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Timbor Insecticide & Wood Preservative

- A low toxicity treatment for insects and rot fungi -

Summary: Timbor is a natural insecticide and fungicide that is widely used as wood preservative and protectant. It is composed of nearly pure sodium borate, a mined crystalline form of boron.

Jack DeAngelis, PhD
OSU Ext. Entomologist (ret.)

Timbor is an insecticide/fungicide/wood preservative composed of 98% sodium borate (borax), a sodium salt of boric acid. Timbor is a white, fluffy powder that can be applied directly to wall voids, etc., or dissolved in water and applied as a course spray* to surfaces. See the factsheet and specimen label below for additional technical and product use information.

As an insecticide/fungicide Timbor is labeled for use against termites, wood destroying beetles, carpenter ants, and wood decay fungi. It is very effective against many of the most important wood destroying organisms and exhibits relatively low toxicity compared to other pesticides.

common misspellings and common names: Tim-Bor, borax

* Timbor is not a wettable powder formulation but rather dissolves completely in water to make a true solution.
borax (borate) crystals from which Timbor is made
Borax (sodium borate) crystals from which Timbor and other borate products are made. Photo by Aram Dulyan, Wikipedia

The main ingredient in Timbor, borax, is mined as a crystal (above) of nearly pure sodium borate. Borax has many commercial uses including water softening, flame retardent, glass additive, and as an insecticide/fungicide.

Timbor Specimen Label (pdf file)

A specimen label is the official product label that contains all of the information required for registration in the US and instructions for use.

Boric Acid Factsheet (pdf file)

The National Pesticide Telecommunications Network (NPTN) factsheet for the active ingredient in Timbor.

The Pest Management Store

Identification guides, reference and gardening books, tools, etc.

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Jack DeAngelis, Ph.D.

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