Treating pole posts?

[Dozernut]

I just had an idea and boy does my head hurt/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif. I am thinking of looking into "Dip-Cote". This is a liquid plastic that you dip tool handles in to give you a padded insulated grip area. If you could buy this in bulk you could waterproof your post and occasionally spray for insects. If the water cannot get to the wood, this will increase the longevity of the post immensely. I can hear the collective groans of the engineer types out there, saying "that boy is nuts"/w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif! I will take my crayons and keep detailed analytical notes (HaH), of my experiment that will make those engineer types jealous! Will report findings and write a report for publication in the out- house reveiw/w3tcompact/icons/king.gif!

 

[Soundguy]

No ill words here.. but if you do this.. I would recomment cured wood. ( kiln dried )

Might get pricy, if you are doing entire post.

Soundguy

 

[yooperdave]

Dozernut-

Your idea makes my head hurt too! At least you are willing to put your own money where your mouth is. Just keep in mind that your coating will lock in any moisture already in the wood. Wood will expand and contract depending upon the relative humidity and subsequent moisture content of the wood. You might have half a chance if you could get the moisture content to less than 5% prior to the coating, and then make sure that the coating will never develop microscopic cracks which would let water vapor in and rot out the wood. Pressure treated wood is tried and proven as a solution to your building needs. Your potential loss is much greater than your potential gain - but the choice is yours.

Good luck - you will need it (lol)

Yooper Dave - my name is half nutts also

 

[Darren]

It's best to split locust soon after it's cut. Otherwise difficult doesn't begin to describe it.

 

[Dozernut]

Soundguy and Yooperdave. If you just coated the part that was in contact with the soil and left the rest of the post untreated. Wouldn't this allow the moisture to escape. I am not totally ignorant of moisture and movement in wood, being a woodworker. But I have also been looking to use my own timbers. I don't have enough Locust and Hedge For my purposes. Any suggestions. The Dip-Cote was a wild shot, but I thought I would cast out a line and see what bit. Thanks!

 

[Egon]

My Father used to stand poplar posts in a barrel of " bluestone " . I beleive it is a copper solution of some kind and do not know if it is environmentally safe or if you can even buy it now. I do know the post lasted as well as pressure treated ones and cost a lot less. This was all 40 years ago.

Egon

 

[dummy]

Plasti-dip is available in 55 gal. drums. I just bought a 6 pack of the white spray-on and it was $42.00 delivered. I couldn't find it locally, but you can direct order. Their website isn't much yet, plastidip.com. Call them and they are very helpful. 1-800-969-5432

 

[Dozernut]

Yooperdave: Just curious, why you would dry wood to 5%. The optimal moisture content for furniture building is 8% to 12%. Wood furniture once placed in its setting will take on ambient moisture, depending on room humidity. A structural post or fence post would not require such a low moisture content and would take on moisture at every humidity change. Am I missing something here. My dry sense of humor might have made you misunderstand. I only want to treat about a three foot section of the end, not the whole post. Completely encapsulating the whole post would invite failure. The object was to prevent ground water from getting to the post. I appreciate your input as I am not yet perfect and still prone to failure. I about wore this crayon down to a nub! Thanks!!!

 

[Egon]

Dozernut:

Been thinking: would not encapsulating the bottom of the post be somewhat the same as setting a post in concrete and invite the same type of problems.

Egon

 

[Dozernut]

Egon: Thanks for the reply! You are most likely right! This is great being able to tap into the collective thinking of a smart group of people. AND YOU LIKE TRACTORS! What more could you ask for, well maybe another tractor.