planning pressure treated lumber

Hey Chris

I have built a lot of stuff with Pressure Treated Lumber, but I have come to a point where I don’t like using it. Even though the chemical has been changed out from the old Arsenic that was once used to a Chromated Copper Arsenate, I am not convinced that it is safe for extended handling. I have limited my use of the material to things that won’t be handled, like the floor joists, floor, and sill plates of a storage building. If I do handle it, I wear a dust mask when sawing, and make sure I wash my hands and launder my clothes right afterwards. That may sound a bit paranoid, but that chemical never just fades away, once it is introduced into a location, it has to be removed to get rid of. I have used it for playsets and swings in the past, but I don’t like the fact that kids will have their hands all over it while playing.

If it were me, I wouldn’t use it for my workbench.

As far as outdoor projects, I use either Western Red Cedar, or Cypress to take advantage of their natural preservative properties.

Not nice stuff at all. Have used plenty of the stuff over the years. Washing hands is a must. Dose not plane that nice either.

Another thing to be aware of, if you are handling wood from pallets, or shipping crates, look for the IPPC logo if it has one, see attached picture. This indicates that the wood has been treated for insects, so they won’t be transported from one location to another. If you see “HT” on the label, it was Heat Treated, and is safe for handling or breathing. If you see “MB” it has been fumigated with Methyl Bromide. I would leave that alone, again more chemicals that are suppose to be safe, but I don’t trust it for woodworking, burning, or extended handling.