Treating Wood Posts

[bigballer]

Was thinking of cutting up some of my standing 6" alders into 8' lengths and using them as round pen posts. I don't want to just set them in the ground untreated so I was thinking of taking a motor oil/deisel mix and coating them with it before setting. Would this type of treatement be good to protect them from rot? How long should I let it cure before setting? Are there better methods of treating log posts? I don't plan to use concrete, just rocks in the hole to hold upright then tamped backfill with the same soil that came out of the hole. thanks for any comments.

cheers,
bigballer

 

[randy41]

soaking them in it might be better but if they are green they aint gonna absorb much

 

[Soundguy]

No need to be an environmental terrorist.. which is what you would be.. by 'pouring' oil and diesel into the ground. That's 100% point source polloution.. and not a great long term protector either...

Better would be to buy a bucket of post dip.. copper napthenate.. Or a drum of asphalt fence paint. Both are much easier to the environment.

Soundguy

Was thinking of cutting up some of my standing 6" alders into 8' lengths and using them as round pen posts. I don't want to just set them in the ground untreated so I was thinking of taking a motor oil/deisel mix and coating them with it before setting. Would this type of treatement be good to protect them from rot? How long should I let it cure before setting? Are there better methods of treating log posts? I don't plan to use concrete, just rocks in the hole to hold upright then tamped backfill with the same soil that came out of the hole. thanks for any comments.

cheers,
bigballer

 

[bigballer]

i knew there were better treatments out there then diesel oil, thanks soundguy for the info. wouldn't want to be known as an enviromental terrorist. ;-)

cheers,
bigballer

 

[EddieWalker]

Better would be to buy a bucket of post dip.. copper napthenate.. Or a drum of asphalt fence paint. Both are much easier to the environment. Soundguy

Hi Soundguy,

I've never seen this before. Do you buy it at Tractor Supply? or do most farm supply stored carry it? I've thought about roofing tar, but so far, it's just been an idea I've been kicking around.

Thanks,
Eddie

 

[Soundguy]

TSC , lowes, and HD and most farm supply stores i've seen carry the black asphalt fence paint. Most of the stuff I see is just a generic 5g metal can.. and costs 5-15$. Ya got to stir it for about 5 minutes.. and leaving it in the sun for a few minutes before you stir it really helps. Goes on good.. it's thin, sticky and coats well. Cures to a nearly environmentally inert state.

Copper napthenate. I've seen it in 5g buckets at HD and lowes, in their fencing section.

It's greenish liquid.. stains -anything- .. usually permanently.. except it will come off skin... eventually... May lift hair...

Soundguy

 

[gabby]

I think you'll be rebuilding your round pen in a few years. Just buy some real fence posts and do it right the first time.
gabby

 

[bigballer]

well for the roundpen i decided to go with the 12' corral panels that pin together, this will make it easier to move if needed since the perm location still needs to be cleared. maybe would be best just to use the alders as firewood.. heh...

cheers,
bigballer

 

[Soundguy]

Those pin together panels are neat. You canmake temp stalls for horses.. or section off areas to keep animals out.. etc..

Soundguy

 

[Flatheadyoungin]

those are a neat idea....

Cut them square and try a post protector. In Ground Post Protection - Post Protector

 

[CurlyDave]

Just soak them in the copper napthenate.

You can reduce the volume of solution needed by putting a plastic bag around the end of the post and securing it to the post with rubber bands. Just keep it full. I have always soaked for a few days.

 

[JoeinTX]

Interesting. Never knew or worried about this solution mentioned.


We have (and do) treat untold dozens of old wooden corner posts (formerly creosoted telephone poles) with used motor oil. It's just another method to further their life a little bit before replacement with metal and we are careful with the coating to leave no pools on the ground. And, it does seem to work very well in our drier conditions on these old dry posts.



Won't change anytime soon but will keep this in mind down the road.

 

[two_bit_score]

soaking them in it might be better but if they are green they aint gonna absorb much

You are exactly right. I just read an atricle about a local post treating plant - Hicks Post Co., Alto, Tx. and the process they go through to treat a post. One main component is the drying process to get the moisture content to the point that the wood will accept the treatment.

Green wood won't take anything- even under pressure.

 

[Bedlam]

Thanks Curly,

My learning for the day.
Always something to learn here good like i think

History of Copper Napthenate

 

[Soundguy]

ARGH.. I'm glad my drinking water well is a few states away from you.

I hope you feed your children water from a source other than your property.

Lots of better, safer things than used motor oil...

the copper napthenate already mentioned is quite decent.

asphalt fence paint is good too.

soundguy

We have (and do) treat untold dozens of old wooden corner posts (formerly creosoted telephone poles) with used motor oil. .

 

[scott_vt]

It's greenish liquid.. stains -anything- .. usually permanently.. except it will come off skin... eventually... May lift hair...,,,,

Soundguy

Afternoon Chris,
I saw that last line in your previous post and couldnt help but thinking about our old buddy,,,, thingy,,,,

 

[Soundguy]

Yep.. did that on purpose.. gotta keep the memory alive!

soundguy

 

[bal0123]

well for us poor folks the used motor oil dilluted with a little diesel works great. The only reason I dillute it is so that I can put it in my 2 gallon pump weed sprayer works great on corner posts and weeds around the yard and on the gravel drive way also. As far as the drinking water goes haven't gave much thought on that prolly should though. It hasn't hurt us yet. Oil comes from the ground might aswell put it back into the ground.

 

[Soundguy]

Not a convincing argument. Unrefined oi does not come from the surface of the ground.. where your drinking water likely does ( just subsurface ). Keep in mind the epa puts people in jail for the very thing you are talking about. Hit their main site and research case studies of the last 10ys... In florida there was a contractor and many employess that got some unpaid vacation time courtesy of uncle same for 'diesel weed control'

( keep in mind that your used waste oil has good stuff in it like heavy metals!! lots of good stuff.. maybee even benzene... )

soundguy

 

[intel]

The old timers used to char (burn) their post, very time consuming but work well.