What is a good way to start breaking down hard wood?

[Joxer]

I'm working on uping my substrate mix for my Isopods and Millipedes and want to add hard wood chips. is there something i can do to help them to start braking down or just add them to my mix?

 

[Aquarimax]

Based on @mickiem ‘smexcellent substrate recipe, I don’t bother with the chips anymore...i use the pellets and soak them. They basically break down into wet sawdust, which is becomes suitable food for the isopods and millipedes much more quickly.

 

[schmiggle]

Generally speaking, the easiest way I know of to break down wood is to stick a lignin degrading fungus to it, e.g. Pleurotus or Shiitake (plus then you get nice mushrooms). However, I don't actually know what level of breaking down is appropriate in this case, and the method I just referenced will take on the order of months

 

[Scourge]

Couple of interesting videos here:

BTW, anybody interested in keeping or breeding beetles should definately check out his channel

 

[Arthroverts]

Here is @Hisserdude's way to create rotting wood using Traeger wood pellets,
http://invertebratedude.blogspot.com/2015/10/making-rotten-wood.html

Hope this helps,

Arthroverts