Applying Organiclear TM5 First Treat

 Organiclear™ TM-5 First Treat wood coating is used to protect newly debarked (green) logs and timber during processing, storage, and delivery. TM-5 First Treat protects against Mold, Mildew, and Fungus and three way protection from Rain, Fading, and Weather. (Optimal protection is afforded against discoloration from UV rays.) The special one-coat water based formulation penetrates deep into the interior of green wood. TM-5 First Treat is a concentrate that can be diluted with two parts water, or 1:1 for high moisture woods such as Norway Pine or Aspen. TM-5 First Treat is designed for dipping, though spraying works well. If you choose to dilute at 2:1, it may require monitoring logs for additional coatings.

TM-5FT (First Treat) Aqueous Penetrating Wood Coating

Fresh Wood Commercial Applications

Product Description

• For handcrafted or machined logs and timber, use Organiclear™ TM-5FT wood coatings to protect newly debarked (green) logs and timber during processing, storage and delivery. Standard Tar Products' special one-coat water based formulation penetrates deep into the interior of green wood. Optimal protection is afforded against discoloration from UV rays.

• TM-5FT offers similar features as our ready-to-use TM-5 finish, but it is formulated as a water-dilutable material for maximum cost efficiency and economy in commercial use.

Sawmill and Diptank Users:

• TM5-FT is specifically formulated to be effective on freshly cut, newly debarked wood.  
• Treatment should be applied immediately (within 24 hours) to protect logs from deterioration and damage that can occur from UV rays, rain and moisture during storage and processing.

Dilution Directions:

• Organiclear's™ TM-5FT for commercial use is packaged as a water dilutable treatment.
• The suggested dilution is two (2) parts water to one (1) part Organiclear™ TM-5FT (2:1).
• Sawmills and exporters who require greater protection may require less dilution.
• Refer to product label for dilution instructions.

Dipping Instructions:

• Carefully empty TM-5FT into the diptank.
• Add the total amount of water at the proper ratio (2:1 or less).
• Logs or lumber should be totally immersed to ensure that all wood surfaces are completely treated.
• For best results, soak lumber for five minutes or longer for each inch of thickness.

Drying Time:

• Allow 12-24 hours for drying, depending upon the temperature and humidity.

Proper Clothes In Handling:

• To protect against skin irritation, always wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants and goggles.
• Also use an OSHA approved mask to protect against inhaling the vapors.
• For your information and safety, please take the time to read the product label carefully before use.

Packaging:

Available in 1,5,and 55-gallon containers. The most convenient container for diptank applications
will be 55-gallon drums. 

 

 

Questions on maintaining the legacy of your wood structure? Give us a call- 1-800-359-6614

Pickup in store - or ship to your door -in whichever woods your cabin dwells.

 Schroeder Log Home Supply, Inc. 

1101 SE 7th Avenue

Grand Rapids MN 55744

1-800-359-6614

Sapstain Control

 

Sapstain Control is the use of specially formulated wood treatment products that are used to protect peeled logs from mold and stain causing fungi. Mold, mildew, and sapstain increase the wood's ability to hold water, thus increasing chances of decay.

Tips for Applying Sapstain Control Logs should be decked at least two feet above ground level. Keep the area under the logs free of grass, weeds, or anything that would prevent air circulation. Leave space between logs to allow air circulation. Apply the sapstain control late in the day so there is less chance of evaporation before it has penetrated the log surface.

Note: Timber-Tec and TM-5 are compatible with borate based products like PeneTreat (see Tim-bor), however, Tim-bor should be applied FIRST. If the sapstain control has already been applied to the logs, the preferred method is to apply Tim-bor after the final rinse before applying finish to maximize the amount of material in the wood.

Why Use Sapstain Control? As house logs or timbers are peeled or sawn, their surfaces are susceptible to sapstain fungi. Fungi are tiny, threadlike organisms, which utilize wood, or carbohydrates stored in wood cells, for food. Besides food, fungi require the presence of air (oxygen), water and warm temperatures to survive and grow. These fungi, as they move through the wood, can leave behind a colored stain of blue, black, red or brown. It is most commonly known as Blue Stain. This enhanced cross section outlines the sapstain inside the wood. A sapstain control product was used to stop the sapstain from reaching the outer surface.   These are Permanent discolorations and can be either an asset or a detriment, depending on expectations. These stains do not affect the wood's strength, but it is nature´s first step at preparing wood for future rot. This sapstain occurs in the wood while mildew (black) or mold (white) grows on the surface of logs or timbers and aids in the absorption of water into the wood. To help prevent these fungi from entering wood, spray the wood within 24 hours after peeling with Timber-Tec, TM-5, or another sapstain control. Do not spray prior to rain, for the spray will be washed off or diluted. One last note is that species like Balsam Fir, Spruce, and Cedar are not as susceptible to sapstain as are the pines. Aspen and high moisture woods may need higher concentrations of sapstain control and more frequent applications.  Questions on maintaining the legacy of your wood structure? Give us a call- 1-800-359-6614 Schroeder Log Home Supply, Inc. 1101 SE 7th Avenue Grand Rapids MN 55744 www.loghelp.com

Why Do We Need Sapstain Control?

By Gary Schroeder (revised and reprinted from our Spring 1999 issue of Log Core newsletter)

Wood, and in this case the log, was a living substance; as soon as the tree is cut the biological breakdown of wood begins. The wood is protected for some time by first the bark and in the cold months of the year, temperature. As soon as the bark (shell) is removed, fungi can land on the unprotected wood and start its work. The steps of rot are mold and mildew, sapstain, white stringy rot, brown cubical rot and then just organic powder. The mold and mildew attack the surface to break the shell, then the sapstain goes into the wood deeper to start the transportation of water down into the wood to help decay. Next comes the white stringy rot with white filaments coming to the surface to seek out water and bring it deeper into the wood. Then the rotting fungi starts to basically unglue the individual wood cells to bring it back to powder.

If we can slow down the breakdown of the shell, then we can prolong the breakdown of the internal wood fibers. Through spraying on a diluted preservative, we can accomplish this task. Now not all woods deteriorate at the same rate, for the white oaks, cedar, redwood and many others have toxins within the wood cells to help retard the rotting process. However, the pines which are softwoods have a tendency to rot more quickly. Pine wood also has less density because the cells contain more air that permits quicker entry of the fungi. Enough of why, and on to what deterrents we can apply to the surface to retard the fungi.

We have several products out of a multitude of products on the market. The products we choose to carry are Sansin Timber-Tec, TM-5 First Treat, Sta-Brite P, and PQ-80. We carry these because they are more environmentally friendly than others. However, do not be fooled with the word “friendly”. Any material in stronger concentrates can still be unfriendly.

Sansin Timber-Tec is diluted 1:1 with water. Two options are available: M-30 provides the natural light color of fresh pine and C-20 provides a light honey color to the wood once dried. Its water repellency and UV protection helps during the construction phase

TM-5 First Treat can be diluted 1:1 with water, and in some rare occurrences can be diluted 2:1 if dry weather is expected or if applied to woods that do not sapstain easily. The ingredients in TM-5FT deter rot, sapstain, mildew and mold. However, because it is working within the wood and at times on the surface, it may not stop natural graying and mildew. If reapplied as the previous applications weathers off, it will repel mildew better.

Sta Brite P & PQ-80 are both super concentrated and can only be shipped from the manufacturer or picked up at our Grand Rapids, MN office. Stay Brite P mixes at the rate of 2.56 oz. per gallon or 12.8 oz. per 5-gallons of water, or as the contractor wants to mix it. This product is highly effective and has a bleaching agent in it that will lighten the logs. PQ-80 is similar to the Sta Brite P but contains Copper 8 quinolinolate that is safe for use on food boxes. This product leaves a brownish pigment to the wood. Note: These products are only sold to builders.

To Remember: Fungi need moisture to live. Because moisture is such an important factor to sapstain and rotting, we are mainly concerned about these during the time the wood is cut and to the point that it reaches 20% moisture content. Dry wood does not need protection of this type. Dry wood only requires a finish to keep it dry.

The other thing to remember concerning spraying on mildewcides and finishes is that it causes a film barrier to prevent other liquids from entering the wood. Because of this barrier, it is a requirement to break this barrier down at a later date by pressure washing to allow other products to enter the wood. Some people may wish to apply a borate product like PeneTreat before spraying on the sapstain control. This is permissible. There are different mixing application rates for PeneTreat and the sapstain controls. Because of these different mixing and application rates, it is best to spray them independently. This can be done in either of two methods. First, spray on before sapstain control or Second, pressure wash surface after the house is up and then apply the PeneTreat. This application is recommended so that the most amount of PeneTreat is absorbed into the logs prior to applying the finish.

Questions? Give us a call at 1-800-359-6614 or contact us here.