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  1. #1
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    Question Diesel fuel as a wood preservative

    From a local practice, diesel fuel is used as a wood preservative in roof constructions or where the appearance of the wood is not a matter.

    The diesel fuel is brush applied on the wood as an alternative to the widely marketed permerthrin - IPBC mixtures.It's also used for treatment against fungi and insects.

    I looked for documentation, tests conducted or extensive experience on this practice but I couldn't find anything clear and reliable.

    Any suggestion is welcomed.

    Yiannis Toubas

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  3. #2
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    Default

    Can't supply any specific info, but I know it also used to be a fairly common practice here in Oz many years ago.

    I've turned some 50yo old pallet bearers treated with diesel that came up looking absolutely magnificent... but stank to high heaven.
    I may be weird, but I'm saving up to become eccentric.

    - Andy Mc

  4. #3
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    Haven't heard of diesel being used before, but old sump oil used to be a fairly common preservative. Not sure how effective it would be.
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  5. #4
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    Here's an interesting little article for you.
    www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/pdf1998/perma98a.pdf

    Now why is it that CCA was banned in Indonesia in 1998 but we still use it here?

    Diesel looks like a pretty good preservative, but I myself use Copper napthenate timber oil on cuts etc..

    CHeers
    Michael

  6. #5
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    in the early eighties in Cook (on the railway line in SA) people used diesel to wipe the floors on the wooden houses K1's and K2's I think they were and they did it for years 1 caught fire 1 arvo and with straw insilation and diesel soaked floors we just watched it burn ,,,,they lost all their gear ........big speil came out after that and no more diesel polish used
    Pete
    What this country needs are more unemployed politicians.
    Edward Langley, Artist (1928-1995)

  7. #6
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    The FIL used to have open 44 gallon drums full of sump oil that used to have wooden posts sitting in them for weeks soaking up the good stuff. None of those posts have failed and some have been in the ground 30 years or more so I guess it works. If ever a treated pine post was cut or pointed for the post rammer it used to get a good soaking as well just in case, the oil was free the effort minimal and the result was largely below ground.

    My own father used it on formwork, perfect for keeping the hands black but concrete tends to suck it up so frequent recoating seemed to be required.

    John

  8. #7
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    Many's the fence & out-building we've painted with a 50/50 diesel/sump-oil mix, although the govmint frowns on it nowadays.

    My gramps worked in an bush sawmill in Emerald, Vic. Diesel was used on timber structures (sheds & equipment, all made of saplings) as both a preservative and to stave of the undergrowth/regrowth. 'Twas also used as a lubricant on the saws'n'bearings, 'cos used oil's a definite no-no on bearings and diesel wasa cheaper than good oil at the time. A case of using what was at hand, I guess.

    Also know of a few truckies who still give their truck-beds (both flat and trailer) with diesel... and a couple of councils who still "wet down" dusty roads with a spray-tanker full of old sump oil. :eek: But I didn't say that, you didn't hear it from me.

    [In best Schultz voice:] "I know absolutely nuttink!"
    I may be weird, but I'm saving up to become eccentric.

    - Andy Mc

  9. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by mic-d
    Here's an interesting little article for you.
    www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/pdf1998/perma98a.pdf

    Now why is it that CCA was banned in Indonesia in 1998 but we still use it here?

    Diesel looks like a pretty good preservative, but I myself use Copper napthenate timber oil on cuts etc..

    CHeers
    Michael
    Actually interesting!!<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
    Especially the table 2.<o></o>
    I wish it reffered to termites also…<o></o>
    <o></o>
    There’s something I didn’t understand in this article : the retention for diesel is reffered as 0 Kg/m3 on the tables.I expected it to be some value.Do you know why?<o></o>
    <o></o>
    Copper napthenate gives sufficient protection in low retention.<o></o>
    I have some concerns how it affects the strengths of the wood.Anyway, for local treatments it’s not an issue to deal with.<o></o>
    Thanks for the help.<o></o>

  10. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by fxst
    in the early eighties in Cook (on the railway line in SA) people used diesel to wipe the floors on the wooden houses K1's and K2's I think they were and they did it for years 1 caught fire 1 arvo and with straw insilation and diesel soaked floors we just watched it burn ,,,,they lost all their gear ........big speil came out after that and no more diesel polish used
    Pete
    I got your fears, but the most oilborne preservatives, if not all of them, have the same problem as the solvent is a petroleum fraction and usually diesel.
    <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
    At the other hand, waterborne preservatives seem not to be the proper alternative in cases where the transfer of loads is a concern (roof trusses, let’s say) as they seriously affect the strengths and the physical properties of the wood.<o></o>
    <o></o>
    I think, choosing a preservative should not based on one parameter only but on an evaluation of some. It’s a complicated thing !…<o></o>

  11. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by johnc
    The FIL used to have open 44 gallon drums full of sump oil that used to have wooden posts sitting in them for weeks soaking up the good stuff. None of those posts have failed and some have been in the ground 30 years or more so I guess it works. If ever a treated pine post was cut or pointed for the post rammer it used to get a good soaking as well just in case, the oil was free the effort minimal and the result was largely below ground.

    My own father used it on formwork, perfect for keeping the hands black but concrete tends to suck it up so frequent recoating seemed to be required.

    John
    Dip processes combined with a suitable preservative are very effective because of the higher retention achieved (better penetration of the preservative).<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
    I’m more interesting in techniques I could apply on site, mainly brushing, airless spraying and the same.<o></o>
    <o></o>
    I have no experience with the sump oil, it sounds viscous, doesn’ it ? I mean, aren’t there any problems with the penetration if brush applied?<o></o>
    Anyway, I’ll focus on it!<o></o>
    <o></o>
    Thanks for the suggestion!<o></o>

  12. #11
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    Thanks for the help so far everyone !!<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>

  13. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by fxst
    in the early eighties in Cook (on the railway line in SA) people used diesel to wipe the floors on the wooden houses K1's and K2's I think they were and they did it for years 1 caught fire 1 arvo and with straw insilation and diesel soaked floors we just watched it burn ,,,,they lost all their gear ........big speil came out after that and no more diesel polish used
    Pete
    Were you in Cook? I was in Barton 1971. Those dunes are killers to keep off the track.
    If you never made a mistake, you never made anything!


  14. #13
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    Default Sump oil works well

    Quote Originally Posted by AlexS
    Haven't heard of diesel being used before, but old sump oil used to be a fairly common preservative. Not sure how effective it would be.
    We used sump oil on our stock/cow yards back on the farm and it worked well, you had to redo it regularly though.

    Dad built the yards in about 1974 using creosote treated strainer posts and untreated rough sawn hardwood 6 by 2's for the railings. He slopped sump oil all over the completed yards right from the beginning and then redid it most years during the couple of months when the cows "were out" (when the milkers dry off just before they calve again each year).

    Sump oil from a diesel engine works best, its thicker and heavier and blacker and seems to stick better (we saved the sump oil whenever we serviced the tractor).

    It was a fairly quick job each year. We used to make crude brushes out of old hay baling twine and slop the stuff on quite liberally. Dad sold the farm in 2004 and the yards were still as good as the day they were built, with no other maintenance than a sump oiling each year. The creosote treated strainer posts may (???) have lasted the 30 years without the sump oil but the rails certainly wouldn't have.

    Regards,
    Mirboo.

  15. #14
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    4Lts of Diesel to 1Lt of Linsead oil is the foumular I have heard about. A mate of mine used it on his Swim Platform of his housebout to preserve the pine & he reconed it well & truly outlasted fellow boaties permapine swim decks.

    ticky
    The fact remains, that 97% of all statistics are made up, yet 87% of the population think they are real.

  16. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by Shedhand
    Were you in Cook? I was in Barton 1971. Those dunes are killers to keep off the track.
    yep was there in 79-81 worked as a shunter/stn asst until I got my promotion and then outa there
    Pete
    What this country needs are more unemployed politicians.
    Edward Langley, Artist (1928-1995)

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