I've got a small pile of reclaimed 2x4's that were originally
purchased to build shelves in my basement. There is a thrift store
locally that gets the wood out of homes that are being demolished. My
parents ended up getting us heavy duty plastic shelves as a housewarming
gift, so now the lumber sits there unused, taking up space.

I also have a need for some bed edging in my yard - to keep me from
mowing the mulch around a couple of fruit trees and a blueberry hedge.
I'm interested in using some of this ~ 80 year old wood for the job.

Can anyone recommend a good wood preservative that I can apply with a
paintbrush that would stand a good chance of helping the wood stand up
to constant contact with the ground and moisture for perhaps 6 years?

Thanks!

The simple answer would be . . . .. NO.


Agreed. About the only thing possibly reasonable to apply would be
(expensive) tung oil, plus the time to apply it. Might as well go buy
treated lumber, which is much more appropriate for that application
than anything you could apply, yourself, to those boards.

Another option: Since they are for no other purpose, than taking up
space, paint them, with an oil base primer & paint, and get some use
from them.

Sonny

Sonny wrote:
The simple answer would be . . . .. NO.


Agreed. About the only thing possibly reasonable to apply would be
(expensive) tung oil, plus the time to apply it. Might as well go buy
treated lumber, which is much more appropriate for that application
than anything you could apply, yourself, to those boards.

Tung oil (or anything similar) would be wasted for the application/purpose.

If OP is adamant of using this for the purpose, something otoo the
CopperCoat or CreoCoat treatments is at least of some value...

http://www.wolman.com/product_category_list.asp?CatId=82

Wolman is just one manufacturer; OP should check at whatever is his
favorite local retailer for what is at hand.

Another option: Since they are for no other purpose, than taking up
space, paint them, with an oil base primer & paint, and get some use
from them.

If this is good salvage material as it sounds as is, I'd personally
suggest taking them back to the Habitat (or similar) store and go buy
treated landscape timbers for the purpose. That way both somebody can
get useful service from the framing lumber and OP will have something
suitable for his purpose as well...

--

This green stuff is great to keep fungus and all sorts of bug eating
stuff. We used it to coat under our houses when living in a rain forest.
It is available in Northern Ca. and I suspect elsewhere. Check fence companies
if hardware and garden suppliers fail.
Martin

Martin H. Eastburn
@ home at Lions' Lair with our computer lionslair at consolidated dot net
"Our Republic and the Press will Rise or Fall Together": Joseph Pulitzer
TSRA: Endowed; NRA LOH & Patron Member, Golden Eagle, Patriot's Medal.
NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Charter Founder
IHMSA and NRA Metallic Silhouette maker & member. http://lufkinced.com/

On 6/12/2010 1:17 PM, dadiOH wrote:
Ohioguy wrote:
I've got a small pile of reclaimed 2x4's that were originally
purchased to build shelves in my basement. There is a thrift store
locally that gets the wood out of homes that are being demolished. My
parents ended up getting us heavy duty plastic shelves as a
housewarming gift, so now the lumber sits there unused, taking up
space.
I also have a need for some bed edging in my yard - to keep me from
mowing the mulch around a couple of fruit trees and a blueberry hedge.
I'm interested in using some of this ~ 80 year old wood for the job.

Can anyone recommend a good wood preservative that I can apply with
a paintbrush that would stand a good chance of helping the wood stand
up to constant contact with the ground and moisture for perhaps 6
years?


Cuprinol No. 10 Green Wood Preservative. You may have trouble finding it
though. Check at marine stores.

If you are happy with the color black, use automotive undercoating
It is a rubberized coating, available in brush on or spray can.




"Ohioguy" wrote in message
...
I've got a small pile of reclaimed 2x4's that were originally purchased
to build shelves in my basement. There is a thrift store locally that
gets the wood out of homes that are being demolished. My parents ended up
getting us heavy duty plastic shelves as a housewarming gift, so now the
lumber sits there unused, taking up space.

I also have a need for some bed edging in my yard - to keep me from
mowing the mulch around a couple of fruit trees and a blueberry hedge. I'm
interested in using some of this ~ 80 year old wood for the job.

Can anyone recommend a good wood preservative that I can apply with a
paintbrush that would stand a good chance of helping the wood stand up to
constant contact with the ground and moisture for perhaps 6 years?

Thanks!

Creosote, like railway ties.



"Matt" wrote in message
...
If you are happy with the color black, use automotive undercoating
It is a rubberized coating, available in brush on or spray can.




"Ohioguy" wrote in message
...
I've got a small pile of reclaimed 2x4's that were originally purchased
to build shelves in my basement. There is a thrift store locally that
gets the wood out of homes that are being demolished. My parents ended up
getting us heavy duty plastic shelves as a housewarming gift, so now the
lumber sits there unused, taking up space.

I also have a need for some bed edging in my yard - to keep me from
mowing the mulch around a couple of fruit trees and a blueberry hedge. I'm
interested in using some of this ~ 80 year old wood for the job.

Can anyone recommend a good wood preservative that I can apply with a
paintbrush that would stand a good chance of helping the wood stand up to
constant contact with the ground and moisture for perhaps 6 years?

Thanks!