Tim-bor Professional

4.5 out of 5 stars 112 Reviews | 127 Q&A

Tim-bor Professional
Price/Ea.
$18.98

Buy 4 or more: $16.49 each

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Average Rating

4.5 out of 5 stars Rating: 4.7

112 Reviews | 127 Q&A

Product Overview

Tim-bor Professional should only be applied for eradicating fungus off of wood and for protecting new wood from future infestation.  If treating any wood with an existing infestation, you should always use Bora-Care. Bora-Care will penetrate through an entire piece of wood much deeper and ensure proper control, and it will protect the wood you are treating forever.

Tim-bor Professional is an insecticide, fungicide and wood preservative for the protection and treatment of lumber against fungal decay and wood destroying insects. Tim-bor is a water soluble, inorganic borate salt with insecticidal and fungicidal properties. It is an effective treatment for wood to kill and prevent infestations of decay fungi including white rot, brown rot (i.e. Poria) and wet rots. Tim-bor does not treat mold or prevent mold from growing.

Features and Specs

Active Ingredient Boron sodium oxide (B8Na2O13), tetrahydrate (12280-03-4) 98%
Target pests Wood Destroying Organisms: Termites, Beetles, Carpenter Ants
For use in Interior and Exterior as an Insecticide, Fungicide, or Wood Preservative - Use on Untreated Wood

25# Tim-bor includes a Scoop for easy measuring
Application Can be used as a Foam, Liquid, or Dust

If there is a present Powder-post Beetle infestation, BoraCare is the preferred product, especially for furniture, because it absorbs further into the wood to take care of the infestation
Tim-bor only absorbs 1/4 of an inch
Yield 1.5 pounds of Tim-bor will treat up to 200 sq. ft of untreated wood
Use as a Dust against several insects
NOT FOR SALE TO CT, NY (Restricted To Licensed Applicators Only)
Parts Included 25 lb buckets come with a half pound measuring scoop
Shipping Weight 1.67 lbs
Manufacturer Nisus (Mfg. Number: PRO-TIMBOR8X1)
UPC 616609111537
EPA Registration 64405-8

Details

Timbor can be used as a Dust, Liquid, or Foam. It is water soluble, economical, odorless and can be used in conjnction with fumigation for residual protection. It is formulated with a concern for the environment.

Timbor is only absorbed 1/4 inch into the wood and leaves a white powdery coating. If you are treating thick wood or want it to look like its original state, then purchase the BoraCare product.

What is Timbor?

Timbor is a wood preservative that works as an insecticide and fungicide.

What is the active ingredient in Timbor?

The active ingredient in Timbor is disodium octaborate tetrahydrate, a natural borate compound.

What is a borate compound?

Borate compounds are derived from mineral deposits that contain the element Boron. These compounds are use in the production of many products including ceramics, glass and medicines and also work extremely well as insecticides and fungicides.

Why is Timbor considered an insecticide and fungicide?

Insects are exposed to the active ingredient by eating treated wood or by ingestion while grooming. Borates are a contact toxicant to fungi. The borates prevent metabolism of food by insects and fungi causing death.

How is Timbor applied?

Timbor is applied to the surface of bare wood as a liquid. It can also be applied as a dust into void attic and wall void areas for labeled insect control.

How does Timbor work as a wood preservative?

When Timbor is applied as a liquid to the surface of bare wood, it diffuses into the wood to make the wood itself toxic to wood destroying organisms such as wood decay fungus or drywood termites.

Is Timbor concentrate a liquid?

Timbor comes in a powder form that is used as a powder or mixed with water to form a liquid solution. To create a 10% solution mix one pound of Timbor to one gallon of water. This solution must be applied twice to a bare wood surface. To create a 15% solution, mix 1.5 pounds of Timbor to one gallon of water. This solution can be applied only once to the wood surface.

Is Timbor labeled to treat wood decay fungus?

Timbor is labeled for the control and prevention of wood decay fungi including white rot, brown rot, poria and wet rots.

Is Timbor labeled for the control of carpenter ants?

Timbor is labeled for the control and prevention of carpenter ants by applying Timbor dust into active ant galleries and into areas where ants may enter the structure.

What wood destroying organisms is Timbor labeled to control?

Timbor is labeled for the control and prevention of drywood termites, wood destroying beetles, wood decay fungi, carpenter ants and termites.

Can Timbor be foamed?

Timbor can be foamed using equipment designed for foaming applications. Foaming requires a 15% solution in conjunction with a foaming agent. A dry foam is recommended for best results.

Does Timbor affect ornamental plants?

Yes, over spray on plants or spills near the plant roots can kill or retard plant growth.

Review Search   
Sort Reviews
  • 5 of 5 Stars

    Timbor DIY vs Commercial

    By Jeff on 05/28/2011

    A national chain quoted me $2,900 to spray the trusses of my new home under construction. I paid about $65 for the Timbor and spent about 4 hours spraying. Absolutely worth it!

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    78 of 82 people found this review helpful

  • 5 of 5 Stars

    Timbor

    By Russ on 03/14/2011

    Easy to use, included measuring cup, just added to water in a separate 5 gallon pail and agitated with a drill and paint mixer, pour into pump up sprayer and saturated walls of older garage. I sprayed twice waiting about 30 minutes between application, for good penetration, had it been spring or summer I might have made several wet on wet applications as the wood was old and dry. I purchased the 25 pound pail and have several more structures to treat. My (former thanks to DMOPC) pest control person said that Timbor was a great low cost addition to a complete termite treatment. I also note that Timbor is especially good at repelling carpenter ants, and fungus which I believe is the cause of dry rot. Thanks DMOPC

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    65 of 66 people found this review helpful

  • 5 of 5 Stars

    Good Stuf

    By Tim on 10/18/2010

    The price at DoMyOwnPestControl was better than I could find elsewhere and their support was great. This stuff (borate minerals) has been around a million years and is known to make wood toxic most insects including drywood termites, carpenter ants, ants and wood destroying fungi. It works by dehydrating them. It doesn't kill subterrainian termites, but those are easier to find by inspection (mud tubes). It is as advertised and, applied properly will work. I had drywood termites and ants crawling all over the structure before treating the outside with this stuff and now they are all dead, gone and discouraged. I've covered up the outside wood (siding, shingles, etc.) and so long as the cover remains intact, this stuff will continue to do its job.

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    51 of 57 people found this review helpful

  • 4 of 5 Stars

    Small quantities not available

    By Laura on 04/23/2010

    Verified Purchase

    Product was easily mixed. Would have preferred directions for mixing smaller quantities on package. Might use BoraCare next time for effectiveness but small quantities of that were not available and it was costly.

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    41 of 50 people found this review helpful

  • 5 of 5 Stars

    Timbor

    By Cathy on 06/15/2010

    Verified Purchase

    The Timbor powder was easy to mix and use & DoMyOwnPestControl made it simple to order.

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    30 of 32 people found this review helpful

See all 112 customer reviews

Questions & Answers

Have a question about this product?
  
Sort Questions
Q
What is the different between BoraCare and Timbor? Both seem to be disodium octaborate tetrahydrate

Trying to kill powderpost beetles.

A
Bora-Care and Timbor are both borate products used to treat wood, but they could not be more different.  Timbor is in a powder form that is mixed with water.  It is much less expensive but it is intended more for protecting new wood only, or wood that you know does not have any issues.  Timbor will only penetrate the outer layer of the wood (about 1/4 inch) so it is more for protection or for treating fungus on the surface of the wood.

If you have an active infestation of termites, powder-post beetles or wood borers deep inside the wood then Timbor would not make it through the wood to kill these insects, up to 4 inches with one application or 8 with 2 appliations.  BoraCare is a liquid borate but has an additive, a glycol solution, which allows the product to penetrate through the entire piece of wood, therefore it should be used any time you have an active infestation because you are guaranteed it will kill anything in the wood no matter how deep it is.  Also, BoraCare will last forever in the wood so you will never have to worry about any infestations in the wood that you treat ever again.

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229 of 240 people found this answer helpful

Q
How long does a Timbor treatment last? How often would a crawlspace need to be treated?
A
The manufacturer states that Timbor will last for the life of the wood as long as the wood is not exposed to rain or flooding.  It will stay in the wood forever because of how it bonds to the cells of the wood.

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171 of 181 people found this answer helpful

Q
Recommended termite treatment(s)?

I have an 80 year old wood frame house set on piers over bare earth. I have had problems with drywood termites between the finish floor, subfloor and around the window frames. I have had the house tented twice. I would like to treat the house myself to get rid of any current activity and prevent against future activity. What products would you recommend? I have Timbor that I bought from you years ago, but I am wondering if I should plan on a more aggressive attack with another product?

A
Timbor is a great product, but it does not penetrate or last as long as another product made by the same company called Bora-CareBora-Care is the best wood treatment product available because it penetrates all the way through a piece of wood where Timbor will only penetrate the outer coating.  If you have older wood then you should always use Bora-Care. Bora-Care will also stay in the wood forever, preventing any new infestations for years to come.

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110 of 113 people found this answer helpful

Q
Can exterior house paint be applied over Timbor-treated wood?

Will a primer paint, such as Kilz, perform normally when applied to Timbor treated wood?

A
Any primer or paint can safely be applied to Timbor treated wood as long as Timbor is completely dry after treatment and dry to the touch.  There should be no issues once it is completely dried.

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77 of 82 people found this answer helpful

Q
How often would I have to replenish the surface if I used Timbor on a log home?

The surface will be stained with a Behr siding product for sealing/staining purposes.

A

Timbor is more typically used on wood that will not be exposed to weathering and the outside.  You would need to re-apply the Timbor each time you re-sealed the wood with the Behr product.  The same company that makes Timbor makes a product called Bora-Care.  It is more expensive, but it is a liquid solution instead of a powder.  The Bora-Care will penetrate deeper in the wood, and protect the wood indefinitely so you would not have to re apply the product ever again.   Also, Bora-Care dries clear and is easier to paint or stain over whereas the Timbor leaves a white powder on the surface and is more difficult to paint or stain.  

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71 of 77 people found this answer helpful

See all 127 customer questions

Tim-bor Professional 4.5 out of 5 stars Rating: 4.7 (112 Reviews / 127 Q&A)

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