I have some leftover 4x4s from a deck project, and they seem to be treated wood, possibly pine. They have a light green color, but I think they might be cedar underneath. I'm wondering if sanding them to reveal the natural wood might be harmful, especially considering the dust from treated wood. Should I just embrace the green color, or is it worth the effort to try and sand them down? It's just a simple workbench, so I'm fine with it being less than perfect as long as it's safe!
2 Answers
Honestly, you probably won’t be able to get the wood to look bare beneath that treatment. Plus, I’m not too keen on breathing in the dust from pressure-treated wood either. If the color really bugs you, you might want to just stain it instead. The green will fade a bit over time too, so it might not look quite so harsh later on.
I’d say it’s likely pine rather than cedar, since cedar usually isn’t treated. Sanding could reveal the natural color, but that green treatment is designed to penetrate and protect the wood, so you may not get the results you want. I recommend leaving it as is and just enjoying your bench. I built something similar years ago, and it's still holding up great!
Thanks for the heads-up! I’ve found out it’s actually fir, and I guess I’ll stick with the green legs or maybe just paint over them. Do you think paint will still adhere well to treated wood?