I have access to a small supply of discarded pallets from
unloading trucks.

Is this wood safe for building raised beds for vegetables? How
can I tell if it is treated or not?


Thanks.


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Coffee's For Closers wrote:
I have access to a small supply of discarded pallets from
unloading trucks.

Is this wood safe for building raised beds for vegetables? How
can I tell if it is treated or not?


Thanks.

Pallets are usually branded with either the name of the pallet company who
recycles them around different users or with the name of the user. Phone
them and ask what the timber is. In these parts the timber is either
hardwood (not treated) or softwood (treated). The nature of the treatment
varies and some have more heavy metals than others.

David

In article ,
"David Hare-Scott" wrote:

"some have more HEAVY METALS than others"
--
- Billy
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the
merger of state and corporate power." - Benito Mussolini.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arn3lF5XSUg
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Zinn/HZinn_page.html

On Sat, 17 Apr 2010 19:17:48 -0700, Coffee's For Closers
wrote:

I have access to a small supply of discarded pallets from
unloading trucks.

Is this wood safe for building raised beds for vegetables? How
can I tell if it is treated or not?


Thanks.


I don't know of any pallets that have been treated. To know for sure
you will need to test it. Depending on the wood, your pallets will
last 1 to 5 years. White oak pallets last longer than others.

In article
,
Billy wrote:

In article ,
"David Hare-Scott" wrote:

"some have more HEAVY METALS than others"

Rule of thumb in chemistry,"When in doubt, throw it out".
If you have wood, that you KNOW is untreated, use it. Shun the rest.
--
- Billy
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the
merger of state and corporate power." - Benito Mussolini.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arn3lF5XSUg
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Zinn/HZinn_page.html