Replies

1. 
   trialnut | Sep 16, 2005 08:19pm | #1

   runi

   For the price of used R R ties I would just replace them. They are treated with creasote and if they are to the stage of rotting with that on them I doubt you will preserve them any longer with anything else you could apply. I am quite sure linseed oil will be a waste of time and materials.

   The Professional Termite

2. 
   MichaelPB | Sep 16, 2005 09:36pm | #2

   I am rarely a safety #### but I hope the garden you are using them only raises flowers.  Using them to make a raised bed for vegatables isn't the best thing as creosote is pretty nasty stuff.

1. 
   Glaucon | Sep 16, 2005 10:42pm | #4

   Actually, that's been looked at.  A university study (Iowa I think) compared vegetables raised in different raised beds: some in cedar, some in pressure treated wood.  They analyzed different vegetables for arsenic, copper, cadmium and other metal toxins and found no significant differences between the two groups. 

   When I built my raised beds, I used cedar above grade for aesthetics, but PT for the posts that went below grade.

   Some may not wish to use PT/creosote for aesthetic or environmental reasons, but food safety is not an issue.Glaucon

   If you don't think too good, then don't think too much...

1. 
   JsHerbel | Sep 16, 2005 10:51pm | #5

   The CCA, copper, or borate used to pressure treat lumber is much different, and much less toxic, than the creasote used to treat railroad ties. 

2. 
   AlanWS | Sep 16, 2005 11:41pm | #6

   Creosote is pretty nasty. Here's a link to a study describing a creosote-contaminated spot that is very unhealthy to go to, but vegetables grown there appear to be safe: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/hac/pha/pensacola/acw_p1.htmlWhen looking for stuff like this, just make sure you use google scholar, not the ordinary google.

   Edited 9/16/2005 6:25 pm ET by AlanWS

3. 
   ram | Sep 17, 2005 12:02am | #7

   There is a lot of published and available research into soil contamination, but edible plant contamination studies were hard for me to find. Regarding CCA pressure treated wood (not creosote as used for RR ties), a google of toxic "pressure treated" study soil turns up quite a few substantive hits. The few I scanned found there is substantial leaching into soil, above levels considered safe by EPA (40ppm), from either new or weathered CCA PT lumber.

   However, I didn't see claims of scientifically verified food safety problems (again just looking at CCA not creosote). A more skilled search might be worthwhile.

   Finegardening did a related article that can be read at http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/pages/g00028.asp

   -robert

3. 
   Rich14 | Sep 16, 2005 09:38pm | #3

   runi,

   I agree with trialnut. I have had creosote/arsenic-treated railroad ties last about 8-10 years both in southern California and in Hawaii before they started to look worn and "eaten away."

   Of course it matters what type of wood you have, railroad ties can be soft maple, fir, poplar, oak. But once they are beyond the ability of pressure-impregnated creosote to protect, nothing you can apply to their suface is useful. And linseed oil is worthless for that. It may make them look "wet" for a few days, nothing more.

   Rich

   
   

   ---

   Edited 9/16/2005 2:40 pm ET by Rich14

4. 
   Dave45 | Sep 17, 2005 03:50pm | #8

   You probably need to replace them.  Most RR ties I've dealt with have rotted out on the inside and there's only a thin "shell" left at the surface.  By the time the "shell" shows rot, there's not much left.

5. 
   WillGeorge | Sep 17, 2005 05:31pm | #9

   Sorry.. But they were rotting when you got them.. I would guess or the R/R would not have scrapped them...

   Like the other post.. Best bet is look around for new ones.