I
had a new one asked the other day. It was so funny, I thought I had better
post it here……..
This is
the (Male) customer speaking (not me)
“So,
I was driving past your yard & my mother in law was in the back seat telling
me how to drive. I was driving past your yard & all of a sudden I saw
your sign, “Arsenic Free”. I thought, “Now there is an
idea!”
Immediately
he did a quick u-turn, drove into our driveway, ran out of his car and
bounded up to the counter…… Can I have some please?”
“What?”
“Free
arsenic!”
Well, arsenic free means
that our timber does not have arsenic as part of the treatment process. It
does not mean that we give away free arsenic as a cure for unwanted pests!!
Mother- in- laws included!
So how do I get a free bottle of 2003 vintage cabernet blend?
Join
our free wine club to sign up for a monthly no obligation newsletter and
pricelist from our favourite winery. We think this wine is so good; we are
giving you a bottle to try.
Limit
of one per person – conditions apply
How do I join the Free Outdoor Timber Wine Club?
Call
in to our yard or drop us a line by email.
We
will join you up straight away and you pick up your FREE Bottle of wine
from our office
This
is not one of those clubs where you HAVE TO BUY a selection. All they do is
send a newsletter & price list. Just one catch – you can only buy
the wine club everyday drinking range if you are wine club member.
It
is NOT available in the shops
Can I burn EcoWood?
No. It is not
recommended to burn timber off cuts or sawdust
Please dispose of off cuts in approved
landfill
The
sawdust is green, but you would have to be WACKY to think it is Tobacco. Do
not smoke it either!!
What is Lattice?
Lattice is an arrangement of intersecting or overlapping timber
to form a screen or partition. Usually a lattice would be used for privacy
screening.
What is Trellis?
Trellis is a structure of timber, wire or similar used for
support. Usually a trellis would be used to grow some beans or cherry
tomatoes. I personally prefer sweet peas.
What is EcoWood?
EcoWood is the brand name for Tanalith E.
It is a modern, but time tested replacement for the old Copper Chrome Arsenate
treatment.
What a Kool name!!
Yes, it says it all. EcoWood is both Economical and is good for our Ecology. It is also made of wood
sourced from sustainable plantations. Timber is the only truly renewable
resource. It is relatively cheap, so you do not need to economise.
Does EcoWood contain arsenic?
No.
TANALISED® E is a new Copper
Azole based timber treatment incorporating copper and an organic azole
co-biocide.
Why can arsenic be perceived to be a problem?
Health
According to experienced industry authorities, “We
know that arsenic could be a potential hazard to our health and the
environment although it is the 20th most common element in the
earth’s crust and found in many foods and drinks.
But, as a precautionary measure, and not to overly
increase our exposure to it, the government, with the industry’s
support, has restricted its use so it is no longer used for children’s
play equipment, picnic tables or domestic decking boards”
There
are many news items on this issue. Most are based on fear not fact.
Unfortunately, public perception is often treated with more credence than
scientific fact. However, with children, it is always best to err on the
side of caution. It is better never than too late.
Try
some of the following articles for a cross section of views:
There
have also been some local studies with may or may not have employed
scientific methodology, such as one completed by the Friend of the Earth
Melbourne. Their data is not up to date as it does not acknowledge the
superior EcoWood as an alternative to CCA. However, it is relatively
balanced précis of the CCA issue and surprisingly does attempt to
analyse alternatives. Their views are not supported by the APVMA. “the APVMA could find “no
compelling evidence from the available data to conclude that there was
likely to be an unacceptable risk to public health from exposure to arsenic
from CCA treated timber”
Environmental
effect
It
was also found that there can be residual trace elements of CCA found in
soils in the immediate proximity of application.
For
this reason, it is fair to expect that there would be a certain amount of
run-off and leaching of chemical associated with any preservative chemical
over a period of time.
Some
environments are considered pristine, significant or sensitive and as such
are not suitable situations for the application of treated products
containing arsenic such as CCA treated pine.
Many
government departments are now employing a total ban on the use of CCA in
all projects.
We
are in an enviable position in being able to offer a full range of EcoWood
treated pine. EcoWood does not contain arsenic (except
trace amounts of elemental arsenic with may be present in the town water
supply) and
is a suitable replacement for CCA in most applications.
EcoWood
is a preferred alternative to CCA on many government projects. It has been
used to construct boardwalks in sensitive coastal national parks. It is
also approved for use by schools and kindergartens.
We are now a preferred
supplier of EcoWood plywood for major road projects.
Is EcoWood safe for children’s playgrounds &
vegetable gardens?
Yes.
EcoWood contains no arsenic or chromium.
It is fully approved for use under current legislation.
We are now a major supplier of sleepers for use in schools
& playgrounds in Victoria.
What paint or stain do you recommend?
We also recommend the organic Cooee range for sealing or
staining your timber.
All cooee products are approved for use by the BFA.
Please avoid any hydrocarbon or plastic based paint products -
they are bad for the environment.
VOC
compounds
have also been shown to cause cancer.
Too many people are too busy worried about minute traces of
chemical in treated pine that may or may not leak out, but TOTALLY IGNORE the risk involved with using paints containing VOC compounds.
For more information click on the following link:
I would be more worried about the known risks, not
the theoretical or perceived risks.
The only documented cases of people getting sick from CCA are
from (allegedly) inhaling smoke from illegally burning off cuts (Sydney council
worker) We are never told the
whole truth!
Do I need expensive stainless steel fixings?
ACQ treated
timbers are more likely to need stainless steel fixings
For more
information, click on these links
http://www.treeisland.com/snapfiles/Corrosion_of_Fasteners_in_ACQ_Treated_Wood.ppt#266,12,Observations
& Results
http://www.hpo.bc.ca/PDF/Research/Reports/ACQWood.pdf
No. EcoWood does not contain corrosive ammoniate &
chloride compounds. Standard Hot Dipped Galvanised fixings are fine in most
applications.
Is timber environmentally friendly?
There
is a great misconception out there in society.
The
timber industry chops down trees and this is bad.
Not
true!
Trees
regrow.
New
trees use more carbon dioxide and produce more life giving oxygen than old
growth trees.
Don’t
get me wrong, biodiversity is very important.
But
the facts are, most forests are regrowth – either previously logged
or destroyed by fire.
What
makes more sense?
- Harvesting
trees from forests, then replanting.
- Digging iron
ore out of the ground and using massive amounts of power to convert it
to steel.
The
steel industry would also like to make you think that their products are
recyclable. Yes they are - with
a huge carbon footprint
For more information
about the sustainability of timber, please click on the following link
Why does the timber industry get blamed for actions of land
clearers?
Simple
really.
Like
the silent majority of Australians – we are all too busy working and
paying taxes (paying for overeducated individuals to tell us how to think)
Emotive
pictures of BIG bulldozers frolicking in CLEAR FELLED fields are enough to
scare anyone into thinking THE SKY IS FALLING. Well this chicken little
knows that you can be 100% sure that if the timber industry cleared the
land – they-are-a-gunna plant some trees!
It
is extremely insulting to paint the industry as being full of red necks.
Sum ov uz r vary smert!
The
Australian timber industry is based on the whole concept of sustainability.
Quite
simple really.
No
trees = no wood
No
wood = no timber
No
timber = no industry
Many
private land owners have been clearing land since white settlement, for a
variety of reasons, but mostly for grazing or broad acre farming.
There
is a misconception amongst our farmers that trees are a waste of space on
“their” land and as such, they will consider most trees to be
weeds.
The
lessons should have been learned by the previous generations. Much of Australia is
too arid and is marginal at best to be farming land. The deserts are
creeping towards the coast and were long before white settlement. Drought
is nothing new in our wide brown land. It was there BEFORE global warming
became the vested interest topic of the
millennium. We cannot use European farming method here – it does not
work!
We
must work with what we have to survive. Pick a fight with nature and nature
will always win.
More
recently, through education and experience, some farmers have come to realise
that trees are essential to maintain windbreaks, the water table, reduce
erosion and provide habitat for native animals.
In
the long term PRODUCTIVITY WILL ACTUALLY INCREASE!
Can I do something about land clearing?
Yes,
there are 2 main ways
- Buy plantation timber products.
Many timber plantations are replacing
previous pastures and farmland. Some farmland is at best marginal. Studies
have shown that forests actually encourage rainfall.
(It is all to do with the shade of green
– this is true – really!!!)
- Educate your government
Encourage retention of native flora and
fauna, through managing native forests and NOT locking them up as national
parks to become breeding grounds for feral animals
Do not build houses on prime farming land.
Encourage timber plantation investment
Protest about unregulated land clearing
See the following link for more information
http://www.wilderness.org.au/campaigns/landclearing/
I
do not agree with all the views of the wilderness society, but in the words
of Midnight Oil – “sometimes you have to take the hardest
line” (Power & the Passion)
It
is all about balance! Even Peter Garrett has learnt this the hard way!
ENOUGH POLITICS!!
I am here to sell timber!
|
