bought some three inch by two inch treated timber from wickes. it was
difficult to saw and someone said it was because the wood was still damp.

we are going to use it for outdoor shelves in the garden. where the ends
were cut we were going to seal the ends possible with external clear
varnish, is that a good thing to use?

would it be advisable to wait until summer when it is drier before sealing
the ends? bearing in mind they will remain outside in the garden all the
time. thanks.

http://www.ufpi.com/product/ptlumber/ptfaq.htm

Brush-on Preservatives for Field Cuts

According to American Wood-Preservers' Standard M4-02, lumber and timber
which are used in above ground applications and are of sapwood species such
as southern, red or ponderosa pine, generally do not require treatment to
provide a good service life. This category includes the majority of the
treated products Universal Forest Products provides. Other heartwood
species, typically found in the Western US, should be field treated when cut
or drilled. If you are concerned about wood exposed due to cutting or
drilling, you can use a brush-applied preservative.

Home centers and lumberyards often carry brush-applied preservative systems
based on two different active chemicals: either copper naphthenate or IPBC
(3-iodo 2-propynyl butyl carbamate). These systems should be applied, in
accordance with their labels, to any surface exposed by damage or field
fabrication. Users should carefully read and follow the instructions and
precautions listed on the preservative system label when using them.



"jw 1111" wrote in message
...
bought some three inch by two inch treated timber from wickes. it was
difficult to saw and someone said it was because the wood was still damp.

we are going to use it for outdoor shelves in the garden. where the ends
were cut we were going to seal the ends possible with external clear
varnish, is that a good thing to use?

would it be advisable to wait until summer when it is drier before sealing
the ends? bearing in mind they will remain outside in the garden all the
time. thanks.

jw 1111 wrote:
bought some three inch by two inch treated timber from wickes. it was
difficult to saw and someone said it was because the wood was still damp.

we are going to use it for outdoor shelves in the garden. where the ends
were cut we were going to seal the ends possible with external clear
varnish, is that a good thing to use?

If you plan to leave the shelves outside, there is no point to drying
them first.
Treated lumber should be fine outside as is. Sealing the ends is
pointless. You could paint the ends with wood preservative but the
benefit would be small. Expect the boards to swell and shrink as
moisture levels change.
Fred