This seventh annual report outlines our continued progress on each of six
objectives.
Improved fumigants: We continue to evaluate previously established field
tests, which inlicate that chioropicrin continues to protect Douglas-fir poles
after 17 years and piling after 12 years. Vorlex treated poles are being
gradually recolonized by decay fungi,...
The Cooperative continues to actively
address a diverse array of issues related to
the effective use of wood utility poles.
The trials to evaluate the effectiveness of
MITC-Fume are now in their seventh year
and continue to show that methylisothiocyanate
(MITC) levels in MITC-Fume
treatments remain higher than comparable
metham...
Environmental restrictions have induced many sawmills to seek alternatives to pentachlorophenol (penta) or similar chlorinated phenols to control fungal sapstains on green lumber. Five alternative preventives were evaluated against a traditional penta product (Permatox 101) on Douglas-fir, hem-fir, and pine lumber in an accelerated 6-week test on small specimens in...
Production of hardwood lumber (mostly red alder) has been a small but growing part of the forest products industry in the Pacific Northwest. In laboratory tests, Rodewod® 200 EC plus borax protected alder at nearly all levels tested. Eight other chemicals provided some protection at the highest level tested. Fungal-stain...
Untreated and preservative-treated fence posts were exposed in soil at a test site near Corvallis, OR. Several species, including western juniper and Osage-orange, showed exceptional natural durability. Preservative treatment generally extended the useful life of the posts, but the degree of protection varied with the chemical and the application method.
Naturally durable woods have a variety of commercial uses. Natural resistance to decay has been evaluated in field and laboratory tests of wood from many species, but there are few places where commercial wood users can find comparative assessments of natural durability. In this report, previous studies have been used...
The specification, inspection, and remedial treatment of utility poles are addressed. Included are discussions of enhancing specifications for improved performance, techniques for detecting decay and other defects, and chemical treatments available for arresting decay of poles in service.