Thread: Rat poison... sorry ROT Poison

Ivan in Oz

Im not wood specialist but it sounds like you just have too much H2O in the wood and there for it is a mater of time air dry or other methods (kilm or frezze dry).

I have heard on the grape vine that the use of dry ice and the frezze proce will stop penetration of water throught the wood a lot quicker.

Someone else may back this up and try the local mills as they have the knowledge.

Good luck and send in some picture of the finished product.

My general response to rot is to cut out all traces of it and then some. There are many different types of rot, all (as far as I know) caused by fungi. The trouble is that even seemingly sound sections of the timber will have fungus in it and any moisture will just set it off again. If you've ever tried to get rid of tinea whilst living in a humid climate you'll know what I'm talking about. However it sounds like you have your heart set on salvaging this timber so there is one product you might try. A company called Preschem manufactures an anti rot treatment, I don't know what it's called, I've never used it and I don't know anyone that has. It consists of small sticks (about the same size as a stick of chalk) that are pushed into a hole drilled in sound timber near the rot area, I think you then plug the hole. The sticks are composed of some type of fungicide which slow releases into the timber. For what it's worth you might also try "Benlate" which is a fungicide, should be available from nursery or Ag. suppliers. You could make a solution and soak the timber in it, it used to work a treat on the cucumber and zucchini vines! I really strongly recommend however that you cut out all traces of rot before you start using the timber, as you will be quite disappointed if your rustic furniture becomes a rustic ruin.

Mick

Originally posted by journeyman Mick
You could make a solution and soak the timber in it, it used to work a treat on the cucumber and zucchini vines!
Mick

Thanks Mick, Goose

I've never tried working with cucumber or zucchini vines.
Mind you I
I've had the fruit of grape vines work on me.

The timber is from an old 5000gallon tankstand, so it has been wet quite a lot. I'll let it dry out well and go your "Benlate" way,
or the like.

Thanks,
Ivan CooKe

Ivan,

The product Mick refered to (chalk stick like) is boron; marketed under the tradename IMPEL RODS. It is ued to treate timber powerpoles etc against fungi / termites. It slowley fuses into timber and provide long term protection aginst rot / fungi.

There is a brushable version which can be used on "not so dry" timber - BORACOL TIMBERGUARD 200 or 400 manufactured by MABONS. It is pricy.

Check with your local pest management product suppliers, the mob who sell chemicals to pestcontrollers.

Cheers,
Theva

Hi !

You don't say where the rot is, and why don't you just cut the rot out.

Anyway, I use to treat green soft wood by immersion in a saturated solution of copper sulfate quite succesfully and made it impervious to rot for many years outdoor.

I don't see why it shouldnt stop your rot dead in it's tracks.