building material / tools

[jm minica]

The Hi Bor lumber that is the standard here is alot nicer to work with than the green pressure treated stuff that I always had to handle on the mainland. It's importand to treat all the cuts or holes you make with Hi Bor, otherwise your defeating the purpose. There is a product that is available at a couple of places here that is great for wood that is exposed to direct weather, or direct contact with the ground/slab. It's called Zophar, and it's a coal tar based product that is basically what they treat telephone poles and railroad ties with. It's kind of nasty to work with, and it's not cheap, but it makes wood essentially impenetrable to bugs or water. I've been using it on exterior stair/porch/deck parts, especially those surfaces that make contact with the concrete. There's two different types, #111, and #50. The later has a pretty strong odor that does fade in time, but still is noticable when the sun beats on it. #111 is odorless after curing and is even suitable to coat the inside of water tanks. I dont really like working with the stuff personally,it will give you a chemical burn if it gets on your skin and you dont get it off right away, but it is very effective.
Aloha,
Mark