Timber Framers Guild Forums Tools Tool Forum pressure treated lumber and precision tools

If I use nice woodworking tools on pressure-treated lumber, will the tools wear out faster or require sharpening more often? I ask because I might make some outdoor things, and generally one buys pressure-treated lumber for that. But maybe I shouldn't do that anyway, instead buying ordinary lumber and then staining it so it won't rot quickly. Anyway, does the chemical treatment eat away at tools? (I don't really have enough trees right now to chop more than one or two skinny ones for lumber).

I don't know for sure, but I would think that if the tools were not in prolonged contact with wet PT, and wiped down and oiled afterwards, they wouldn't be affected. I'm lucky to have black locust available, so I don't have to use PT. Do you have anyone nearby that can provide a rot resistant species? I'm going to get some prices on PT and see how it compares to the cost of using locust. I'm sure it doesn't work as nicely as PT though.


Dave

I don't think it would do anything to a chisel. If it dulled it a little faster, a quick 60 second hone would get it right back. I don't prefer to use PT if I can avoid it. For deck, I'd rather have the composite (sawdust/plastic) if I need that kind of resistance. White oak is fairly acidic, but don't make a significant difference on the chisel that a quick honing doesn't take car of. Some tropical hardwood contains silica which may be a bit harder on dulling tools. Which is it? Teak? Mohogany? I forget. I've never used that stuff yet.

Thanks for the thoughts on that. Yes I guess treating the tools promptly would reduce any concerns about residues, copper etc. I don't know whether or not treated lumber is harder on blades. Perhaps the metallic saturations would in some sense make it harder.

I haven't really looked into wood availability beyond major hardware stores. Someday I'll get that far.