Pressure treated wood?

MeanBone

Yes or no?

If no, why?

DMW

To cook with or build a table with?

Sammi

Maybe home made lump?

4Runner

I'm no carpenter, but aren't the chemicals used in PT lumber bad for you?  I wouldn't want my table made from that.  Maybe I'm overreacting.   

theyolksonyou

But...

MeanBone said:

My local BGE dealer has a local contractor make tables much cheaper.  I'm having him make one 6' long.  30" table on the left, 22" hole for the LBGE and 20" table on the right allowing me to work both sides.  Hope to have it this week.

MeanBone

DMW said:

To cook with or build a table with?

Now, THAT'S funny!!

Yolksonyou, that's right.  Having one made.  He uses PTW.  I found an old post stating not to use it.  Others locally have had their's made by him with no problems. Just wondering if there have been problems we're not aware of.

theyolksonyou

The only issue I would see is the same with decks etc...  It's gonna dry out and cup and it's hard to seal and stain and glue while it's still "wet". As far as structure it should be fine. If you want to stain, I'd think you'll have to wait a while. 

JohnInCarolina

I think the normal aversion to PTW stems from the fact that it's normally treated with chemicals designed to keep termites away.  It may not be the best surface to prep food on.  

MeanBone

Prepping will be done on trays so shouldn't be a problem.  Had planned on staining and varnishing.  Hadn't considered that being a problem. Thanks!

Hunter1881

I used PTW for my table. Had it for about 9 months without issue. However..... I did let mine dry out some before using. When the wood is freshly treated it has a higher moisture content. It will shrink over the first few months. I learned that the hard way building a deck on my house.

RRP

This is a VERY old picture of my soon to be 16 year old table made of PT wood sitting on a now 36 year old deck made of PT wood. Last time I checked the obits I see that I have not yet died! Give all that scary crap a break - OK?

Legume

I'm not an engineer, but I'd top it with something nicer.  Not because of the chemicals, just for the finish.

nolaegghead

As a smoke wood, I guarantee your meat will not get termites.

beachsmoke

Use ipe wood perfectly safe. Read hazards of pt lumber very dangerous stuff

nolaegghead

For tables, it's fine.  We use it for picnic tables, we eat off them.

Zmokin

RRP said:

This is a VERY old picture of my soon to be 16 year old table made of PT wood sitting on a now 36 year old deck made of PT wood. Last time I checked the obits I see that I have not yet died! Give all that scary crap a break - OK?

Well, painting over the PT does provide a barrier to the toxic chemicals from getting on your food if you happen to drop a wing or something on your table.
I know I wouldn't want to eat food that had landed on un-painted PT wood.  Yes, even then, probably not much transfer of toxin, but sometimes it's just the thought of it that counts.

nolaegghead

I have an untreated table. But I still don't put food directly on it because, well, that's gross and unsanitary.  Use plates, foil, pans, cutting boards, paper, baking sheets, silicone mats, pizza peels, wax paper or something sanitary to put your food on.  I think most of us unconsciously do that already.  If you put your food down directly on your counter, do not use treated wood.  Unless you put a good finish on it. Also, use kiln dried treated. Me?  I don't believe in it.  Rather I use a good finish and try to keep the wood dry. 

HeavyG

PT wood is fine for an egg or picnic table. They quit making the arsenic treated wood about a decade ago. Nowadays most PT wood is copper-something or other treated.

Yellawood - a manufacturer of pt lumber actually even offers a set of plans for an egg table - http://www.yellawood.com/projects/project-plans/big-green-egg-table.aspx

BigGreenGator

I've been in the lumber industry since 1984 when I first started the treated industry used the CCA Formula which worked really well for years until we turned into such a litigious nation, it was the arsenic that wrangled some folks ... Thought it would leach out into playgrounds and such was never really proved but you know how that goes
then a few years back they switched to ACQ which worked as well but the chemicals were very hard on construction metals (nails, hangers & strapping) so home builders had to use special treated metal like a Z-max or stainless steel which got to be very expensive for the contractor & future home buyer so once again they tweaked the formula and now are using MCQ which eliminates the need for specially treated metals (still need galvanized) but not SS... All three of these treatments are still available, off the shelf you can buy the MCQ or ACQ Best way to tell the difference is by the color MCQ is the lighter yellowish some folks refer to it as yella wood but that is just the marketing of Great Southern Wood calling theirs yella wood all treating plants that use MCQ have the "yellow" wood and the ACQ will be a dark green very noticeable when side by side ... BTW all lumber treatment facilities are by law made to tag their materials if your confused look on the end of the board there you will find the type of chemical used and the amount of treatment IE above ground below ground salt water use etc etc ... Remember if your going with the ACQ use correct treated fasteners ... The old CCA you most likely won't encounter it's only available by special order and the treatment facilities must know how it's going and where it's going to be used before they sell it  hope this helped out some of you fine Eggers  
BTW I think pressure treated material is perfectly safe for your table but as  @nolaeggheadSaid just don't eat off any table top that's just unsanitary
    
Oh yeah I stayed at a Holiday Inn last night so take all this for what you will  

MCQ Micronized copper treated 
ACQ alkaline copper quaternary
CCA chromium copper arsenic 

stemc33

All this "Do not eat off the table" talk. Does that mean after the 3 second rule or do not eat anything off the table period?

stompbox

1. Using PT as a frame and use untreated for the decking is probably best.

2. I am sure most everyone here has eaten off PT picnic tables at parks or elsewhere through out their lives.  Ans they used to use a lot more toxic chemicals in PT than they do now.

MeanBone

Thanks, everyone.  Looks like PTW will be OK.

BigGreenGator, with your extensive experience, do you have an opinion as to how long I should wait before staining/varnishing?

henapple

A pretty good while and depends on the moisture content of the wood. Have you considered composite decking? 
Pt has a tradition of cupping and warping. Be sure the deck is installed properly and the table is not nailed but screwed together. 

BigGreenGator

MeanBone said:

Thanks, everyone.  Looks like PTW will be OK.

BigGreenGator, with your extensive experience, do you have an opinion as to how long I should wait before staining/varnishing?

If it were me I'd let the lumber sit a few days in the sun and dry some before even building the cart (only because this will be a finished / nice looking product) then I would cut and build and once again leave cart unfinished for a few days ... Hot dry weather is the best ... You are trying to get the internal moisture content as low as possible for two reasons 1. Pressure treated lumber will shrink and expand with any moisture / humidity 2. The main cause for bad paint / stain finishes on PT lumber is when the moisture or wet wood is painted over eventually it will work itself out and that means through the paint causing flakes and paint failure ... You'll be able to tell by feel somewhat but a good rule of thumb is a week ... One test you can do is a water drop ... Just dip your finger in a glass of water and let a few drops fall on the surface of the wood ... The quicker it is absorbed the dryer it is and of course if it beads up and stays on top it's probably to wet  
one caveat to the wet test ... Make sure wherever your buying the material it's not the wax impregnated PT lumber that's a whole new painting & staining

BigGreenGator

Oh yeah ... Support your local lumberyard small business if you have one nearby the information I just gave you is what they should provide ... Probably won't get that at your Lowe's or Depot  

fishlessman

the old pt wood with all the chemicals was great stuff, used good grained wood, lasted forever, i would use that. this new pt with huge new growth rings and lack of the chemicals is just junk, twists , checks, splinters, its worse than the pine 2x's at homedepot. i dont understand the fear of the chemicals, the only food i see touching the table might be a sliced lime going in my drink, who puts food on an outdoor table anyways, even the lime would be on a cutting board in most eggers yards

DaveRichardson

@Biggreengator - you mind me asking what part of lumber business you are in?  My wife works with Osmose / Koppers now....

Spydermunky

I built mine out of pressure treated for the frame and supports and then laid untreated across the top.  After a while my top got stained and generally crappy looking, so I ripped it off, laid down plywood, and put 12 inch tile across the top.  Easier to clean and more heat resistant.

BigGreenGator

DaveRichardson said:

@Biggreengator - you mind me asking what part of lumber business you are in?  My wife works with Osmose / Koppers now....

Don't mind one bit ...I'm general mgr. of a local contractor yard but we supply general public as well ... all word of mouth no advertising we have out side sales folks for that  your not too far away from a buddy of mine in McDonough

Ladeback69

I have been toying with the idea of using PTW to build the sub-frame for my outdoor kitchen and skin it with concrete broad then either stucco or stone vernier to finish it off.  It would be a lot cheaper then using metal or all stone.  I think it would be fine and I have a SS prep table that I don't put food on, I use plates, cutting broads or foil pans.  How many of you cut food directly on your granite counter tops inside?  Same with a wood top.  We all usually cover tables or counters with something to protect the food, but some of the comments are funny to read.   I especially like @DMW's comment about cooking with it.  I wouldn't, but there may be someone who has tried it.

DaveRichardson

@BigGreenGator - yep, I am right on the Stockbridge / McDonough line. 

Found out that the MCQ big companies have different colors that are used in different parts of the country.  Thought that was pretty cool.

And you are correct about local lumber yards, they are the BEST place to get information on different species and their wear characteristics.  Those big boxes are good for fasteners only!!!