Motor oil is used as a wood preservative for fence posts.
Treating fence posts with oil.
Termite infestations quickly cut channels into the wood reducing it to powder and leaving only the severely weakened cellulose stalks in the wood.
But i ve known some old timers who would make fence posts outa the type of small round wood you get when someone clears land by soaking them in a barrel of used motor oil for a month or two.
They have stoves that will burn used motor oil in a lot of the garages.
No treating fence posts with oil.
This particular hydrocarbon can be found in significant amounts in that motor oil that is used to treat posts.
Wood oils not only keep garden fences looking better for longer they also nourish and feed the wood to keep it supple and water resistant.
This helps to prevent fence panels from drying out cracking splitting and warping.
As much as 22 ppm.
By bob and sue buckner september october 1974.
Allow fence posts to cure for 12 months before treating.
Fill in the hole around the fence post with more 1 4 minus gravel packed tight against the sides of the post.
Water damage makes the wood vulnerable to termites.
This allows for increased preservative penetration.
They are also used in smokers farmers use in fields.
Posted 8 years ago.
If the posts are still green they need to dry out before being treated with oil.
Set the post in the hole while holding a level on the side to check for plumb.
As for cancerous effects on animals one pah in particular has proven to be a leading culprit.
This seems like it could greatly reduce the expence of some post replacements and fencing projects i ve been putting off but i am worries about weather the oil would do any damage to the water table or.
Diy treating a fence post the old way.
In short i would definitely say that treating fence posts with motor oil is rather dangerous.
Untreated wooden fence posts are susceptible to water damage.