The potential for moisture sorption by boron rods following application to wood to affect subsequent boron diffusion was investigated in small Douglas-fir blocks conditioned to 30, 60 or 90% moisture content (MC). MCs tended to decline over the 180 day test period, but there was no evidence that the rods acted to draw moisture away from the wood. As expected, boron movement tended to increase with increasing MC, but threshold levels were still reached within 180 days, even in blocks at 30% MC. There was no evidence that boron rods sorb enough water to reduce moisture availability for subsequent diffusion.

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