Spent Vegetable Oil to Treat Raised Bed Lumber?

[Tabasco]

I was thinking of taking some spent vegetable oil and treating my raised bed lumber with it.
I figured it would make it last longer and maybe even deter ants.

Thoughts?

[evtubbergh]

What do you mean by spent vegetable oil? Like frying oil from food?

[Tabasco]

Yes. I'm always trying to find a way to use it, rather than throwing it away.
Pretty sure bugs aren't very fond of vegetable oil and the wood would almost surely benefit from it.

[Lab_Man]

I would be afraid that the smell would attract animals.

[applestar]

Grease ants would love it. Also the oil/grease may turn rancid? Have you ever smelled oil gone bad?

Definitely try on a scrap piece of wood first.

[evtubbergh]

Yes, I would be very careful. The oils we use on wood are usually clean and very specific to the purpose of preserving wood.

[Tabasco]

Good points.

I'm concerned about the wood breaking down and becoming ant fodder, which I suppose is inevitable.
And of course, the expense of replacing it.
I saw a Youtube video where a guy uses cement board for his beds. I may go to that eventually.

I've also read about the use of canola/rapeseed oil as a natural pesticide, just considering possibilities.

[Lab_Man]

I would either use a deck stain or just leave it unprotected.
You would still get several years of service without any protection.