INTRODUCTION 



Tlie northern Rocky Mountain area has a tremendous number of dead lodgepole pine 

 {Pinus contorta var. latifolia Dougl.) trees that have accumulated in the region's 

 forests. Most of these trees were killed by the mountain pine beetle [Dendroctonus 

 ponderosae Hopk.) during the past 25 years and, because of environmental conditions, 

 a large proportion of the dead trees are still sound. A recent report (Lyon 1977) 

 indicated that trees larger than 8 inches (20.3 cm) in diameter will stand indefinitely. 



Because of their size, straightness, minimum taper, and ease of preservation, 

 green lodgepole pine trees have been preferred in the northern Rocky Mountains for 

 fenceposts, railings, corral poles, and utility poles. Tegethoff and others (1977) 

 have determined that about 38 percent of the dead lodgepole pine trees in southeastern 

 Idaho satisfy the specifications for power poles. 



Use of dead trees for posts and poles has several distinct advantages: (1) the 

 lower percent moisture content of the dead trees eliminates or reduces the relatively 

 long air-seasoning time required for green wood products; (2) the lower moisture con- 

 tent also eliminates the necessity of acquiring and maintaining a large inventory, and 

 reduces hauling costs to and from the treating plant; (3) the preservative penetrates 

 and coats the wood surrounding various openings, thereby reducing the amount of 

 untreated wood exposed to fungous attack; and (4) removal of these trees from the 

 forest extends the timber supply, improves esthetics, and reduces fire hazard. 



The objective of this investigation was to obtain information on the processing 

 and preservation of posts and poles made from dead trees. Three studies, two of 

 posts and one of poles, were made at separate commercial treating operations where 

 different treating methods and schedules were used. The studies are discussed 

 separately. 



PRESERVATIVE TREATMENT OF FENCEPOSTS BY THE 

 COLD SOAK OR STEEPING METHOD 



Procedure 



Seve'nty-f ive lodgepole pine fenceposts were cut from stems that had been piled 

 for burning or from trees that had been felled in a precommercial thinning 4 years 

 earlier. Most posts from the thinned trees had retained their bark, but many obtained 

 from the slash piles were without bark. The posts were taken from a single area in 

 western Montana. 



In the field, posts were cut approximately 6.8 feet (2.1 m) long. In the laboratory, 

 a 1-inch (2.5 cm) disk was cut from each end of each post, and the posts were trimmed 

 to the desired length, 6.5 feet (2.0 m) . The disks, identified as to post, were used 

 in the preparation of moisture content and specific gravity specimens. A strip, 

 approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide and containing the pith, was cut from the center 

 portion of each disk. The strip was then sawed through the pith and specimens of sap- 

 wood and heartwood were cut from each strip's half. The specimens obtained from one 

 half were used for specific gravity determinations, and those from the second half 

 for moisture content determinations. Specific gravity was based on green volume and 

 ovendry weight. The ovendry method was used to determine moisture content. 



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