Hey Arkansawyer:
Speaking of the EPA, gave them a call the other day regarding some wood I was prepping to cut. One of my customers up in Texarkana came across some creosote treated timbers that he wanted milled into beams for use in building a barn and woodshop. Now these timbers aren't your ordinary run of the mill poles. Nope, this guy had to go and find poles that are anywhere from 40-60 feet long and 24-36" at the butt end. These things were treated some 30 years ago and have been stored in an old abandoned factory for at least that long.
Of course my concern was the threat to me and mine and what liabilities would I incur if I milled these things. According to the Dallas office of the EPA, no threat other than a mild skin irritent. Suggested using a mask and goggles and maybe wearing longsleeves. Said that only rats who have their bellies shaved and creosote rubbed on them for 45 days develop skin cancer. Of course he said that you could possibly get sick if you drank the stuff too.
Anyway, the customer wants beams of 20 x 20 x 20'. Must going to be a huge barn. His floor joists will be 4 x 9 x 20'. We took the chainsaws up there last Saturday to do a little bucking ($75/hr
). The first twenty poles cut without any problems, then we started slowing down. Saws (including a Sthil 66) would not cut! Remembered to add some diesel and bar oil to the chainsaw blade and we were back in business.
Anyway, we got back home and I had a message from some company in Houston. They need 50 tons of Western Red Cedar for immediate export to China. Of course, I immediately thought of you. So if you get an email from Anna, you will know how she found you.
