Hey folks! I just got some new woodworking tools, and my band saw came wrapped in this thin wooden pallet or crate. I'm curious if these are typically made from treated wood and if there's a reliable way to identify it. I was thinking about using the wood as firewood, but I don't want to risk poisoning myself. Any insights or advice would be super helpful!
3 Answers
Great question! In many places, treated wood has to have a mark indicating its treatment. The most basic treatment is H1, which only involves heat to kill pests and doesn’t use chemicals. If you see higher numbers like H2 to H6, those usually involve chemical treatments. H2-H3 might have a strong smell like kerosene, and the higher ones are often greenish in color. If you’re unsure, it’s best to do a little research or just avoid burning it altogether!
From my experience, most crates and pallets are made from untreated lumber. They usually don’t need to be durable against moisture since they’re just for shipping purposes. If it looks like raw wood and doesn't have any weird colors, you should be safe to use it as firewood. But just to be sure, you can cut a small piece and check the grain—it should look pretty uniform. Better safe than sorry!
Definitely check for any symbols on the wood! The most common one you'll find is HT, which stands for heat treatment. If you see MB, steer clear! That means it could have been chemically treated. Just look for the right markings and you should be good to go.
Yeah, I agree! And if you find it's heat-treated, you should be all set to burn it without concerns. Just keep an eye out for those codes!