"CINDY CAMPBELL" wrote in message
...
I am looking at using timber sleepers as borders for raised vegie garden
beds and pallets for a compost pile.
A friend told me that a combination of old engine oil and kerosene works
pretty well.
Can anyone tell me:
1) Is it true - will this work, and

Yep, it will work. Nothing wrong with using 100% engine oil either, just
that it's harder to brush, and you need more of it.
If you use kerosene don't use much. Just enough to thin the oil out a
little.

2) What proportions of each do I use in the mix?

Just experiment with it. I'm guessing not much kero at all when compared to
the amount of engine oil.

Obviously this would be appealling as a relatively cheap and 'green'
option.

Very cheap, possibly not to green. I painted a few things at work to
preserve them. We normally do the bridges with creosote. Terrible to use,
and as I was doing some logs in the gardens I chose engine oil. Plenty of it
from the workshed. Got told that it's not really a good idea, as if the EPA
or possibly workcover saw me it wouldn't be good as it's illegal in the
workplace.
So creosote is legal, but oil isn't?
If you wanted to be "green" and 100% safe go for the same stuff used on
oyster racks. It's got to be safe as it goes in the lakes around here. I
have a feeling it's creosote too.
If you use the oil, allow it to "weather" for a week or 2 before packing
soil/compost against it.

Good luck


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Regards;

Blair