Boring!

The next piece of furniture awaiting repair and restoration is Wardrobe No. 2, another oak piece.  It also appears to be locally made, with what looks like  rimu softwood on the parts that are not visible.  This one was won on the TradeMe auction site for the princely sum of $29.

Wardrobe in original condition

As with Wardrobe No. 1, there is some damage requiring repair.

Damaged door trim

But the most significant issue is borer, which has been eating away at all of the concealed softwood (bottom and top, drawer sides and back) and even some of the oak in places.

So first thing to do is to treat it with a permethrin insecticide concentrate mixed with mineral turpentine.  Permethrin is used in a variety of products from flea killers to a treatment for head lice in children. 

  

Wardrobe and escritoire

And here it will stay for the next six months or so.  The borer beetles take flight some time between November and March, so any evidence of this or dust from larvae will decide whether a second treatment is needed.

The big bag is a heavy duty king sized mattress bag - free from a local furniture store.  The writing desk or escritoire in front of the wardrobe has also recently arrived in the workshop and also has insect damage, although as with the wardrobe we don't know whether the guests have vacated.  A very boring wait but better safe than sorry.