Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-10-05
PRESERVING TIMBER
PreservatiVe Treatment Of Woods for
= Farm Use, Should Receive
Careful Consideration.

II is estimated that several billion
feet of wood is used on the farms Of
the United States in positions that eX-
pose il to decay. This includes wood
used for fence posts. building founda-
tons. windmill frames, shingles, tele-
phone poles. silos. etc. The supply
Of naturally durable woods for such
purposes is rapidly growing less In
many portions of the country. and
shorter-lived woods must be used in
their place. ANY reasonably cheap
method Of increasing the life Of such
woods will effect enormous savings
10 the farmers of the country. Sew
erar methods applicable TO farm use
have been tested by the Forest Ser
vice Of the department in series OF
experiments on the preseryative treat
mcnt OF fence posts. poles and other
forms Of timber exposed 10 decay.
The result Of these experiments, pub
lished in Farmers Bulletin al. The
Prsseryatiye Treatment Of Farm Tim
bcrs. show that when suitable preser-
vatiye is given the natural resistance
OF wood to decay can be very mucn
increased.
or all the various preseryatlyes
tosed, coal-tar creosote-a brownlsh-
black heavy oil-has given the best
results. Satisfactory results may be
obtained from any good grade, pro-
yided a sufficient amount OF preser-
yative is put into the wood and a good
penetration is secured. The most thor
ough method OF application that IS
practicable on the farm Isl the open
tank process. In this treatment the
posts are heated for one or more hours
in the preseryatiye oil at tempera-
ture of from $50 TO 220 degrees F.
They are then quickly transferred to
another tank of the creosote oil hav-
ing temperature of about 100 de-
srees F., and are left there for an hour
or more. In the hot bath the air and
moisture in the wood expand and are
partially driven out. When the wood
is plunged into the cool oil the air ana
moisture in it contract and draw the
oil into the wood Except in the case
of very easily treated woods, there
is little absorption OF oil by the wood
during the hot bath, Instead Of sep.
arate tank being used for the cool
bath. the heating OF the oil in the hot
bath may be stopped and the wood
and the oil allowed to cool together.
This accomplshes the same purpose
as the cool bath, but longer time is
required because the hot oil cools very
slowly. This method can sometimes be
used to advantage by heating for two
OF three hours early in the morning or
III the evening and allowing the posts
to cool all day or all night. This will
make it possible TO carry on the treat
ment with little interference with the
regular work of the farm.
The essential parts OF the apparatus
for general farm use are one or two
tanks depending upon whether the
hot and cold orAot and cooling meth
cd is used), a thermometer, and some
means OF heating. Any tank that can
readily be heated will do. provided
that it is strong enough to hold the
weight of the oil and posts, does not
leak. and is deep enough so that the
OIL does not come within foot of the
top of the tank during the treatment.
Other methods of application suit.
abe for farm use are the cold bath or
soaking treatment, in which the wood
is treated by soaking for long periods
at ordinary temperatures; the dipping
| process, in which the wood is simply
! heated in oil at from 200 degrees to
! 220 degrees f. for from to Is min
| utes,o or longer; and the brush treat
ment, or painting, which consists Of
applying two coats Of hot preventative
| to the wood. Each of these processes
. ildO Ntl tam ddf an bCAi LAt Auol illN III
Cd especially possessing the virtues
of cheapness and simplicity, but none
of them so thorough or imparts such
lasting qualities as the opentank
process.
As a rule, the principal item Of cost
IN this treatment of timber is the pre-.
seryatiye, the price Of which varies.
Near the manufacturing plants creo-
sote can usually be obtained at from
i % to IS cents per gallon in small lots.
In other localities the freight will
make the price somewhat higher.
About half a gallon IL absorbed by an
average post or s inches in diameter.
The cost of applying the preventative
depends mainly upon the number OF
posts to be treated, the cost OF ap,
paratus, labor and fuel, and the mum
ler OF posts which can be treated per
day. The cost OF treatment will vary
greatly in different localities.
The preseryatiye treatment Of farm
timbers deserves careful consideration
in rural communities. In many cases
a small woodpreserviDg plant could
be operated probably in connection
with a threshing outfit, feed mill, OF
several individuals could cooperate in