Ripping Pressure Treated Wood?

Question

If you have a 10 foot long 2x4 of pressure treated wood and cut it vertically to make it two 10 foot long 2x2's, are they still 100% pressure treated? Is the pressure treating all teh way through the wood so when it is cut in half vertically, even the cut side is still pressure treated and safe from weather?

Answer 1

No disrespect to you or anyone else who answers, but I too wonder of your intent. First of all two 10 x 2 x 2 pieces of PT lumber would likely cost you less than a latte in 2007.

To more directly answer your Q, consider the Depth in the process; and yes you should then treat the cut edges; though I still cannot imagine WHY one would make the extra effort.

My analogy is an opinion, and years of experience. BTW, with the width of a 2 x 4 being approx 1 and 1/2 to 1 and 5/8, a saw blade cut might offer you less than a Milled 2 x 2

Steven Wolf

Answer 2

Pressure Treated 2 X 2

Answer 3

1

Answer 4

You don't buy your pressure treated wood "cut to order" for a fence or deck, do you? It gets cut and is still considered "pressure treated."

No offense to anyone here, but we did some work this past summer on our fence, putting a gate in. We also used pressure treated wood, and we ask the same question, since we had to cut several of the pieces. We were told that cutting the wood did not change the chemical balance that protects the wood; the only thing that would change that would be a high powered pressure wash of the wood without re-treating it with a sealer. I was still skeptical but noticed that even the cuts didn’t change the color of the wood. I thought the heat generated from the saw itself during cutting would cauterize or re-seal the wood; I didn't want to ask about that while I was standing in the middle of the store though. If you are planning to use this wood outdoors and want to be positive of it's seal, call a lumbar yard or lumbar supply company. They will give you the information needed, that is where we got ours from.

Answer 5

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Ripping Pressure Treated Wood?
If you have a 10 foot long 2x4 of pressure treated wood and cut it vertically to make it two 10 foot long 2x2's, are they still 100% pressure treated? Is the pressure treating all teh way through the wood so when it is cut in half vertically, even the cut side is still pressure treated and...

Answer 6

It's not healthy to breathe the dust created when cutting pressure treated lumber. I'd buy the wood pre-cut to the size needed, if possible, especially for long rip cuts like this, just to avoid breathing the dust. And no, I never see it go all the way to the middle of large lumber like this, anyways.

Answer 7

You need to treat the cut edge of the PT lumber with a preservative. Buy it at any hardware store.