Which timber

Ok I've got the Bench that the previous owner made. As you can see it's well due for some fixing. I was just going to replace the front, but as I took off some of the boards I see that alot of the timber is rotten, mainly where there as been water sitting. So looks like I'm going to knock it all down and Start again.

Had a quick look at Bunnings and I confessed myself. All these different types of structural, treated and untreated.... I know that I don't need structural.

But What do I need here. @rusty_nail http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...020/05/165.jpghttp://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...020/05/166.jpg

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Most wood will rot if left where moisture can collect and not evaporate easily.

If it's going to be exposed to the elements, I'd go with treated. Otherwise if it's indoors I'd probably just pick the size that best suits your application either treated or untreated (depending on what's available in said size). Don't use particleboard if you want it to last.

I work with a lot of treated pine, cheap and easy to work with. Anything outdoors gets thoroughly lathered in paint or staining oil.

That looks like Oregan. is the new bench going outside too? what is it for? how big is it going to be? These questions will really help in directing you down the right path mate.

Check out the photo comp thread for the bench in my shed. It is all pine with yellowtongue flooring across the top & for the under shelf. It is not subject to any significant moisture so I just used untreated pine. You don't need hardwood. After moving from the farm where most of the timber I used was either cypress milled on the property of from a local timber mill not far away in the bush I was gobsmacked at the cost to build the bench - this was probably 5 years ago now & cost $600! Mind you the bench is 6m long. It is 600mm deep, but if I were doing it again I'd make it deeper - 900mm - using the full width of the yellow tongue sheets.

It's about 7 metres long and 400mm wide. Yes it's going outside and will be used for sitting on.

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Originally Posted by MudRunnerTD

That looks like Oregan. is the new bench going outside too? what is it for? how big is it going to be? These questions will really help in directing you down the right path mate.

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I reckon it looks like untreated pine unless oregon can be bought with that 'milled' finish, (which I've never seen). Given the way it has rotted out, I would definitely use treated pine, but would also do what I could to sort the moisture problem before putting a new bench in.

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Originally Posted by jay see

It's about 7 metres long and 400mm wide. Yes it's going outside and will be used for sitting on.

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Treated pine definitely, & no yellow tongue! :)

I think the previous owner did a bit around here with whatever he got his hands on. It's weird because somes things are wow that's great, then there's why would he do that for.

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Treated pine mate and get some Linseed oil or similar and give it a good lathering.

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Originally Posted by Cuppa

I reckon it looks like untreated pine unless oregon can be bought with that 'milled' finish, (which I've never seen). Given the way it has rotted out, I would definitely use treated pine, but would also do what I could to sort the moisture problem before putting a new bench in.

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Nah i reckon that is Oregon for sure mate the grain is way to stringy for Pine, pine is a broader grain. That second pic is classic Oregon rot. When you say "Milled" do you mean Dressed? or rough sawn? either way i have seen plenty of each but rough sawn for the most part. If old mate used second hand timbers that had come from a house demo or something either may have been sourced. in the 1970s and 1980s Oregon was Prolific and bloody everywhere for everything. Definitely saw plenty fo dressed Oregon in my day.

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Originally Posted by jay see

It's about 7 metres long and 400mm wide. Yes it's going outside and will be used for sitting on.

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So if this is going to be a Bench to sit on then i would be giving Treated Pine a Wide berth. There is a reason why it has been outlawed for playgrounds....... Retaining walls and garden edges only gents. If you have to touch it then dont touch it.....

I would consider 3 Redgum Sleepers end for end x 2 wide as the bench top to sit on. It will weather well and if you seal it it will last a life time. Consider running a router along the edges to take a bull nose off every edge then it is soft on the edges and will serve you well. Looks pretty nice too. Cheap enough and gets it done. Or just Buzz the aris off each edge with your plane or buzzer if you have one.

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Originally Posted by MudRunnerTD

Nah i reckon that is Oregon for sure mate the grain is way to stringy for Pine, pine is a broader grain. That second pic is classic Oregon rot. When you say "Milled" do you mean Dressed? or rough sawn?

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Dunno, I wouldn't call it dressed, but perhaps that's the correct term - the 'mini corrugated' finish on the two rotten pieces, commonly seen on pine.

I believe there are two sorts of Oregon. Years ago it was a very durable timber which would stand up to weather for many years, but the oregon today is of a similar colour but a totally different timber (?Douglas Fir?). I built some external steps with the stuff & they rotted out within 3 to 4 years.

I also thought that todays treated pine was somewhat health friendlier that the old arsenic based treated pine (blue instead of green).?

I must admit when I saw 'bench', I thought 'work bench'.

For an outdoor 'bench seat' I think your redgum sleeper idea sounds good.

There are two types of treated pine, have a look at this site for a quick explanation http://gtpine.com.au/other_information/cca_or_acq
Having a good supply here we’ve used heaps of both around the families properties. Mostly ACQ for anything that’s for the kids or sat on and CCA for pergolas, retaining walls etc. ACQ is more expensive for sure.
There is a bitumen based paint to put on any parts the are in ground, can’t be bothered going out in the cold to check the name :smile:

Our pergolas have been up about 18 years and no issues at all, same with the retaining wall. We did replace the balcony with structural treated pine as the oregon turned to crap within about seven years.

If you’re going to paint it then do it before you put it in place.

Edit:
Just saw Cuppa’s post. In Australia about thirty years ago we imported lots of Oregon from the forests damaged by the Mount Saint Helens volcano eruption in Washington. This was found to have issues and rotted quite quickly. Plenty of pergolas were built with it as it was cheap for a reason.

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Originally Posted by jay see

.....snip. What do I need here. @rusty_nail

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Hi mate, i was actually considering coming out your way and grabbing those bits off you sunday if your around and maybe swinging past @MudRunnerTD s house to deliver them. happy to take a look when im around if your going to be home?

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Originally Posted by rusty_nail

Hi mate, i was actually considering coming out your way and grabbing those bits off you sunday if your around and maybe swinging past @MudRunnerTD s house to deliver them. happy to take a look when im around if your going to be home?

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Shouldn't be a problem, you do know that he's about 3/4 to an hour away from me. With soccer starting soon I'm sure I'll be going that way for a game, I could drop it off then. Just another option.

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i know mate but he has my trailer and i need it back =P

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Originally Posted by jack

In Australia about thirty years ago we imported lots of Oregon from the forests damaged by the Mount Saint Helens volcano eruption in Washington. This was found to have issues and rotted quite quickly. .

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That would tie in with when I built the steps which subsequently rotted out quickly

the rotten timber is standard pine commonly used for house framing there are many spiecies of pine and yes some do look alot like oregon, the milled finish is known as laser cut. if you read the stamps on it when it was new it would have been likely stamped laserframe mgp10.

for the rebuild either treated pine of which there are many types but if its going to be in the weather it needs to be at least a h3 rating for above ground or h4 rating if in contact with the ground also note if you really want it to last you need to retreat any cuts you make as most treated pine avaliable in vic these days is LOSP type treatment which doesnt penetrate right to the centre of the board. the good news is you can buy losp treatment in tins just like paint. any treated pine should have a small tage on the end of the board telling you what the tereatment type is, cca tends to have a green tinge to the timber while losp is visually difficult to notice a difference but typically has a oily feel and turps/kero type smell

Thanks for all the info guys.

One option is to turn the area into a veggie patch with a sitting area in the middle. If I do that I'll probably brick it.

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Well I made a start here.

Knocked it all down and going to start again. Don't think I will do the veggie patch here, doesn't get any sun at all.

Week starting July 6 I'm on a 3 day week, so I might as well do something constructive.http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...020/06/116.jpg

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Just gonna hijack this thread. I know a bunch of you guys on here know your timber.
Can anyone identify what kind of timber this is?
Old bi-fold doors I'm guessing 70+ years old.http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...2020/07/64.jpghttp://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...2020/07/65.jpg

Could be Oregon, how heavy is it?

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Pretty heavy. Each door is 2555mm high x 730mm wide x 55mm thick and can be carried by one person, but they aren't light.

any chance you can sand off some paint on the face so we can see the grain ofthe timber, will make id alot easier

Here's the exposed grain under the hinges.http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...2020/07/67.jpghttp://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...2020/07/68.jpghttp://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...2020/07/69.jpg

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Originally Posted by Cremulator

Here's the exposed grain under the hinges.http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...2020/07/67.jpghttp://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...2020/07/68.jpghttp://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...2020/07/69.jpg

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Are they internal doors mate? Maybe some sort of mahogany? Pretty popular as premo timbers in ye olden times, now it ungodly expensive.

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Other guess could be Jarrah or Karri from the color. Heavier than Oregon and tighter grain. .

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Looks like meranti

yep definetly looks like meranti

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Originally Posted by rusty_nail

Are they internal doors mate? Maybe some sort of mahogany? Pretty popular as premo timbers in ye olden times, now it ungodly expensive.

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Yeh they are internal doors that my grandfather salvaged from a state savings bank in country Victoria during a renovation in the early 1970's.http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...2020/07/70.jpghttp://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...2020/07/71.jpghttp://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forum...2020/07/72.jpg

They are the same on both sides. 55mm thick frame but 80mm thick with the flourishes on both sides.

I think it's pretty likely mahogany especially if it's from a bank.

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Originally Posted by rusty_nail

I think it's pretty likely mahogany especially if it's from a bank.

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Cheers! Thanks everyone for the input [emoji106]
Hopefully I can make use of these in a house someday.