Improvising 3x2 from fence rail timber

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Improvising 3x2 from fence rail timber

neb

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#295716 17-Apr-2022 23:47

After waiting for months for a few lengths of 3x2 for an attic ladder with no sign of any of it ever turning up in stores, I was thinking of getting some readily available 3x2 fence rail and shaving it down to get rid of the rough sawn finish. Is there any reason why this wouldn't work? The only possible concern is that the H3.2 timber treatment may interfere with finishing it in BLO and/or urethane, but apart from that it seems like an obvious solution to the timber shortage problem, or am I missing something?

elpenguino

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#2903352 18-Apr-2022 00:35

Often that type of timber is quite wet - you can tell by the extra weight of it. Would that lead to warping etc as it dries?

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Bung

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#2903354 18-Apr-2022 01:35

Where is it being used on your ladder? Fence rails are usually fairly rubbish timber. Supposedly the timber supply is coming right but Gib is 2 years away from normal.

Rust

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#2903363 18-Apr-2022 06:44

Should be fine so long as you choose a decent piece from the pile.

The wood used for fencing timber is all the stuff that doesn't meet the SG8 stress grade for house construction. This is determined both by the density of the log when it enters the sawmill, and by how many knots any one particular piece has after rough-sawing. So personally I wouldn't have any problem using it for a ladder so long as I chose lengths with no structurally significant knots.

Not sure about whether the treatment would affect the coating.

Edit to note: it also goes through the exact same drying cycle as house frame timber.

johno1234

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#2903366 18-Apr-2022 07:43

You can run it through a thicknesser or plane it to a nice finish but I expect it will warp as it dries.

Jase2985

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#2903374 18-Apr-2022 08:18

johno1234: You can run it through a thicknesser or plane it to a nice finish but I expect it will warp as it dries.

this

unless its pretty well supported its going to warp.

i got some 3x2 from bunnings, and it might just be a case of going in every now and then and hoping to be lucky.

k1w1k1d

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#2903384 18-Apr-2022 08:44

Local M10 here in Christchurch has 90x45 RAD LVL8 SG8 H1.2 in 3m lengths for $26. Stock number is 957533, but doesn't show up on their website.

It is dry, straight, and won't bend or flex.

I am going to get some to build a new workbench.

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andrew75

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#2903392 18-Apr-2022 09:27

I made a 3 tier kayak stand out of fencing timber. The rails are noticeably very lightweight compared to the posts. They've already bent - which is advantageous to me as they are starting to contour to the shape of the kayaks - may not be good for your purposes though.

gzt

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#2903443 18-Apr-2022 10:14

Personally would not use it indoors esp. in a situation where it will be in contact with hands etc. This has details for some of the chemical treatments:

https://www.level.org.nz/health-and-safety/materials-handling/working-with-treated-timber/

gzt

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#2903446 18-Apr-2022 10:20

Making from EcoPly or similar could be an option worth exploring.

neb

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#2903521 18-Apr-2022 18:25

Thanks for the advice everyone. Looks like the main problem is warping, I was just going to use two pieces up the sides and cut rungs from the rest, screwed into trench cuts on the side pieces, but if there's a risk the whole thing will twist itself out of shape over time I might wait a bit longer if standard 3x2s are turning up again in places, I've been asking every time I go in but no luck so far.

Unfortunately that means I don't have any excuse not to switch to the second project, proper wooden saw horses, the kind that don't have flimsy collapsible metal legs or a plastic/aluminium top that you can't use a saw or drill near...

SomeoneSomewhere

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#2903546 18-Apr-2022 20:40

A good excuse to get a welder and some steel?...

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SepticSceptic

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#2903587 18-Apr-2022 23:11

Slice lengthwise into 1.5 x 2.
Top and tail, then bond together. Like a 2 ply laminate.

sqw

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#2903836 19-Apr-2022 14:17

Having just built garage shelves from rough sawn, green fencing timber I'd strongly say don't bother. They are a nightmare. In a week they bent and twisted so significantly I couldn't straighten them enough to built a flat shelf. Clamping the hell out of them got me close put the screws wouldn't hold.

I ended up buying green, planed, straight 3x2s and that worked fine. Plenty of air getting around it so it will dry evenly in situ.