Treat Wood Yourself - How to Treat Wood Against Rot

If you hate pressure treated wood then here is a way to treat wood yourself and preserve your own wood. This technique has been used for decades by old timers around the world, works, and is cheap and easy. Join the journey and subscribe!

Another video with a more extensive charring technique

Instagram

Facebook

[staticGeneratorYou]

The treating of posts starts here: 5:35

[coydogvt]

You can also add creosote from cleaning a woodstove to the mix for extra protection.

[SilverBack.]

Great video Tim.Being frugal and using what you have is the name of the game.

[charlesloftis]

What an honor to know you, Tim. I'm smarter after every video.

[zombiezmybrainz]

I remember my grandfather building tobacco barns here in NC out of creosote posts. I'm not sure you can even buy that stuff anymore. Hard to work with, but lasts 30+ years in the ground.

[JamesKelly]

I never thought I'd have Sam Elliot teach me how to treat wood.

[philmorrison]

Improvise, adapt and overcome! Love it my friend!

[wulfclaw]

Well, my grandad was right.
Hey, thanks for the tips, sir .
Much appreciated !
Wulfy

[meandnature]

best a most beautiful way to treat wood.

[hawkleadflinger]

Thank you so much. I have my own saw mill now and I plan on using the post and other boards for projects. Need to treat for ground contact, etc.

[toonybrain]

Great information. Exactly what I was looking for. Thank you.

[gloriabush]

Sam, I am so glad you did this. I am going to have a retaining wall put up. This will save me so money.

[paulbriggs]

Rot is caused by one of two general types of fungus, white and brown. Pretty technical terms, I know. They both require acidic environments to grow and usually temperatures above 50 degrees F. If you place very fine crushed limestone (often called stone dust or paver sand) in the bottom of the hole, and after placing the post, fill the hole with the same stuff, it cannot be made acidic as there is just too much alkalinity for an acid to exist without being neutralized. Water that enters the post through that limestone is made calcium rich. However the interior of posts can usually still rot no matter what you do except true pressure treating. But if the post becomes saturated with the calcium rich water, then its going to be rot resistant.

[mauriciomurillo]

Thanks so much, that's very helpful.

[caryreed]

Great video thank you. Both charring and used motor oil are very acidic so that’s the thing that keeps bugs and fungus away.

[mikemcgrath]

Great video bad thanks for bringing that up the Vikings used to burn the ends of logs in building their huts

[optimoprimo]

Interesting how various soil can be. Here in Ontario, Canada when I dig into ground the soil is black.

[ccswede]

This is close to boat soup. Every sailor had their own formula. It is generally a combination of pine tar, Turpentine and linseed oil. It was used on all the lines and rigging and inside planks and structure of wooden boats.

[CandiceWA]

Such good looking guy! I learned something useful today, Thank you!

[edwardbenton]

Old Timers been using this 50/50 mix for over a 100 years. Some of the post they set inground have lasted over 100 years. 4 inches of course sand below the post also keeps moisture off the bottom and prevents rot.