The Preservation of Structural Forest Timbers

Contents: Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Factors which cause the deterioration of structural timber. 3. The effect of the structure of wood upon its injection with preservatives. 4. The preparation of timber for its preservative treatment. 5. Processes used in protecting wood from decay. 6. Preservatives used in protecting wood from decay. 7. The construction and operation of wood preserving plants. 8. Prolonging the life of cross ties from decay and abrasion. 9. Prolonging the life of poles and cross arms from decay and insects. 10. Prolonging the life of fence posts from decay. 11. Prolonging the life of poling and boats from decay and marine borers. 12. Prolonging the life of mine timbers. 13. Prolonging the life of paving blocks. 14. Prolonging the life of shingles. 15. Prolonging the life of lumber and logs. 16. The protection of timber from fire. 17. The protection of wood from minor destructive agents. 18. The strength and electrolysis of treated timber. 19. The use of substitutes for treated timber. 20. Appendices. Index.

From the Preface: "There is every reason to believe that the growth of the industry has by no means reached its climax, for there are thousands of feet of structural timber used each year that are not being treated but which should and eventually will be. In an industry which has grown so rapidly and is unique in that a long time must elapse before the efficiency of many of its processes are known, it is but natural that many perplexing problems should arise. The wood preservation industry certainly has its just share of them, and although splendid progress has been made, much yet remains to be learned; in fact, accurate knowledge is just in its infancy. The whole art is permeated with contradictory evidence and opinions so that it is exceedingly difficult for the layman seeking advice to become other than confused.

In the following pages, taken largely from lecture notes prepared by the author for the civil engineering students at the University of Wisconsin, it has been the aim to present reliable information of fundamental importance. This book will be found of value and use to engineers, foresters, lumbermen, students and all those interested in this subject and that this effort may assist in raising still higher the enviable position already held by the wood-preserving industry."