treat woodworm infestations. This ingredient is found in most woodworm killers.
Can Woodworm In Furniture spread?
While a woodworm infestation is not infectious, it can spread to other furniture. Woodworm beetles mate, lay eggs, and these hatchlings spread the infestation to other furniture pieces.
However, many modern furniture pieces like tables have finishes like paint, varnish, and wax that can prevent this.
How to Disguise Woodworm Holes
You can easily disguise woodworm holes. But you need to treat them with a woodworm killer or powerful insecticide. Not doing this can cause the infestation to occur again.
You can fill old woodworm holes with wax stick melts or stucco. If the holes are too large, you can use a hardener followed by a wood filler to take care of them.
This is followed by a sanding to even out the surface. Once the surface is even, you can paint, varnish, or even polish it to get the perfect finish.
