NotURMailman
Member
First, let me say that this may be a hair brained half hatched idea, but I have done a lot of research.
This is what I was thinking:
Get a chunk of unmachined wood.
Get two glass aquariums.
Put smaller aquarium inside of larger aquarium.
1" or so layer of dirt in bottom of small aquarium.
Now here's where you will think I've lost it. Next you put 100-200 termites in there.
Put the wood in there.
Keep the soil moist, but do not apply water directly to the wood.
Let the wood stay in until there are plenty of voids in it. Length of time will depend on the number of termites and size of wood.
Take the wood out and put it in an air tight container and let sit for two weeks. This will cause any termites that were in the wood when you took it out to die.
Use band saw to machine wood into 1x1 pieces.
Dry wood in toaster oven. Cracks and checking are not a problem what so ever.
Use compresed air to clean out all of the voids and tunnels.
Stabilize wood in Cactus juice, maybe dyed maybe not depending on what type of wood it is.
After stabilization is complete and the pieces have cooled, cast in colored resin (like the wasted wood method).
Have some pretty cool blanks.
There are actually places that sell termites consisting of only workers and soldier. These can not reproduce and do not fly. They also can not climb glass. Both aquariums will have metal screen tops. Double aquariums is just a precaution to ensure no escaping. These termites should live around one year.
I know most of you are thinking it just sounds like a PITA, but I like projects and experiments. Sounds like fun to me.
I can get a 25 gallon and a 55 gallon used aquarium of off Craigslist for $60 for both and a used toaster over for $5-$10.
Would you buy one of these blanks?
I'm thinking keep 3-4 of each batch for myself and sell the rest off.
Or perhaps I'm just completely batty... LOL!
This is what I was thinking:
Get a chunk of unmachined wood.
Get two glass aquariums.
Put smaller aquarium inside of larger aquarium.
1" or so layer of dirt in bottom of small aquarium.
Now here's where you will think I've lost it. Next you put 100-200 termites in there.
Put the wood in there.
Keep the soil moist, but do not apply water directly to the wood.
Let the wood stay in until there are plenty of voids in it. Length of time will depend on the number of termites and size of wood.
Take the wood out and put it in an air tight container and let sit for two weeks. This will cause any termites that were in the wood when you took it out to die.
Use band saw to machine wood into 1x1 pieces.
Dry wood in toaster oven. Cracks and checking are not a problem what so ever.
Use compresed air to clean out all of the voids and tunnels.
Stabilize wood in Cactus juice, maybe dyed maybe not depending on what type of wood it is.
After stabilization is complete and the pieces have cooled, cast in colored resin (like the wasted wood method).
Have some pretty cool blanks.
There are actually places that sell termites consisting of only workers and soldier. These can not reproduce and do not fly. They also can not climb glass. Both aquariums will have metal screen tops. Double aquariums is just a precaution to ensure no escaping. These termites should live around one year.
I know most of you are thinking it just sounds like a PITA, but I like projects and experiments. Sounds like fun to me.
I can get a 25 gallon and a 55 gallon used aquarium of off Craigslist for $60 for both and a used toaster over for $5-$10.
Would you buy one of these blanks?
I'm thinking keep 3-4 of each batch for myself and sell the rest off.
Or perhaps I'm just completely batty... LOL!
:tongue:
