Treating the barn with diesel and transmission fluid?
One of the great mysteries of our new home was why the previous owners would leave behind several fifty gallon barrels of chemicals behind. It was alarming. We wanted to dispose of them in an environmentally friendly way but weren’t quite sure where to start. The previous owners didn’t have a tractor so why did they have giant barrels of what seemed like thick oil or grease? We mentioned this to several people in the area and it was only last month that someone gave us the clue we needed to solve this mystery. Our barn is wood sided and apparently it’s common in this area to mix some concoction of diesel fuel, used transmission fluid and whatever this oil/grease is in the barrels to treat the wood on the barn. It’s supposed to protect the wood from the weather and insects, such as carpenter bees. I have never heard of such a thing. I guess it kind of makes sense. I know wood needs to be chemically treated to last but it seems odd to me that we should be using something that is…I don’t know…HIGHLY FLAMMABLE!
Have you ever heard of this? What do you guys use for your wooden barns/out-buildings?
4 thoughts on “Treating the barn with diesel and transmission fluid?”
i have heard of that being used like that its quite effective to treat and bring the wood back to life and highly effective to keep bugs away for about three months
Our barn is in need of treatment now and I have to admit we’re considering it.
Yes I have heard of this method. And to be frank, I myself use this method. Works great and is a great way to save money and the environment.
Anthony, I know this is an old post but you said you use this method, do you spray the outside and the inside or just the outside? Currently building a barn with rough cut lumber and just trying to see if we need to treat both sides of the board or just the outside that will be exposed to the weather. Thanks in advance!