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Alternative to creosote?

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David Kuyper

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Apr 6, 1994, 1:30:17 AM4/6/94
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Just wondering if anyone out there knew of any environmentally benign
alternatives to creosote for treating fence posts.

A neighbour mentioned ground pepper, but I think she's out of her tree.

The key here is that it will be going near a garden so I don't want to
use old oil or diesel...

Thanks
_____
Dave Kuyper
ub...@freenet.victoria.bc.ca
--

Brainwave Surfer

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Apr 6, 1994, 9:01:18 AM4/6/94
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Hmm.. Use Cedar or Locust posts, and that problem goes away, as they last
ages without treatment... Treated lumber seems to be fairly benign to me.
Dunno about treating it yourself... We used creosote on a cow corral, and
the grass did die within a few inches of the posts, and you do have to redo
it 'bout every 4-5 years...

Jim

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The honey bunny

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Apr 6, 1994, 1:02:51 PM4/6/94
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In article <CntoM...@suncad.camosun.bc.ca>,

David Kuyper <ub...@freenet.Victoria.BC.CA> wrote:
>
>Just wondering if anyone out there knew of any environmentally benign
>alternatives to creosote for treating fence posts.
>
I don't know what is in it, but I treated my wood with JASCO TERMIN-8.

--
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Sharon Labchuk

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Apr 7, 1994, 1:19:00 AM4/7/94
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In article <CntoM...@suncad.camosun.bc.ca> ub...@freenet.Victoria.BC.CA (David Kuyper) writes:
>
>Just wondering if anyone out there knew of any environmentally benign
>alternatives to creosote for treating fence posts.
>
There is a safer alternative to treat lumber. It's a mixture of turpentine
and paraffin wax. The recipe was developed by the US Dept of Agriculture
and they claim it will preserve wood for at least 20 years. I tried it on
some raised beds three years ago and so far so good. I don't have the
recipe handy but can get it - interested?

Sharon Labchuk
lab...@peinet.pe.ca

scsd...@altair.selu.edu

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Apr 7, 1994, 4:37:30 AM4/7/94
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You may want to try metal fence posts.


Schnell


Anmar Mirza

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Apr 7, 1994, 9:36:29 AM4/7/94
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In article <2o01jk$5...@bud.peinet.pe.ca>,

Please do!

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K. Woodfork

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Apr 7, 1994, 4:02:53 PM4/7/94
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In article <1994Apr6.0...@gems.vcu.edu>, AG...@RUBY.VCU.EDU writes:

> Hmm.. Use Cedar or Locust posts, and that problem goes away, as they last
> ages without treatment... Treated lumber seems to be fairly benign to me.
> Dunno about treating it yourself... We used creosote on a cow corral, and
> the grass did die within a few inches of the posts, and you do have to redo
> it 'bout every 4-5 years...


Jim - there was a big thread on rec.gardens about the environmental
hazard created by the production of "pressure-treated" lumber and it's
eventual decomposition. The stuff is treated with arsenic, among other
things, and this may leach out into the soil or onto the skin when
touched. Aresnic is definitely released into the envirnment in significant
quanties when the stuff is manufactured, burned, or allowed to decompose.

The materials safety sheet which is supposed to come with the
treated lumber recommends using gloves to handle it and a mask when cutting
it with power tools.

So I guess I second the idea of locust and/or cedar posts. We have locust
posts which must be nearly 50 years old.

Karen

Hank Ausse

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Apr 7, 1994, 6:13:40 PM4/7/94
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From: ub...@freenet.Victoria.BC.CA (David Kuyper)
Subject: Alternative to creosote?

> Just wondering if anyone out there knew of any environmentally benign
> alternatives to creosote for treating fence posts.

Yes, it's called steel fence posts...

--

Anmar Mirza

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Apr 8, 1994, 9:11:35 AM4/8/94
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In article <1994Apr7....@mixcom.mixcom.com>,

What, you think those things grow on trees?

Steel fenceposts are *expensive*, and you still have to use something
else for the corners and braces, not to mention that steel posts tend
to lose their strength a lot quicker than most of the below mentioned
woods, at least in wetter climes.

Cedar, Ironwood, Locust and a few others are naturally rot resistant
as has been said. I'm more interested in landscaping timber and none
of my ironwood or locusts are big enough to mill into such, and my
cedar is too valuable to waste on fenceposts or landscaping :-)

I've got lots of oak and hickory that's perfect for it, but they'll
rot within 10 years.

linda price

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Apr 9, 1994, 5:01:47 PM4/9/94
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Plastic fenceposts, made from recycled milk jugs and other household items
are available in many areas now. Plastic posts and dimension "lumber" won't
rot or rust.

Linda Price


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