Used Cedar Siding

I picked up some used (slightly abused) cedar siding. It's tapered, lap siding, maybe 7" wide, 14 foot lengths, 12 pieces and other small pieces. There is well-weathered stain on the surface. No idea what stain it was years ago when it was applied. It was free. I suppose Paul wanted me to post this to determine if it would be OK to use on TL.

Rather than mess with old stain, the stuff can usually be put on backwards if drippings haven't made it there. The thick edge can be shaved by a 16th to get rid of stain there.
Now you've got reasonably new looking raw wood.

Is the presence of the old stain an aesthetic or a toxic issue?

I think it's mostly a looks thing. Turned backwards, it will stay put for the life of the product. So if it never gets composted there's no issue. Often, old stain presents a flakey or powdery surface that buggers up the new finish. It can be easier to start with plain wood.

Tim Skufca wrote:Is the presence of the old stain an aesthetic or a toxic issue?

Gosh, I do know that Paul does not want any conventional paints or stains used in the areas of the lab that will be beyond organic and even beyond most permaculture standards. So I think to Paul it would be a toxic issue though Dale has some great ideas to help with the aesthetics.

Currently, at base camp, there is a pile of some old wood with paint on it (from the previous owners) that I overheard Paul ask Tim to take to the dump instead of burning it.

I don't think stains have near the toxic gick potential as paint--no lead or other heavy metals in stain, is there?

My view is I would rather sequester mild gick in a way such as Dale suggests than let the landfill release it into the air or groundwater.