The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Alternative methods and solutions => Topic started by: DPForumDog on August 19, 2014, 11:45:26 AM

Title: what did people do before Yellow Wood pressure treating?
Post by: DPForumDog on August 19, 2014, 11:45:26 AM
I am wondering what folks did before you cculd go the store and buy pressure treated wood?   

I have several projects for my husband. I want a gazebo, paviliion, storage shed, etc and I want them made from the trees off our land.   Someone told me that you can soak wood in vegetable oil to preserve it.  Is that what folks use to do?   Also I heard that people use a solution of Copper naftate (similar to sulfate?)

Are there any original wood projects from the 1800s?  What made them last?

Thanks.
Granny DP
DPForumDog 

tag: diy wood preserving pressure treated   do it yourself
Title: Re: what did people do before Yellow Wood pressure treating?
Post by: enigmaT120 on August 19, 2014, 01:04:07 PM
Cedar.  Juniper.  Black locust???  I think they used rot-resistant woods.  Oh, and don't have the wood touching the ground.  Use a foundation of some kind.



Title: Re: what did people do before Yellow Wood pressure treating?
Post by: Dave Shepard on August 19, 2014, 01:16:00 PM
Before PT, there was knowledge of wood. In my area, black locust and white oak are long lasting species. As enigmaT120 said, keep it off the ground, and keep it as dry as possible. I've never been very impressed by PT products. I seldom see any PT SYP around here that has more than about 3 rings to the inch, and is very prone to brash failure. After 4 mailbox posts this winter, my neighbor has given up having a mailbox by the road. :D
Title: Re: what did people do before Yellow Wood pressure treating?
Post by: LeeB on August 19, 2014, 01:37:24 PM
Brash failure or crash failure?
Title: Re: what did people do before Yellow Wood pressure treating?
Post by: DPForumDog on August 19, 2014, 04:38:28 PM
Quote from: Dave Shepard on August 19, 2014, 01:16:00 PM
.... I've never been very impressed by PT products. .... :D

It seems like when I look at someone's deck there is always a few pieces that have twisted and knarled.

Thanks
Granny DP
Title: Re: what did people do before Yellow Wood pressure treating?
Post by: jwilly3879 on August 19, 2014, 07:49:43 PM
Try to just keep the wood dry. Setting posts in crushed stone helps a lot.
Title: Re: what did people do before Yellow Wood pressure treating?
Post by: gfadvm on August 19, 2014, 09:17:46 PM
There are stilt houses in the swamps of La. made of cypress that are well over 100 years old.
Title: Re: what did people do before Yellow Wood pressure treating?
Post by: VTwoodworker on August 19, 2014, 09:22:34 PM
There are many timber covered bridges from the 1800s still intact today.  The roofs keep the structural timbers dry.  These bridges were constructed from native timber.  Here in Vermont this was mostly spruce and hemlock.  Deterioration in the covered bridges is associated with leaks or splash zones where the timber is saturated.

I would not recommend the vegetable oil as a treatment.  It could get rancid and have minimal benefits.  The treatment that you refer to is actually copper napthenate.  It would be expensive and is typically used to treat the cut ends of pressure treated material.  Wayne
Title: Re: what did people do before Yellow Wood pressure treating?
Post by: barbender on August 21, 2014, 09:57:37 AM
PT is really the way to go for anything in ground contact. Southern yellow pine is very strong, just make sure you get good quality lumber. Make sure the retention level of the treatment is high enough for ground contact (.040, .060)
Title: Re: what did people do before Yellow Wood pressure treating?
Post by: Thehardway on August 21, 2014, 11:15:33 AM
Yes, use of rot resistant wood was the primary practice but many of those woods are no longer available.  American Chestnut was used in a lot of area but is now gone.  White oak, Black locust, Osage orange, Cypress, Cedar, and Redwood are all rot resistant woods.  Lots of the old-timers used stuff that is frowned on or illegal today for treating lumber that is placed in ground contact.  Things like Creosote, coal tar, kerosene/diesel, burnt cylinder oil, asphalt, pitch and a variety of homebrew solutions.

Copper is effective to kill many insects and fungus, Borate or boric acid is also used sold under the Tim-Bor name as a wood preserver but is water soluable and won't last if exposed.  Crysanthemums contain a natural pesticide called pyrethrin and it discourages/kills bugs.  Also diatomaceous earth kills bugs.

You didn't say what kind of trees you have on your land.  If you can tell us we can give you better guidance.  Without knowing what you have it is hard to say how it would last or best be preserved.