Oops!
I was making a cross for a good friday service and thought old bridge planking would work great. When I cut into the gray weathered exterior the creosote showed itself. I proceeded to make the cross without thinking too much about it. However, when I roughed up the surface to give it a “hewn” look, the smell got pretty bad. Now I am wondering if the outgassing will be too strong to use indoors anywhere.
Any ideas on how I can wash out some/all of the creosote? I know that is likely impossible, but I am hoping. Or how I can seal it?
Like I said “Oops!”
Replies
Yep, a big oops. IMHO, you should give up on that one. Having been in the horse business years ago, have lots of experience with timbers that were creosote-soaked and they stink, no matter what. Some peope are extermely sensitive to it too.
The only remote possibility would be if they painted the creosote on rather than soaked the boards (the more common application). You'd have to plane through the painted part. Not to good for the tools.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Randy,
Trust me Forestgirl is soooo right. Don't take the project indoors. It will be pt creosote and you could not get it out in a million years. Best to leave this one outdoors.
I work with creosote poles just about everyday. I have had them cut up for lumber and it works good for fences, barns etc.
Jimmy
as always I wish you enough
Sounds like that cross would go well planted in the garden out front of the church!
Thanks everyone! This one is going out to the dump!
I hope the smell comes out of the garage!
Creosote is a carcinogen. I guess they are allowed to use it in certain aplications. Like telephone poles where workers are trained to not tuch the stuff. But for consumers they took it off the market a long time ago.
Is creosote just creosote, or do they have additives in it depending on who made it?
It would make sense that old stuff might have any number of idustrial chemicals added into the mix.
David,
It's been off the market for over 20 years. All new poles we have set in the last 20 are Penta or CCA. But there are a lot of Creosote poles left out there. So we still attach stuff to them and climb them. When we pull old ones they have to go to special disposal. As far as handling them, it's just gloves and long sleeve shirts. Creosote will burn your skin pretty good it enough of it gets on you.
BTW the Penta treated poles look very similar to Creosote. But as far as I know no one in the US is still using Creosote. Hope that helps.
Have a good one.
Jimmy
as always I wish you enough
From what I gather this cross is for a one time indoor use (Good Friday) rather than a permanent installation.
What do you think about glopping on a couple of shellac coats? It is a great sealer, and I would think it might seal up the smell long enough to get through a day. I don't know for sure, though...........
Thanks for all the input!
I found that creosote stuff to be nasty! I washed the clothes I wore that day with a "few others" thnking the smell wouldn't cross over. My wife did not looked pleased as it did. I feel better this morning, but after working on it in a closed garage (large) I felt a little - different. Maybe it was just the sickening smell that got to me, but I seemed to smell it everywhere.
The good news is I disposed of the creosote pieces having learned my lesson. Looking for another piece of wood to use, I remembered I have a couple of old oak logs on the back side of my storage rack - out of sight out of mind don't ya know. I started taking my adz to the upright and the chips flew. Nice feeling to se wood change shape like that. It'll take a few hours, but it will be a "hand hewn cross" :)
Again, thanks for the help!
Sailing,
Back in my boyscout days...we learned that the orginal cross was made from 'Dogwood'. The story goes that since that use, it have never grown sufficiently to be selected for that purpose again. Also, the flower of the Dogwood shows a crown of thorns at its center.
Is someone going to carry this cross?..balsa?
BG,<!----><!---->
I've heard the dogwood lore before, but hadn't thought of it in recent years. I will use the cross as part of a sequence of props to help us walk through that night Jesus' experienced so long ago.<!---->
I like things big – as possibly original – Hey, bigger if I can make it happen! so this cross will stand in the sanctuary. At this point the old oak log I am using for an upright is 10’4” and will be 5-6” square when done. (I am getting a few blisters on my soft-as-a-lily hands) The thing weighs so much, I don't know if I would want anyone to carry it. That would be a sacrifice! <!---->
Friends,
I want to thank you guys for all the help. Just in case you were wondering how it all turned out....
Here are a couple of views showing the hand hewn effect and then in its setting this morning.
Again, thanks you for the help!
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