My Whip is being devoured from the inside!!!!!

[Charybdis]

If that title didn't get your attention, I don't know what will! But unfortunately, it is true. Let me set the stage:

I got one of Magnoli's economical whip offerings back in March. It has been fantastic and not much to tell. I keep it on top of a box in one of my costume closets along with other costume pieces, clothing, etc. A couple of weeks ago, I noticed when I looked in the closet, that there was a small lump of very fine powder located beneath the whip handle, right near the bulb at the end of the grip (not sure what that is called). I thought that it was something perhaps from the ceiling or something that caused the small spot of material to appear there. I didn't think much of it until I wiped it away. Well, a few days later, I looked back in the closet and there was the tiny lump of powder again!

I was totally flummoxed, perplexed and puzzled as to what was causing this tiny lump of powder, not only that, but not even knowing what the powder was made of! I wiped it away again. Same thing happens a few days later! This time, I noticed that some of the powder was on the lower grip of my whip, sort of inbetween the strips of leather that make up the handle. It was finally at this time that I noticed a tiny hole smack dab in the middle of the one of the strips of leather at the base of the grip. I wiped the powder away again and returned the next day. Sure enough, tiny amount of powder right from around where this tiny hole was!! It was then that I finally determined that there is something living inside my whip!! It seems to be boring into the material inside the leather and the "powder" was really bits of the leather and whatever else is inside the whip. I still have not seen what this little bugger looks like but I am determined to get rid of him. I sprayed the handle with bug killer and for the most part, no more powder! I think I got him. But just yesterday, I noticed some darker colored powder, very faint on the box below my whip, so there is the possibility that there is either another critter in there or the one I am after has moved to another location. This time the material seems to have come from the very base of the whip handle where the strap is attached. I think I am going to watch carefully and spray the handle again.

I am very concerned that this little critter is going to destroy my whip from the inside!!!

Have any of you ever come across this??? And not only that, any advice on how to get rid of this thing???

[BendingOak]

Could this be braiding soap drying out? And flaking?

[Charybdis]

From only one exact spot on the entire whip? Again, I am open to all suggestions...

[WhipDude]

Pictures?

[Canuck Digger]

While many bugs can be killed with a prolonged exposure to very low temperatures, ALL will dire from exposure to extreme heat.

Simply put, either you freeze your whip for a month or two, or you pour enough boiling water over it to completely cover the entire whip and then let it settle until the water cools. Of course if you decide to pour scalding water on your whip, you will need to make sure it is completely dry before you give it a good dressing.

Both are a bit extreme, but I've treated whips like this (using both methods one after the other) and while the boiling water DID alter the leather a bit (it made the fall a little rigid), for the most part, the whip survived the ordeal, but nothing else survived...

[bernie47]

While many bugs can be killed with a prolonged exposure to very low temperatures, ALL will dire from exposure to extreme heat.

Simply put, either you freeze your whip for a month or two, or you pour enough boiling water over it to completely cover the entire whip and then let it settle until the water cools. Of course if you decide to pour scalding water on your whip, you will need to make sure it is completely dry before you give it a good dressing.

Both are a bit extreme, but I've treated whips like this (using both methods one after the other) and while the boiling water DID alter the leather a bit (it made the fall a little rigid), for the most part, the whip survived the ordeal, but nothing else survived...

I don't think boiling water is a good idea Franco.Have a quick read of this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiled_leather" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[lantzn]

Maybe it's a hide beetle or its larvae.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermestes_maculatus

[Canuck Digger]

I don't think boiling water is a good idea Franco.Have a quick read of this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boiled_leather" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;[/quote]

No I guess not Bernie.
Cheers,

Franco

[Charybdis]

So far so good. Nothing as of the last couple of weeks. Hopefully the poison I saturated the handle with took care of the little bugger...

[Charybdis]

Dang! I spoke too soon. Another tiny hole has appeared on the very bottom of the handle on the knob! It's a very neat little hole. I am going to dip the end of the handle in bug spray and see if I can't take this little guy out. Once and for all!

[Charybdis]

OK, I've got some good stuff I use around the house to kill all sorts of bugs. I poured some into a cup and then dipped the entire end of the whip into it. It has dried out now but the handle got pretty soaked through and through in order to seep down into the leather and kill the little guy.

So far so good, but the handle stinks of bug killer! I think I need that Pecard's now to keep it soft and supple...

[solbergg]

This thread really needs a photo or two.

[JR]

Holes in leather with powdery residue - sounds like it might be a carpet beetle problem. Not that, I've ever experienced this. The closest I've ever had were moths, but fortunately it was a small hole in the cotton lining of my leather jacket. I found this article that talks about carpet beetles and its prevention and control:
http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/p ... eetles.htm

There's also an eHow article on getting rid of carpet beetles, but there may be better ones elsewhere:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2321690_get-rid ... etles.html

But, Solbergg is right. It would be more helpful for us to diagnose if you posted some pics.

[Charybdis]

I will try to get some up soon. My wife is just about to be having a baby though!! So it might be a bit before I can get to this!! Pinhole sized hole in the leather...if you can imagine that, but I will try to get some good close ups at some point so you all can see what it is and to look for this in your whips/leather goods...