Sap bubbling out of PT pine?

[gspren]

   I bought a little 5' x 10' trailer late winter and it has PT deck boards for the deck. We just had a string of 90+ degree days and one board has lots of sap bubbling up over most of the length of it. Questions are will it stop on its own or do I need to do something? What would stop it? It makes a sticky mess on things I haul.

[GeneWengert-WoodDoc]

It will stop when it gets cooler.  It will slow down in five years.  It is caused because the wood was not dried at a high enough temperature.  With that issue, one might also ask about the quality of the treatment.

[WDH]

If you heat up the trailer boards, that will hopefully set the pitch.  Maybe put a black tarp over the trailer for a few days when is it hot and sunny.  The problem is that the cure may be worse than the disease if your trailer boards warp off the trailer  .

[Magicman]

That board probably came from a pitchy portion of a log, such as a lightning strike, etc.  Since it is only one board, I would at least try a heat gun similar to a hair drier to see if the pitch would set.  Just give it a good cooking.

[gspren]

  I used the trailer today but first I scraped a wad of sap about 1 1/2 times the size of a golf ball off, and yes just one board. Both ends of the board are tucked under the end frames 3/4" or I'd just replace it, a 5/4" X 6" x 10' isn't that expensive but I'd need to bow the center up enough to get an end out.

[GeneWengert-WoodDoc]

The suggestions on heating the sap to evaporate the pitch that is liquid at room temperature is the best idea.  It takes about 24 hours so maybe a small temporary heat room over the board would work.  If you could heat to 160 F, that would be very good.

[Denny]

"It will slow down in five years."  :D  Notice he didn't say it will stop, it'll just slow down...

I say... rip out all the pine and replace em with some kiln dried WO  ;)

[gspren]

   I made a command decision, since I'm retired and have time, I will take a week to go fishing and maybe while I'm fishing I'll figure out what to do about the board. I may decide that even more study is needed in which case I'll wait until hunting season gets here as sitting in a deer stand I come up with brilliant ideas although I sometimes (often) forget them later. Thanks for the information, I'll consider it all.

[rasman57]

   I made a command decision, since I'm retired and have time, I will take a week to go fishing and maybe while I'm fishing I'll figure out what to do about the board. I may decide that even more study is needed in which case I'll wait until hunting season gets here as sitting in a deer stand I come up with brilliant ideas although I sometimes (often) forget them later. Thanks for the information, I'll consider it all.

You clearly have your priorities correctly arranged.   I bet that board won't be as relaxed as you when you tackle it next.   Good plan!

[Magicman]

You da man Gary.  Nothing like taking charge of the situation and formulating a workable solution.   

[ely]

I have cleaned pitchy boards that started running sap on my wall with carb cleaner or lacquer thinner... I had to clean it in order to sand it... then when I needed to spray the finish on I had to clean it again... now it is sealed, I will keep you posted on the results. none of the lumber used in my house was kiln dried. all of it has been air dried for various amounts of time.

[GeneWengert-WoodDoc]

One solvent that works well is MEK, but read cautions

[gspren]

   The fish haven't been biting but yesterday we were in the middle of a large group of dolphins (porposes), and I'm fairly certain that they said to change the board. ;D