wood from hardware stores

[Shenanigans]

So I've been reading a lot of threads recently about pine from hardware stores, and that you just have to check that it's kiln dried and is pine. I have been leery of hardware store wood, because you don't know if that tree was sprayed with pesticides when alive. Couldn't these still be marked as "untreated" because they weren't "treated" by preservatives or stains? I don't think the lumber company is thinking of pesticides. If the general consensus is that these untreated woods from hardware stores are safe, could you guys give me an opinion on some products from my hardware store?

poplar- http://www.menards.com/main/p-2423367-c-13115.htm
there are more sizes as well

aspen- http://www.menards.com/main/buildin.../1-x-24-x-6-aspen-board/p-1934282-c-13115.htm
again more sizes possible

basswood-http://www.menards.com/main/home-decor/crafts/craft-specialty-woodworking/carving-block-large/p-2202121-c-12188.htm
http://www.menards.com/main/home-de...1-4-x-24-craft-basswood/p-2202074-c-12188.htm

balsa- package says kiln dried, untreated, and for woodcarving- http://www.menards.com/main/home-de...rking/balsa-economy-bag/p-2202048-c-12188.htm
http://www.menards.com/main/home-de...1-4-x-4-x-36craft-balsa/p-2202095-c-12188.htm

all seem unglued and untreated and kiln-dried- if these are ok then I need to go shopping and start crafting. I would not use any wood stamped with a barcode in case of toxins in the stamp. There were birch and "yellow birch" products in the store I cant find online as well.

 

[LYChinchillas]

I think as long as the item is marked untreated, that's just about the safest you can go from a consumer's perspective. If the tree was sprayed with pesticides when it was alive, most likely it wouldn't reach the inside of the tree - additionally, the process of kiln drying evaporates most water and harmful fungi. Unless you're able to harvest and dry your own wood, this is a minor hazard that you shouldn't worry too much about - the larger concern is the treatment of preservatives and stains. To me, the woods look fine. I would personally stick to more popular woods with higher production levels.

 

[Amethyst]

Most wood you get at a hardware store originally came from the same lumber mills as the building center stores. I wouldn't worry about pesticides on pine, poplar, aspen, and ones like that since they aren't fruit trees (the most commonly sprayed due to the flowers and fruit) and also with a small exception of areas where there are tree farms the wood is cut down in the forest. The reason people drive in the idea that the tree is never sprayed is when someone buys a tree from a nursery, for household use it's common for them to be sprayed, so trees around your house may not be safe if it's one someone purposely planted.

Untreated means it's not pressure treated with chemicals, just plain wood.

As far as the wood you mentioned, I'm not sure if it's just that I've only primarily bought pine for shelves, but the poplar and aspen seem really expensive. Balsa wood is good for toys but not for shelves and stuff since it's a very soft wood, my boy tear through that wood. I don't know anything about basswood, and with birch you want to make sure it's the right kind, some species aren't safe; white, grey, broad leaf, silver and common birch are said to be safe.

 

[Shenanigans]

Thanks everyone- I figured as much. So far Yuki has only been allowed to have stuff he was adopted with (thankfully the person was a member here and knew her stuff) and I've added from trees I cut down. (Poplar grows and spreads fast here so my boyfriend parents got an accidental forest they don't want) But it'd be way easier to do this than basically mill my own stuff.