Subject: No subject was specified.
Date: Fri, 29 Jan 1999

Can I use your product to protect fence posts (Douglas Fir)? If yes, which product?

People here on the island are telling me I am wasting my time by using fir posts. It should be cedar according to most people. I thought if I use your products it may be as good as cedar. I am too optimistic?

Ake S.

Sure you can, and the product would be CPES (Clear Penetrating Epoxy Sealer). What I'd suggest is that you turn the posts upside down, apply as much CPES as the wood will absorb to the end-grain -- especially the end grain! -- and again to that part of the surface that will be buried. For the surfaces, I'd use 2 coats. One generous application to the end grain should be okay. Keep them upside down for a day, which will allow the CPES to sink down and penetrate the wood. That should give you good resistance to rot and bacterial decay.

Yeah, Cedar is always highly regarded, but to tell you the truth the Cedar you get now is not what it used to be. The essential oils that retard rot are not so plentiful in Cedar anymore because it's quick-grown and so the wood is not so rot-resistant. Personally, I'd treat Cedar with CPES before putting it in the ground.

Come back if you have additional questions. What island are you on?

Doc