Sanding PT wood

September 1, 2007 2:52 PM

What precautions are needed for sanding pressure treated wood? This is Thomsonite brand pressure treated that is not the same as the older arsenic treated wood. I will be doing this outdoors over a tarpaulin. Will a regular face mask be OK or should I wear a full mask? If my mask is need, what class of filter should be used?
posted by Raybun to home & garden (2 comments total)

What precautions should I take when
working with CCA-treated wood?

• Saw, sand and machine the wood
  outdoors, and wear a dust mask,
  goggles and gloves.
  
• Clean up dust, scraps and other
  debris and dispose of in trash. Do not
  compost or use as mulch.
  
• Do not burn treated wood, since
  burning may cause the release of toxic
  chemicals in smoke and ash.
  
• After handling wood, wash clothing
  and all exposed areas of body
  

Cited from this pdf document.

posted by furtive at 4:31 PM on September 1, 2007

I can't find the brand Thomsonite via a google search. This makes it sound like CCA was the "older stuff" you're referring to and that the newer stuff either has more copper (alkaline copper quat (ACQ types B and D) and copper azole (CBA-A, CA-B)) or is borate-based (disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT)). Do you know which one you're dealing with here. [question mark key broken]
posted by salvia at 9:27 PM on September 1, 2007