I recently built a bookcase using quality pine boards from Menards and now I have some leftover scraps. While having a bonfire and cooking hot dogs, I thought about tossing these scraps into the fire. However, a friend warned me against it, claiming that treated wood is hazardous to burn. Is that true, and can I safely burn these scraps?
5 Answers
In my experience, unless your wood is marked treated (like with a special hue), burning raw pine is fine. Just avoid any plywood or particle board due to the glues they use. Oh, and to be safe, take a peek at the ends of your boards for any markings before tossing them in the fire!
Checked local laws on burning wood? If it's not pressure-treated, you should be okay. People get confused about treated lumber meant for outdoor use versus indoor furniture materials, which are usually safe to burn.
Burning treated wood is definitely a no-go since it can release harmful chemicals, but most indoor quality pine boards aren't treated. So you're probably safe! Just be mindful of what you’re cooking over the fire, but it sounds like you’ll be fine with those scraps.
Yeah, you can burn those scraps without much worry. I’ve done it countless times. Just remember, if there are any signs of treatment—like a green hue—avoid burning it. And as for cooking, pine might lend your hot dogs a bit of a flavor, but they're not going to kill you!
From what I gather, your leftover scraps are probably just kiln-dried pine, which should be fine to burn. Most furniture-grade pine isn't treated, and unless you see any green tint on your wood, you're likely good to go. Just watch out for exotic woods, which can release toxic stuff when burned.