Cutting treated pine

[brettsyoung]

Hi all. I'm building a few internal walls and a frame around a new bath with treated structural pine. This feels like a silly question, but is the "treatment" all the way through the timber? If I cut it will it be exposed as untreated? I am concerned because we are in a bad white ant area and untreated pine seems to evaporate, the little buggers to get to it so quickly. Cheers, Brett

[Honorary Bloke]

The "treatment" generally goes through, though the colour may change a bit from the outside in. No one could make anything of treated wood if it couldn't be cut and used.

On the other hand, don't cut it with a SawStop.

[munruben]

Any cut ends of treated pine should be re sealed with Anti Rot protective.
Treated pine is treated with toxic , heavy metals such as Copper, Chromium and Arsenic so sawing treated pine should be done in a well ventilated area or perferably outdoors. A dust mask must be worn and any cuts that you may have on your body should be covered with a plaster. It is not a good idea to burn any offcuts of the timber as it releases a gas that can be quite harmful.

[arms]

treated pine is only normal pine immersed in a solution then pressurised for a time allowing the fluid to penetrate the pores of the timber ,the treatment will only penetrate the timber as far as the density of the timber allows ,if you cut through the treatment it is advisable to paint the cut sections with more treatment so as to fully seal the timber from infestation

[munruben]

Hi all. I'm building a few internal walls and a frame around a new bath with treated structural pine. This feels like a silly question, but is the "treatment" all the way through the timber? If I cut it will it be exposed as untreated? I am concerned because we are in a bad white ant area and untreated pine seems to evaporate, the little buggers to get to it so quickly. Cheers, Brett

For your purpose you would probably use H2 grade treated Pine although in a bathroom environment you may need to use H3. The "H" grading is the Hazard level of the timber, the lower the number the lower the hazard factor. H2 is to be used above ground only whilst H3 may be used below ground.
Another word of warning: Treated pine shoulld not be used for mulching or animal bedding.

[brettsyoung]

Thanks arms, I figured i would have to do something like that. Thanks for advice all. cheers, Brett