Timber for water feature

[Nellybelly]

We've never had a problem with the tannins. From research I have done, they are generally harmless to fish, but may slightly alter the pH of water which could possibly affect very sensitive species. That said, with an outside pond the biggest outside input that will alter pH is run off from the surrounding land and rain water. Tannins from oak in the water will be insignificant.

 

Depends on the amount of water in there, if its a small pond you'd be surprised how quickly the tannin can effect the p,h levels.

[agg221]

What tree does Pitch pine come from??

 

Me and my dad (he's a joiner) have discussed this many times and have failed to come to a definitive conclusion.

 

I think it's a generic term for several different species of pine - a bit like the term 'mahogany'.

 

They seem to be mostly from N.America. What they have in common as a group is a very high resin content, which is what stops them rotting and why they're called 'pitch' - as in if you heat the wood up in a closed drum then the resin breaks down to yield pitch for ships, a bit like making Stockholm tar.

 

No use in this job though, as you won't get round bits easily in the UK.

 

Alec

[Mesterh]

From what I know elm wont rot but all wood will in contact with concrete.

[tommer9]

I think it's a generic term for several different species of pine - a bit like the term 'mahogany'.

 

They seem to be mostly from N.America. What they have in common as a group is a very high resin content, which is what stops them rotting and why they're called 'pitch' - as in if you heat the wood up in a closed drum then the resin breaks down to yield pitch for ships, a bit like making Stockholm tar.

 

No use in this job though, as you won't get round bits easily in the UK.

 

Alec

 

YOu are basically correct Alex.

Pinus rigida is often cited as pitch pine- a pine common in north america, however as you say it is an umbrella term that covers many resinous slow growing pines, from which pitch, or tar, was easily extracted. It is actually tied in with the whole stockholm tar thing. That too is a slight misnomer though, as much if not all stockholm tar originates NOT from stockholm. that is simply the point of export, and such was the value and deman for pitch for sailing vessels that the industry was very lucrative and widespread. It originally wasnt called stockholm tar, but the barrels it was in bore the name of the town/ area that had produced it. In the mid 1600's the king of sweden granted @the wood tar company of north sweden' sole rights of export, from the then growing port of stockholm, hence the name stockholm tar, regardless of where it actually came from. By the 1700s the cost was very high and the british colonies in north america were encouraged to make as much as possible.

anyway, it spread aceross america, which kind of leads to how lots of varieties of pine come under the term pitch pine.

Boaties and chippies I have met who refer to pitch pine seem to accept it as close grained, slow grown pine from scandinavia which is relatively knot free, regardless of species as far as i can tell.

[Stephen Blair]

Ok, I have decided to listen to you guys, and the timber won't touch the concrete, I have Worked out how I can, it's just down to timber now. Larch seems the easiest choice especially since i wantit in the round.

Thanks everyone for your advice, keep it coming and I can pick what I need to fit into my situation.

[Mark Bolam]

Can't you just use some of your firewood?

 

That's normally piss-wet through....