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What preservatives are used andhow long are they effective?

For a long time, CCA (Chromated Copper Arsenate) has been usedas a reliable wood preservative. CCA treated wood protectsagainst all major forms of destructive attack and is effectivefor up to 50 years. More recently, preservative manufacturershave made a transition to a newer preservative: ACQ (AlkalineCopper Quaternary.) ACQ is also effective for up to 50 years,reducing demands on forest resources.

What ingredients make upACQ?

ACQ is a waterborne system that is copper-based. The copper andquaternary compounds together provide protection from a broadspectrum of fungi and termites, preventing rot and decay.

Is special handlingrequired?

Although termites, fungus and destructive micro-organisms detesttreating chemicals, in pressure-treated wood it's clean, emitsNO fumes and is non-irritating.

The single most important precaution is DO NOT BURN TREATEDWOOD. Burning treated wood releases the chemical bond with woodcells, so dispose of scraps and sawdust with your landfilltrash. Wear gloves when handling treated lumber. And always wearsafety glasses and a dust mask when sawing or cutting treatedlumber just as you would with untreated lumber.

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How safe is treated wood?

Very safe when used as directed. The preservative injected intolumber reacts with the wood substance to form an insolublecomplex. It won't evaporate or vaporize. Treated wood is clean,odorless, non-staining, and safe to work with and handle. Itslocked-in protection is non-irritating to children, adults,animals and plants. The minute amounts of preservative releasedover time due to wear off of the product or water contact havebeen carefully studied. The conclusion is clear: it is safe forthe environment and safe for people and pets.

Can preserved wood be usedindoors?

Treated wood may be used indoors for any application exceptcutting boards and countertops.

Why can treated wood be used fora picnic table and not a countertop?

Simply because picnic tables are primarily used for servingprepared food while a kitchen countertop is used primarily as acutting surface for raw food.

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Can treated wood be used ingardening?

Yes. Treated wood can be used to construct raised vegetablegardens and flowerbeds. Previously, CCA (Chromated CopperArsenate) had been used as a reliable wood preservative. Morerecently, treated wood manufacturers have made a transition to anewer preservative: ACQ (Alkaline Copper Quaternary.) Severalstudies have shown that plants grown in CCA raised beds do notcontain higher than normal levels of the preservative chemicals.It is believed also that the same holds true for ACQ raisedbeds. In addition, the components of ACQ are known to benon-carcinogenic.

Can all tree species betreated?

Three species of pine: southern yellow, ponderosa and red aremost open to treating. Some softwoods such as spruces, hem/fir,larches and Douglas fir benefit from incising (cutting smallslits across the grain) to aid chemical penetration andtreatment retention. Most hardwoods are too dense and complex tobe treatable.

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What does PCF Treatmentmean?

Treatment levels are measured in pounds of chemical injected percubic foot (pcf) of wood. Additionally, lumber tags will alwaysstate above ground only (.25 retention) or ground contact (.40retention) so you can be sure you are using the right materialfor the job. Higher levels of retention are available forspecial purposes such as extensive moisture/earthen contact -e.g. in foundations, pole barns, fresh & saltwater docks,culverts, etc.

Any suggestions when buildingwith treated lumber?

One quite important one: Use hot-dip galvanized (meetingASTM-A153/A653) or (304 or 316) stainless steel nails or screws,otherwise, your treated wood will last longer than theunprotected fasteners you've used to put it together. Do not usepreserved wood in direct contact with aluminum. A poly barrieris recommended for any applications where treated lumber willmeet aluminum flashing. Aside from that precaution, you can sawit, sand it, or glue it just like any ordinary wood.

After my project is built, isany special maintenance necessary?

Left unfinished, treated wood ages gracefully, eventuallysoftening to an attractive driftwood gray. On flat surfaces suchas decks, however, leaves and other debris may collect andcreate unsightly stains. Even if your lumber has the locked-inprotection of factory applied water repellent, you'll want tofollow an annual program that includes a semi-transparent stainof a sealant which contains an ultraviolet stabilizer. If youstain your project, a quality penetrating latex or oil basestain is recommended.

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What else should I know abouttreated wood?

Decades of research and testing have gone into its development,and we certainly haven't answered every question about it.However, a full line of free literature is available to youthrough your building materials dealer. Finally, you should beaware of this: lengthening a wood structure';s life throughpressure treatment lowers the pressure on our planet'sexhaustible mineral and energy resources. 226,000,000 trees aresaved every year by pressure treatment. Treated lumber makes onetree last as long as many untreated trees. Use pressure-treatedwood with confidence in its everlasting quality and safety.You'll be protecting our environment's major renewable buildingmaterial.

I cut the end off of my ACQtreated wood, and it looks like it isn't treated in the middle.Do I have a bad piece of treated wood?

No. Products treated in strict conformance with AWPA standardswill have some wood which appears untreated if the wood isend-cut after treatment. Most commonly, this is heartwood whichis naturally decay resistant. This is not an indication that thewood was not properly treated, and you do not need to beconcerned. With the exception of some Western species, theseend-cuts do not require any special treatment.

Brush-on Preservatives for Field Cuts

According to American Wood-Preservers' Standard M4-02, lumberand timber which are used in above ground applications and areof sapwood species such as southern, red or ponderosa pine,generally do not require treatment to provide a good servicelife. Other heartwood species, typically found in the WesternUS, should be field treated when cut or drilled. If you areconcerned about wood exposed due to cutting or drilling, you canuse a brush-applied preservative. Home centers and lumberyardsoften carry brush-applied preservative systems based on twodifferent active chemicals: either copper naphthenate or IPBC(3-iodo 2-propynyl butyl carbamate). These systems should beapplied, in accordance with their labels, to any surface exposedby damage or field fabrication. Users should carefully read andfollow the instructions and precautions listed on thepreservative system label when using them.

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About the author:Brought To You Courtesy: Cedar CreekWoodshop Where We Have Been Custom Building Outdoor PatioFurniture Made Of Treated Lumber and designing Bird House andBird Feeders made of Western Red Cedar For The Last 25 Years.

Schools to Help Needy Students]]>

Even if people stopped pumping out carbon dioxide and other pollutants tomorrow, global warming would get worse, two teams of researchers reported yesterday.]]>







A sampling of noteworthy presentations yesterday at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, taking place in Washington this weekend.]]>



All college freshmen who live in dorms should be vaccinated for meningitis, a government panel recommended yesterday, reversing policy of the past. The panel is also advising doctors to give the shot to all 11- and 12-year-old children and recommending that it be provided to at least 4 million children eligible under the federal children's vaccine program.]]>

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CNN global warming misinformation makes its way to <em>The Radio Factor</em>
On <em>The Radio Factor</em>, guest host Douglas Urbanski cited a December 18 segment from CNN's <em>Lou Dobbs Tonight</em> to support the assertion, which has been widely discredited, that "man-made climate change" is "one of the biggest lies of our time" and in doing so echoed several of the debunked claims and suggestions about global warming included in that CNN segment.
"Winter storm" causes Dobbs to ask: "What's that global warming deal?"
Lou Dobbs said during the introduction of his CNN show: "And tonight, unusual winter storms are dumping snow in unusual places across Western states, and a huge snowstorm is headed toward the Northeast. This is global warming?" During his segment on the issue, Dobbs hosted Heartland Institute senior fellow and science director Jay Lehr without disclosing that Heartland receives funding from the energy industry and without challenging Lehr's assertions that "[t]he last 10 years have been quite cool" and that "the sun" -- rather than humans -- is responsible for recent climate change.
Levin cited "global cooling" study to dismiss efforts to "control carbon dioxide" emissions, ignoring warning by study's co-author not to do so
On his radio show, Mark Levin cited a recent study predicting that an ice age will occur in the next 10,000 to 100,000 years as purported evidence that humans should not "try and control carbon dioxide" emissions that contribute to global climate change. But Levin did not mention that the study's co-author reportedly warned against using the study to argue that "we should stop fighting warming" and stated: "There's no excuse for saying 'we've got to keep pumping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.' "
Milwaukee radio host smeared "greedy, overpaid unionized schoolteacher[s]" who talk about global warming
On his Milwaukee radio talk show, Mark Belling referred to schoolteachers who talk to their students about global warming as "idiot union teacher[s]," "liberal unionized hack[s]," "greedy, overpaid unionized schoolteacher[s]," and "fruitcake[s]."
Hannity compared carbon offsets to "cheat[ing] on your wife," ignored Murdoch's efforts to make News Corp. carbon neutral
On <em>Hannity &amp; Colmes</em>, Sean Hannity criticized the purchase of credits to offset one's "carbon footprint," asserting, "Those offsets -- that is the biggest hoax in the world. ... You know what it's like? You go cheat on your wife, and then say, 'Honey, but don't worry. I bought an offset.' Good luck." Hannity has yet to address the pledge by News Corp. chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch "to be carbon neutral, across all our businesses" -- which includes Fox News -- "by 2010."
Discussing TCPR claims, O'Reilly said he'd "like to hear [Gore's] side of things," but ignored Gore's response to TCPR
Bill O'Reilly asserted: "The Tennessee Center for Policy Research [TCPR] says the former vice president [Al Gore] is still using a massive amount of energy at his Tennessee mansion -- more than 20 times the national average." O'Reilly later stated: "So it looks like Gore is a pinhead, but we would like to hear his side of things. And he has an open invitation to appear on the <em>Factor</em>." But at no point did O'Reilly mention that Gore has reportedly given "his side of things" in response to a June 17 TCPR press release on the subject of Gore's purported energy use.
Hume claimed Gore's "energy use has surged more than 10 percent," ignored Gore's response that it's all "green power"
On <em>Special Report</em>, citing purported findings by the Tennessee Center for Policy Research, Brit Hume claimed that Al Gore's "energy use has surged more than 10 percent" since environmentally friendly renovations were completed on his home. Hume offered no response from Gore. Responding to the charge, a Gore spokeswoman stated that "[w]hen [the Gores] do use power, it's green power." According to the Tennessee Valley Authority, green power "create[s] less waste and pollution" than standard electricity.
<em>Wash. Times</em>' Pruden falsely claimed that "the earth has been measurably cooling for the last decade"
In a <em>Washington Times</em> column, Wesley Pruden falsely claimed that "the earth has been measurably cooling for the last decade, despite everything [former Vice President] Al [Gore] and his followers have done about it." In fact, the United Kingdom's Met (Meteorological) Office lists as a "fact" that "[t]emperatures are continuing to rise" and states that "temperature change over the latest decade (1998-2007) alone shows a continued warming of 0.1&deg; C per decade."
MSNBC hosted Breaux and Lott to defend oil and gas companies -- but failed to note they're lobbyists for them
On <em>MSNBC Live</em>, Andrea Mitchell discussed energy policy with former Sens. John Breaux and Trent Lott but failed to disclose that both are lobbyists for major oil and gas companies. While Mitchell said that Lott and Breaux "formed a firm" together, she did not note that their firm conducts lobbying or that its clients include oil and gas companies Chevron, Shell, and Plains Exploration &amp; Production Co.
Beck revived falsehood that Bill Clinton said, "We've got to slow down our economy" to fight global warming
On his nationally syndicated radio show, Glenn Beck falsely claimed that former President Bill Clinton said, "We've got to slow down our economy" in order to combat global warming, and aired a portion of a speech Clinton made in January. However, as Clinton's full remarks make clear, he did not suggest "slow[ing] down our economy" to fight global warming.
Jonah Goldberg misrepresented Gore's comments about Hurricane Katrina
In his <em>Los Angeles Times</em> column, Jonah Goldberg asserted that in an NPR interview, Al Gore "chuckled" at the idea that Hurricane Katrina "was God's wrath for New Orleans' sexual depravity," then "went on to blame Katrina on man's energy sinfulness." In fact, Gore stated during the interview that "any individual storm can't be linked singularly to global warming." Goldberg also claimed that the numbers of polar bears "have quadrupled in the last 50 years"; in fact, data to support estimates of the polar bear population 50 years ago are reportedly nonexistent, recent growth in the polar bear population is believed to be linked to hunting bans, and the Department of Interior found that "the polar bear is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future."
Previewing McCain's environment speech, Reuters did not mention his voting record or include criticisms of his positions
Reuters reported that Sen. John McCain would pledge "to take the lead in combating global climate change if elected president in a speech that set him apart from the policies of U.S. President George W. Bush." However, in reporting on McCain's environmental positions that his campaign believes will "win support from independents and centrist Democrats," Reuters did not mention his voting record and did not include any criticism of McCain's positions. By contrast, <em>The Washington Post</em> noted that "McCain's lifetime League of Conservation Voters score is 24 percent, compared with 86 for Obama and 86 for Clinton."
Fox's Baier misrepresented Gore's comments about Myanmar cyclone
Fox News' Bret Baier claimed that in an interview on NPR, "Former Vice President Al Gore says global warming is to blame for the cyclone in Myanmar." In fact, while Gore did discuss the cyclone in the context of global warming, he also stated -- just moments earlier -- that "any individual storm can't be linked singularly to global warming."
Fox's E.D. Hill falsely claimed that "U.N. meteorologists" say "the planet may actually cool off for the 10th year in a row"
On<em> America's Pulse</em>, host E.D. Hill falsely claimed, in a teaser for an upcoming segment, that "the U.N. says the planet may actually cool off for the 10th year in a row." Hill later asserted: "U.N. meteorologists now saying that we could have, for the 10th year in a row, a colder year, temperatures ... decreasing, not warming, getting colder." In fact, global mean temperatures, as measured in two widely used data sets, have not decreased in each of the past 10 years; further, according to those data sets' producers, the data continue to show a long-term warming trend.
<em>NY Times</em> understated Inhofe's views on global warming
In an article discussing potentially competitive 2008 Senate elections, <em>The New York Times</em> understated Sen. James Infohe's views on global warming, reporting that Inhofe "has said that its effects are exaggerated." In fact, Inhofe has repeatedly referred to global warming as the "greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people" and reportedly compared Al Gore's global warming documentary to Adolf Hitler's <em>Mein Kampf</em>.