Carpentry and Woodworking - drilling treated lumber

I've read that treated lumber should not be painted/stained for at least a month or two after purchase. I guess same goes for drilling? im trying to counter-sink holes for screws and cannot do it without getting a shredded hole.

Treated lumber tends to be very wet from the lumberyard. Letting it dry out a bit is a good idea before painting/staining, obviously. Unfortunately, if you let it dry before installing it, it tends to warp. Were it me _ I would go ahead and install it - not trying to drill countersink basins - as the wetness of the wood will allow you to drive your screws without pre-drilling/countersinking. I'm sure you'll get as many answers as there are posters...

thezster's advice is right on. If you let it dry first, you will definitely lose some from warpage. In fact, you could lose a lot of it. If you use stain, you can usually appy it within a month, depending on drying conditions. I like to wait up to six months if it is going to be painted.

By the way, if it is dried properly, it will hold paint very well.

Good luck,

If you have a hole saw the proper size, use that and see if that stops the shredding!

I vote Fortsner bit or anything else that will use up 25 characters in the post.

Hole saws and Fortsners tend to work well in treated lumber... but not for a simple countersink for a #6 - #10 screw head.

In my experience, if you assemble before letting the lumber dry out, the screw will most often "sink" itself....not easy to control, however.

Randy, above, is exactly right... let the drill/screw do the work... and later, before finishing the wood, use a sander/putty knife to knock away the splinters. Using a drywall bit, designed to stop pushing the screw down when it is flush with the surface, will also keep the screws from digging too deep.