Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

Routing Treated Lumber

712 views
Skip to first unread message

rog

unread,
Jan 3, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/3/00
to
Now why in the world do you think it to burn up the motor? Is there at least
one shred of logic for a reason? I would not be concerned about burning up
the motor..........

rog

Chris Faught

unread,
Jan 3, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/3/00
to
Congrats on the new acquisition, I just bought a 2hp PC myself. I
seriously doubt that your router is in danger. I have routered pressure
treated lumber with my el cheapo craftsman router many times and it didn't
burn at all. However, if your pressure treated lumber is still wet you
might not get a very smooth finish but if it is older and thoroughly dried
it should work out very well. Router on Tim:)
Chris
Tim Zitzman wrote in message <84rcdq$cn$1...@nntp3.atl.mindspring.net>...
>I just got a new Router (2hp Porter Cable Plunge Router) and am set to
begin
>work on a project that requires treated lumber. Over the weekend, someone
>warned me that I should be careful with the treated lumber because it might
>burn up my Router motor. Is this correct?
>
>

CW

unread,
Jan 3, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/3/00
to
No. It won't be a problem for your motor but do be aware that the dust can
be toxic.

--
CW
KC7NOD
Tim Zitzman <tzit...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:84rcdq$cn$1...@nntp3.atl.mindspring.net...

Steve James

unread,
Jan 3, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/3/00
to
Tim,

Couldn't speak to the router motor burning up as I have no experience
routing treated lumber. I would expect the bits would probably go before
the motor. However, my caution would be to wear a good quality dusk mask as
treated lumber is usually treated with arsenic. S.James
www.brinet.com/~rsjames

John Derricott

unread,
Jan 3, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/3/00
to
The think you should worry more about your lungs. The stuff they soak the
wood in is poisonous (arsenic I think). I see a lot of carpenters cutting it
without any protection but I wouldn't recommend using a router without a
good dust mask. Certainly not one of the paper ones. A lot of pressure
treated wood is still very wet when you buy it so it may not route very
well. It sometimes leaves fuzzies. I can't think of any reason it would burn
the motor out though.

John

arjay

unread,
Jan 3, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/3/00
to
Other replies have addressed the toxicity issue, so I will just raise
the "protection" issue. Pressure treated wood is protected from
environmental decay on the treated "SURFACES". If you crosscut a piece
of scrap, you can see how deep this protection goes. Now compare the
depth of the routed joints you plan to make with the protected depth,
and draw your own conclusion about how much protection you will have.

For my own use, I only crosscut PT wood (no ripping or rabbeting), and
paint the new ends with copper napthalene. For any food related use (
like cold frames, raised bed borders, etc ), I accept the higher cost of
cedar or redwood, and then do any jointing I want.

arjay

unread,
Jan 3, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/3/00
to
Other replies have addressed the toxicity issue, so I will just raise
the "protection" issue. Pressure treated wood is protected from
environmental decay on the treated "SURFACES". If you crosscut a piece
of scrap, you can see how deep this protection goes. Now compare the
depth of the routed joints you plan to make with the protected depth,
and draw your own conclusion about how much protection you will have.

For my own use, I only crosscut PT wood (no ripping or rabbeting), and
paint the new ends with copper napthalene. For any food related use (
like cold frames, raised bed borders, etc ), I accept the higher cost of
cedar or redwood, and then do any jointing I want.

arjay

Tim Zitzman

unread,
Jan 4, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/4/00
to

Have a nice day!

unread,
Jan 4, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/4/00
to

motor no bits maybe due to salt content in treated lumber it tends to
dull them sooner than non treated lumber but not that much sooner ive
done it many many times no problems

dann...@here.com

unread,
Jan 4, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/4/00
to
On Tue, 4 Jan 2000 10:24:30 -0500, "Tim Zitzman"
<tzit...@mindspring.com> wrote:

>I just got a new Router (2hp Porter Cable Plunge Router) and am set to begin
>work on a project that requires treated lumber. Over the weekend, someone
>warned me that I should be careful with the treated lumber because it might
>burn up my Router motor. Is this correct?

Makes no sense. However, be careful what you might breathe. Wear a
dust mask.

Dan.


Jim W.

unread,
Jan 4, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/4/00
to
I would think that you'd be better off worrying what this may do to your
lungs. You can buy a new router almost anywhere. *Most* pressure treated
lumber contains varying amounts of arsenic and heavy metals.

Regards,
Jim W.
mech...@agt.net
http://www.telusplanet.net/public/mechanic
Slave Lake, Alberta, Canada

Tim Zitzman wrote in message <84rcdq$cn$1...@nntp3.atl.mindspring.net>...

LeeBurk

unread,
Jan 4, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/4/00
to
You shouldn't have any particular problem with your motor but treated lumber
often uses arsenic, copper and chrome as the perserving material. Do not
breathe the router dust. Use a good respirator mask.

Rev Chuck

unread,
Jan 4, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/4/00
to
I used a PC 693 to make a trestle bench from PT lumber. Lots of lovely,
oversized mortises. Router pulled through like a champ, no harm whatsoever.

Routerman

unread,
Jan 4, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/4/00
to
In article <84rcdq$cn$1...@nntp3.atl.mindspring.net>,

"Tim Zitzman" <tzit...@mindspring.com> wrote:
> I just got a new Router (2hp Porter Cable Plunge Router) and am set to
begin
> work on a project that requires treated lumber. Over the weekend,
someone
> warned me that I should be careful with the treated lumber because it
might
> burn up my Router motor. Is this correct?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
No sweatsky for router but chip is like teak, slippery as hell.
>

--
Pat Warner


Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

Dave Carnell

unread,
Jan 4, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/4/00
to Tim Zitzman
Nonsense. Your saw, router, and other tools will handle treated wood just
fine. Sanding treated wood and making fine dust it is a good idea to wear dust
protection. Always wear your safety glasses when operating power or hand tools.

Dave Carnell

unread,
Jan 4, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/4/00
to arjay
Most PT-wood is CCA (chrome-copper-arsenic). The toxic chemicals are tightly
bound to the wood and do not leach out, so it is safe to use for cold frames,
garden borders, etc.

arjay wrote:

> Other replies have addressed the toxicity issue, so I will just raise
> the "protection" issue. Pressure treated wood is protected from
> environmental decay on the treated "SURFACES". If you crosscut a piece
> of scrap, you can see how deep this protection goes. Now compare the
> depth of the routed joints you plan to make with the protected depth,
> and draw your own conclusion about how much protection you will have.
>
> For my own use, I only crosscut PT wood (no ripping or rabbeting), and
> paint the new ends with copper napthalene. For any food related use (
> like cold frames, raised bed borders, etc ), I accept the higher cost of
> cedar or redwood, and then do any jointing I want.
>
> arjay
>

Gomez823

unread,
Jan 4, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/4/00
to
Been using treated lumber to build my outdoor furniture for 2 years now. Have
been using an old Miller Falls router my dad gave me to round the edges. The
router is still going strong. The only problem I have run into is when the wood
is still wet. It gets the fuzzies. A little extra sanding usually takes care of
that.. I ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS wear a respirator when dealing with this stuff.
Better safe than etc,etc,etc... John

0 new messages