Absolute rip-off crude oil derivatives

[cd]

Can there be anything more profitable than products derived from oil? I was looking for some wood preserver today and came across creosote for sale in BnQ, which I thought was no longer available on environmental grounds. Anyway, the contents were listed as little more than diesel oil. It's the same with tons of other products I'm sure (the automotive industry to name but one). Distil a smidgin of oil (cost about 20p) stick it in a brightly-coloured tiny plastic bottle or spray can and flog it for $$$$$££££ LOADS OF MONEY ££££$$$$$$$$$$$ Screw you mugs, that'll do nicely.

[Tim+]

Then make your own, bottle it and sell it. You'll be rich!

Then again, maybe it's not that simple.

Tim

[John Rumm]

Its not - at least not for domestic use. There are plenty of substitutes on the market though like creocote wich look and smell near enough like the real thing that most people don't spot the difference.

Same with pretty much any manufactured product.

[meow2222]

Factories aren't free you know. Nor are the many steps required to go from crude oil to a product in your hand.

NT

[Brian Gaff]

Oh it is, many people used to use old engine oil as wood preservative back when people did their own car servicing, ie before it was all factory sealed and only dealers supposedly had te kit. Brian

[The Natural Philosopher]

Cost of 25kg of potatoes from local shop, dirty in a sack. £8. Cost of potatoes from waitrose washed in plastic bags. £32.

[dennis]

Its a good thing that people don't use old engine oil now. It didn't work and just spread pollution. Creosote is the same, painting it on does nothing to extend the life of fences.

[Capitol]

So that's why BT use it on telegraph poles?

[Chris Hogg]

Missed the OP, and he may well be right about some oil-derived products, but creosote was made from coal tar and contained mostly cresols, hence the name. I doubt you'd find too much cresol in diesel fuel.

[Tim Streater]

Yes. Since Morrisons started selling 12.5kg dirty spuds for £4, that's how we buy them.

[RobertL]

Don't they pressure-impregnate them?

Robert

[soup]

World of difference between pressure treating and "painting it on"

[soup]

The BOM cost of a product is (often) really rather immaterial to its final price.

[Bob Eager]

A fiver from our local farm shop yesterday (25kg)!

[Capitol]

I believe so. A fence panel is so thin that brushing is probably effective.

[dennis]

Its because its thin it lasts. If it dries out the rot dies. I have feather edge board and it hasn't been treated for ~28 years and its fine. The posts rotted through 15 years ago (now spured) and the aris rails need replacing soon.

[Huge]

C'mon, that's dennis flapping his gums. You can safely assume the opposite of anything he asserts.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Most obvious one being maker's printer cartridges.

[tim.....]

or perfume

tim

[tim.....]

yes,

but how does one keep them from going "off"

tim