On Oct 22, 1:59?am, wrote:
On Fri, 19 Oct 2007 06:47:20 -0700, Jack
wrote:





On Oct 19, 6:45 am, ransley wrote:
On Oct 19, 6:18 am, wrote:

I know that awhile back they removed the arsenic from treated lumber
and the new lumber was almost all copper treated. I read that this
new variety was extremely destructive to nails and screws, and one had
to use expensive stainless steel fastners. I just bought some treated
2x6s for a small deck and asked the store clerk what fastners to use.
He said just common nails or screws would work. I told him what I had
read about the new variety of treated wood, when he told me the lumber
I am buying is not corrosive. This was at a big box home center, and
although this guy is the store manager, not just some 20 year old kid,
I had my doubts about his advice.

I went to another local lumberyard, which is strictly only a lumber
yard and told the guy I wanted fastners that dont corrode from the new
treated lumber. He told me that if I bought it in the past month or
so, I could likely just use common fastners. I asked why "in the last
month". He said they changed the formula AGAIN. He could not tell me
much more but said this recently occurred.

OK, now I have 2 guys who said this.....

What's the deal? How did they change this lumber? What can I use now
for fastners?

Thanks
Alvin

Its amazing that stores dont know what they sell, and that your deck
or whatever can fail eventualy from the fasteners failing, if you use
the wrong ones. Your wood should have tags stapled on the ends or
contact the store where you purchased it and then the manufacturer.
But the store should get you the right answer. I think stainless is
fine or the screws treated for decks, but I dont know. In 10-20 years
we will likely have porches falling down killing people from fasteners
failing. You would think stores would have this issue noted with signs
so they are not liable when decks fail from people using the wrong
products.

My two cents worth. I was in the lumber treating business for a period
of ten years ,70-80. The best long treatment back then was Penta, but
then the EPA decided it was to toxic to use. Since, they have came up
with different formulas. Really, I don't think any are worth their
cost. a good coat of paint is your best protection.

I remember Penta, in fact I think I have a few gallons of it in my
garage yet. Before that there was Creosote, which seems to have
always worked. Heck, my original barn is built from posts that are
creosote coated power poles. The barn was built in the 60's. The
posts were probably used power poles. All but one of them is still in
great shape. (One was rotten at the ground level and I had to install
another post next to it and bolt them together). These poles are
probably 60 or more years old. They also banned creosote, (except for
power poles). I really could never understand how coal tar could be
so toxic. Although creosote is pretty messy. I agree on the paint,
but underground that dont help (as in posts).

What gets me is that I have never met any person that eats lumber.
Yet, I have had horses chew up (the old) treated wood adn they never
died from it. These days I only use hardwood around them, or cover
the treated wood with metal. So, while we people that dont eat lumber
are now safe if we do, we will in 10 years or so, fall to our deaths
when the nails fail on our upper porches, and if that dont happen,
ConAgra will kill us with their constantly contaminated food of late.

By the way, I looked at one board that I have near the house and it
says C2 C9. I assume that means copper treatment, thus needs the
special fastners. This is NOT the stuff I just bought which is not
put away at the moment.

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probably best to outlaw all fasteners but stainless, to prevent
confusion.

dont laugh regulators MUST justify their jobs, or get unemployeed.

altough I agree with banmning known hazards, better safe than sorry
espically around kids