Is Oregon timber that was used in houses treated?

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nznick

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Wannabe Geek
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#274580 29-Aug-2020 20:14

Hi all

I’ve got some Oregon beams that came out of the garage, which was attached to a house that was built around 1980. I’m just wondering whether the timber would’ve been treated or not.

Does anyone know if Oregon timber is or was was ever treated?

Thanks in advance for any posts.

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Lastman

312 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#2552059 29-Aug-2020 20:34

Oregon is also known as Douglas Fir, I believe. I don’t think that’s generally treated but is quite durable especially in a building framing context.

froob

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#2552192 30-Aug-2020 00:48

I think douglas fir is typically untreated, but can be treated to H1.2 (boron). I don’t think H3.2 pressure treatment actually works on the wood.

Edit: http://www.nzwood.co.nz/forestry-2/douglas-fir/

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neb

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#2554195 31-Aug-2020 15:58

nznick:
I have heard that and was hesitant, but then read Christopher Schwarz's first book on workbenches. It suggested that Douglas Fir was one of his 2 goto timbers for building workbenches (I think the other was Southern Yellow Pine).

Just be aware in US books that their go-to material may be very different from the material someone outside the US would go to. My workbench is radiata pine, it's cheap, readily available, easy to work with, etc, I assume the US equivalent to that would be douglas fir for the same reason.