Saw Dust

[tarm]

Has anyone here tried fine mill oak sawdust as flake soil? It's quite easy to find massive amounts for free or very cheap. Is it too fine?

 

[JKim]

How fine is the fine you are referring to? I had a southern red oak at my backyard, and I had to cut this tree down couple years ago. AND I got quite a lot of amount of sawdust from using electric chainsaw. It wasn't as fine as those substrate made out of BBQ wood pellet, of course, but more like very rough, and largest particle size was about a quarter inch. So... I ended up not using it.

I heard that you can get these for free from local millworks (if they carry oaks or any other tree species that works)..

 

[Ratmosphere]

The particles look very fine and I have not worked with such find material if the pictures attached are comparable to the stuff you have.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1067208899/fine-oak-sawdust-200g-for-modellingdiy?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_d-toys_and_games-toys-miniature_toys-role_playing_miniatures&utm_custom1=_k_EAIaIQobChMIhpHN4N_J8gIVhL7ICh3-vAMWEAQYASABEgKdb_D_BwE_k_&utm_content=go_12560180294_126270834464_506995646597_aud-966866687174la-317092176223_c__1067208899_12768591&utm_custom2=12560180294&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhpHN4N_J8gIVhL7ICh3-vAMWEAQYASABEgKdb_D_BwE

 

[Dynastes TItyus hunter]

I don't think beetle larvae can live on just raw sawdust. Stag beetle larvae could but rhino beetle larvae have weaker jaws so they can't bite through the wood. 

 

[Beetlesforlife3]

He said for flakesoil lol.

 

[Dynastes TItyus hunter]

Haha, sorry I didn't see that.

 

[tarm]

The particles look very fine and I have not worked with such find material if the pictures attached are comparable to the stuff you have.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1067208899/fine-oak-sawdust-200g-for-modellingdiy?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_d-toys_and_games-toys-miniature_toys-role_playing_miniatures&utm_custom1=_k_EAIaIQobChMIhpHN4N_J8gIVhL7ICh3-vAMWEAQYASABEgKdb_D_BwE_k_&utm_content=go_12560180294_126270834464_506995646597_aud-966866687174la-317092176223_c__1067208899_12768591&utm_custom2=12560180294&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhpHN4N_J8gIVhL7ICh3-vAMWEAQYASABEgKdb_D_BwE

Almost exactly like that, I think finer particles might ferment quicker - not sure about its use though.

 

[Dynastes TItyus hunter]

No, thicker pieces has to be in the flake soil to make it ferment faster. 

 

[Dynastes TItyus hunter]

Both particles are needed which makes the oak pellets perfect for making flake soil. )Oak pellets are also convenient for most people.)

 

[JKim]

@tarm @Dynastes TItyus hunter

@Dynastes TItyus hunter is half right about that having larger particles actually ferment quicker. The fermentation method we are using to make fermented substrate (or flake soil) for scarab rearing is called aerobic fermentation, and it requires continuous ventilation. Having larger particles mixed in would do much better as there are spaces between each particle. Oak pellets, depending on brands, may or may not be better compared to other brands. So far, I noticed Traeger Grills product is the finest, and then B&B (from Academy Sports & Outdoors) comes next. Then Louisiana Grills. There was one more brand I used before, and I can't really remember.. Maybe Pit Boss?

I said half right for a reason. If you just have them naturally fermented without any additives, that is the case as above. However, if you are making substrate, this wouldn't be the case. You know you have to mix them up every now and then. So there won't be really any difference. What actually can matter is the tree species. Hickory tends to not absorb water as much as oak, and Post Oak is the tree species you would use for furniture meaning they won't decompose easily. White Oak is the one that Traeger Grills is using, and has been known for great source of substrate for decades. This doesn't mean White Oak is the only good food source. Pretty much any other related tree species still works fine as long as it has been fermented properly.

 

[tarm]

@tarm @Dynastes TItyus hunter

@Dynastes TItyus hunter is half right about that having larger particles actually ferment quicker. The fermentation method we are using to make fermented substrate (or flake soil) for scarab rearing is called aerobic fermentation, and it requires continuous ventilation. Having larger particles mixed in would do much better as there are spaces between each particle. Oak pellets, depending on brands, may or may not be better compared to other brands. So far, I noticed Traeger Grills product is the finest, and then B&B (from Academy Sports & Outdoors) comes next. Then Louisiana Grills. There was one more brand I used before, and I can't really remember.. Maybe Pit Boss?

I said half right for a reason. If you just have them naturally fermented without any additives, that is the case as above. However, if you are making substrate, this wouldn't be the case. You know you have to mix them up every now and then. So there won't be really any difference. What actually can matter is the tree species. Hickory tends to not absorb water as much as oak, and Post Oak is the tree species you would use for furniture meaning they won't decompose easily. White Oak is the one that Traeger Grills is using, and has been known for great source of substrate for decades. This doesn't mean White Oak is the only good food source. Pretty much any other related tree species still works fine as long as it has been fermented properly.

Interesting! I have a batch going of Bear Mountain Oak because it is only 9 dollars for 20lbs from Tractor Supply - I might have to try Traeger though. I just emailed Bear Mountain to ask what type of wood they use. Maybe sometime in the future when I don't need FS so desperately I'll pick up some bags of Oak dust.