Thread: best wood to use for an outdoor kids playground equipment

I suggest cypress

This does not have to be treated and can be outside with out any problems

For the price (and workability), it's very hard to beat CCA treated pine. Personally, I'd avoid any of the newer treatments (LOSP and ACQ) as they are chemically more complex and have less of a history.

People have been using CCA timbers since the 50's - and the concerns over CCA treated timber are simply that 'there is nothing proving it safe', and not 'there is something proving it toxic'.

There is similarly nothing proving naturally durable timbers 'safe', either, and some of them are proper little chemical warfare factories (that's why they are durable timbers...nothing can eat them!!).

Basically, many areas of Australia have a higher natural level of arsenic in the soil than you'll find near CCA treated structures - if the intended user of the structure can keep themselves from eating more than a cupfull of solid timber a month, they'll be within their bodies ability to naturally remove any arsenic they may consume.

LOSP has been available since the mid 70's. Its popularity was somewhat reduced by the fact it was not suited to inground contact and CCA was seen as being more versatile. LOSP has become more popular in recent years as it withstands surface checking much better than CCA though still not suitable in ground.

Thank you guys for your replies. I went to bunnings today and i think they only had treated pine and Merbau. i liked the color of Merbau very much and looked sturdy. it was planed with rounded edges (DAR i think) and had varity of sizes which will make my life easy. the only problem that i read about in the forum is that it bleeds in wet weather. WOuld this be a problem in a playground? Kids love to bite on anything and they also wont be able to play after a wet weather if this is the case.

any guranteed method to stop this bleeding, like a paint or oiling? Or do you know of any similar hardwood? Apparently Cedar is a good choice as its being used by a lot of north american companies!! The guys at <cite>www.naturallybetter.com.ask an expert recommended Tallwood, spotted gum or ironbark hardwood for outdoor use.</cite>

I will try to visit a timber yard soon to check cypress and other types as bunnings does not have a big variety. I am sorry master splinter but i will try to avoid traeted pine. i know its cheap and easy to work with but i read a lot of issues with it specially the treated pine dust.

Ash

Just keep in mind that merbau is a rainforest timber, and is classified as a vulnerable species; much of the legal logging is legal courtesy of permit procedures in countries that rate highly on the bribery and corruption scales.

And make sure that the reports you have read actually come from peer reviewed studies, and not from groups like the people who claim to be allergic to wireless network electromagnetic fields or think that vaccines are poison.

The first place to look for good potential candidates is at woods that are commonly used as Fence posts.... because they can stand in-ground use without rotting or being eaten by bugs....

That said - I think the 2 concerns are to stay away from woods that are known to cause allergic reactions in many people and to stay away from wood that becomes very splintery when it sits outdoors for long periods of time....

So... Stay away from any woods that bear local names like "Poison wood"...

Thanks

Other woods that are used as decking might bo good too! The place inRingwood had alot of differant decking choices not just merbu! They ar enpot in your area I guess, but would provide other ideas.

Chippy's Outdoor - Decking, Merbau, Spotted Gum, Iron Bark, Stringy Bark