Thread: Milling old jetty timbers

I would recommend wearing something like a triton powered dust mask while milling stuff with creosote in it.

Also I would mill the stuff well away from anyone.

Here is a link to an MSDS for Creosote. Please note that this MSDS is for 100% liquid creosote and what is likely to still be in the timber is the residue of that. Nevertheless it will still pay to be careful.

AND

definitely DO NOT use anything with creosote in it as firewood!!!!!

were they piers or beams?

over here piers were simply wrapped in a layer of copper tacked on. creasoat will wash away in watter. after being there for god knows how long im sure anything that is left is harmless.

and the beams were left untreated but quickly go coated in a thick layer of coal dust, oil and all sorts of other stuff.

how old are they?

it is more that likely that the coloration is simply here the watter and stuff has seaped in and discolored the timber.

are you sure its jarrah or blackbut,why i ask is on the east cost a lot or wharf and jetty piles were made out of terpintine logs because it is borer resistance.also terpintine cracks before your eyes when you cross cut a log.i dont think cresote will leech out completly with age ,the fumes from it will burn you and if you can smell it it is still there.

lloyd.

Jaraha is used on the West coast as it has the same if not higher silica content that stops the marine worm from enjoying a good feed

If the logs are older than 20+yrs then it will be creasote -it has the unique ability to leach into the timber as well as slowly releasing out to the surounding area eventually it will deplete to nothing, (30ish years)

If the logs show a slight green tinge this is CCA and the creasote is not actually Creasote it's an enviromentally friendly replacement called CAT (if memory sereves me correctly) and is about 40% better then the original creasote however the CCA is not good

the good thing about the whole deal is once your into the timber by an inch or two all is OK-ish. the last load of warf pylons we cut, we wore white sperm suits and dust masks

this makes for very hot working conditons

Thank guys for your prompt responses.

Had already considered wearing the dust masks and had also thought about the suits, will just have to wait for a cool day!

I'm hoping that by cutting the outside 50mm or so of the log off I will have removed most of the treatment and smell and hopefully the cut boards won't split too much.

Only mentioned firewood for those with enclosed fire as hopefully the vapours won't go out into the room, but doubt you will need firelighters!

if you put treated timber into an enclosed fire it will explode!!!!!!!

believe me i tired it. kabooom!!!!!!! it blew to lid off the chimney

Don't get me started on milling jetty timbers

Only mentioned firewood for those with enclosed fire as hopefully the vapours won't go out into the room

Originally Posted by weisyboy

if you put treated timber into an enclosed fire it will explode!!!!!!!

Not only what Carl said, but also the toxins can settle on your (or your neighbors) roof and be washed off and into rain water tanks and subsequently consumed.

Originally Posted by Sigidi

Don't get me started on milling jetty timbers

Hi there Sigidi.
What exactly did you mean by that statement? Not worth the effort? How so? Why?
Cheers for your pearls of wisdom!

Ps Ok lads I won't be burning it for firewood then... Bloody big strainer posts then!

one of my pearls of wisdom is "there's no such thing as bad timber - just bad places people try to put it"

If you have the Lucas, there's nothing stopping you, if you had to contract the job out then, you'd have to think things through a bit harder.What did it cost you for your 20 ton? How much to transport it to your place? How long will it take you to cut it up? Have you got a use for the timber or are you on-selling it?

The outside 'treatment' is nothing just cut it off, on most boards you will be cutting it off anyway. End splits that soon sounds like ironbark??? As for colour washing out... they'll still have colour.

I was fortunate that I didn't have to pay much for the logs but had to pay for the transport! Having the mill lessons the blow, this is true.

I was hoping to get 50mm thick stock out of most of the logs and if it its possible some 30mm boards all at maximum cut in width. Hoping to use some myself and try to sell some of the rest.

What type of metal detector does anybody use? Does its performance depend on whether wood is dry or green? What sucessfull depth reading can be obtained? Can anyone recomend good brands or models? Are we talking about conventional prospecting types?

Cheers all

i've milled railway sleepers dipped in creosote. IT IS THE WORST SMELLING HIDEOUS stuff to cut .if you intend to mill the stuff or if you want to find out if the piles are treated in the stuff hit it with a chainsaw and get a nose full and you will be able to tell if it is creosote. it stinks, to much in your eyes and nose and you are sure to get sometype of reaction. with the sleepers i've cut that are dry, the sawdust comes out very fine witch is easily carried by wind. the oil still present in the timber leeches out for months making it near impossible to get ant type of sealing coat on to it. there's (in my opinion) no good reason for milling it unless you are putting it back in the ground or using it for a sub floor. the saw dust continues to smell for weeks and if you mix it with other sawdust no one will take it for the gardens or chook shed. there is no way i'd ever cut the stuff AGAIN but if you do get the full suit and breathing stuff and cut it as far away from anything as possible ( this little rant is all because i milled up 40 old sleepers not much work but a lot of bother) finally i think the sleepers were jarrah dipped in creosote

Hey @comgreserv

Mate have you got any advice I have 200 logs of jetty Jarrah poles 5m length and want to mill them too how’d you go? I made some massive beams 250x250mm they are stunning but keen to mill down into decking or flooring will it dry shrink and crack?

0456198061 would love some advice

comgreserv hasn't been active on the forum for nearly 5 years.
I don't think you'll get a reply