A really dull question for yard owners about treating wooden fencing (!)

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PortuguesePony

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Uber dull, but what do others recommend to treat their timber stables or field shelters, wooden gates and post and rail fencing? Ours is all looking very dull and weathered, treating/staining it is going to be very labour intensive and I don’t want to waste our time staining it with something that is going to wash straight off again as it seems the last treatment did within a few weeks :/

Obviously we want to protect the wood, but also want to make it all look a bit smarter :) We don’t have any crib biters etc, in case that makes a difference.
 
Creosote is always the best and is still available for agricultural use. NEVER put it in a sprayer ,thinking it will save time.This is VERY DANGEROUS. Always wear gloves and safety galsses.
 
It always seems to be creocote nowadays, not creosote, which doesn't seem to do the job as well. Its what I've used for the last few years, and have mixed a bit of old engine oil in too, although don't think you're allowed to nowadays.
 
Registered farms and agric contractors can still buy creosote, just not the general public. It is harmful if ingested so would only use with non chewers, but it is vastly superior to the replacement products at its job. Old engine oil mixing is a good idea too, again not marvellous health wise but the trad use.
 
If you haven't got a sensible and helpful supplier of real creosote (as I have) you may be able to pretend to be a fencing contractor to buy it !! I have always used it mixed 50/50 with waste engine oil, never had a problem with it with the horses. Wear gloves, coveralls and safety glasses though as it can burn the skin if you are sensitive. Green timber that has been tanalised contains a lot of salt and the horses will chew that to bits!
 
You can usually get real creosote on eBay in 25 litre drums, there are a couple of regular sellers of it.
 
Bobbly said:
If you haven't got a sensible and helpful supplier of real creosote (as I have) you may be able to pretend to be a fencing contractor to buy it !! I have always used it mixed 50/50 with waste engine oil, never had a problem with it with the horses. Wear gloves, coveralls and safety glasses though as it can burn the skin if you are sensitive. Green timber that has been tanalised contains a lot of salt and the horses will chew that to bits!
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Also dont be taken in by "tanalised "timber .The active ingredients have almost all been removed ,and you cannot expect the stuff to last more than about 6 years now.(I am in the sawmilling and pressure treating business so I do know).I would buy pressure treated creasote posts and rails every time.They will far outlast any "tanalised" softwood. Even our untreated Larch posts and rails will outlast tanalised timber.
 
I have always used used diesel oil......is that not allowed in the UK? How can 'they' stop you if you are using the diesel from your own vehicle saved after an oil change??? Cheap and lasts ages!!
 
Alyth said:
I have always used used diesel oil......is that not allowed in the UK? How can 'they' stop you if you are using the diesel from your own vehicle saved after an oil change??? Cheap and lasts ages!!
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Any used (ie contaminated) oil has to be disposed of via approved facilities (a garage who has it collected for eg or a licensed collector or via special area at local council waste site.

Reuse of such materials is in theory banned. However, just as with people using rubber tyre (also considered waste that has to be properly disposed of) shred in maneges or gallops (such as the recent failed prosecution re a gallop reported in H&H), there is a grey area where it is clearly not being dumped but rather recycled to a new life and second useful purpose. So based on that recent court case and the small and dispersed amounts involved, it might be considered safe to go on using it in small amounts for fence posts on your own land, to answer your q.
 
Thanks everyone for your replies :D I’m so sorry for whatever reason, I didn’t get any notifications of replies on this thread .. whooops!

Anyway, re Creosote/creocote … does this also actually protect timber, from weather damage etc or is this just to curb crib biters? My main concern is to protect against weathering etc, we don’t have any crib biters (touch wood LOL!). Also, does it actually dry or is it always sticky to the touch? Or am I thinking of the wrong stuff here … I certainly remember the smell anyway! :/ I need something that isn't going to transfer on to rugs/clothing/coats when touched or rubbed.
 
Creosote & engine oil does dry eventually (or more sinks in), but for the first few days it willtransfer onto clothes and rugs etc. Wood has to be as dry as posible to get maximum soakage. It stops rot and algae and stops wood looking dried out.
 
The reason it is restricted is that it is carcinogenic with added engine oil I would guess that would be even more of a worry not sure I would want it near my horses
 
windand rain said:
The reason it is restricted is that it is carcinogenic with added engine oil I would guess that would be even more of a worry not sure I would want it near my horses
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Sorry windandrain, I didn't see your post when I replied. Nor did I realise this ... :eek: I definitely don't want to be using a carcinogenic around my pride and joy :( Pressumably this only relates to the original creosote, hence there now being similarly named alternatives? (Are these safe?)
 
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