Someone told me that fenceposts are dipped in preservative that contains small amounts of cyanide. I have been given a load of off-cuts that I wanted to use on my living room fire, but am now unsure whether it is safe to do this? Anyone know about this please?
2006-12-16 21:31:48 · 10 answers · asked by Jester 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Other - Home & Garden
I have only had a log fire inside maybe 20/30 times in my life, but always have campfires and BBQ's going.
I usually use all kinds of driftwood that I scavenge along the beach.
If your fencepost is unpainted and old, there should not be too much chemicals left in the wood. And I have BBQ'd outside with worse (after letting the smoke clear). But I would be reluctant to burn them indoors unless they were very old.
If you cannot see anything on the wood, but can see weathering, and you have a good flue - then do a trial run by yourself, babies with forming lungs should not be guinea pigs. Then decide. Look for discoloured smoke or flame.
2006-12-16 22:00:20 · answer #1 · answered by Simon D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you live in the country why is a city inspector inspecting your property? Must be in the city limits, and if so you need to contact the local fire dept about burning and get a burn permit. Just pile some of the wood up in an open spot well away from everything, wait for a calm day with decent humidity and get permission to burn-- then soak around the small pile and use lamp oil or charcoal fluid to light it- then add more wood as it burns down. Or just move the pile back to the back of the property and call it a compost pile. Not sure why the inspector would have any reason to tell you to get rid of it.
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2014-09-27 03:48:08 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Presumably you have a chimney, so why should this bother you. It sounds like the usual "urban legend" type scaremongering to me.
Wood preservatives may very well - at one time - have contained tiny amounts of cyanide but it wouldn't stop ME burning fence posts.
I'm sure this advice was well intentioned but I think you are being over-cautious, personally.
2006-12-16 21:42:20 · answer #4 · answered by Not Ecky Boy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
oh, provided they arent still connected to someones fence, itll be alright.
and why would you want to burn them on your living room fire? fenceposts at best are kindling. personally i build a bonfire in the wheel rim of an articulated lorry... having taken the tyre and articulated lorry off it first. however, if its green and damp, expect lots of smoke.
2006-12-16 21:47:20 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some types of wood should not be used in a fireplace. You may just save them to use a a yard project or something else.
2006-12-17 00:11:24 · answer #6 · answered by pepper_y2k 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
most modern presrvatives are OK .. older posts may contain some harmful fumes .... also older ones may have been treated with oil based preservatives which will give off thick black smoke
burn a couple and see what happens
If in doubt ... don't burn them
2006-12-16 21:37:12 · answer #7 · answered by JOHN W 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I wouldn't burn them. You wouldn't be harmed, directly...but sending such chemicals up the chimney isn't a nice thing to do to the planet. Sure...it's a "drop in the ocean" of pollutants burned all the time...but do you want to contribute to that?
It's your karma!
2006-12-16 23:06:36 · answer #8 · answered by roadlessgraveled 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As long as the fence posts dont contain creosote, (a tar like substance on them), then you will be ok.. Also, if they are "treated lumber", I wouldnt burn them either...(as they will give off aresenic fumes).
I wish you well..
Jesse
2006-12-16 23:00:19 · answer #9 · answered by x 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They may give off fumes
2006-12-16 21:33:39 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋