railroad ties, utility poles, fire and G10

[dorchesterarcher]

I live in the city and was looking for other options on wood. Has anyone used railroad ties or utility poles for lams under clear glass? Is anyone lightly burning lams for contrast, not sure if that is a bad idea for some reason? Also with G10 do I need to keep it short of the fadeouts so it doesn't affect the cast? Should I use it as an Ibeam but splice in normal wood for the last 2" of the fadeout for consistency?
thanks if you can answer any of these for me 

[Flem]

You live in the land of hardwoods. All you need is a tree book, pruning saw, headlamp. You don't always need a whole tree, sometimes a branch will suffice.

[Pat B]

I'd worry about the chemicals that are used to preserve the RR ties and telephone poles. Not only breathing the dust but how it would affect the glass, glues and finish.

[Eric Krewson]

We shoot a tournament just past the railroad tie factory, you can smell the place from a long way off, they soak the ties and power poles in creosote. I don't think this wood has any bow making properties.

[Crooked Stic]

My G10 goes fade to fade. Had no problems so far.

[dorchesterarcher]

Thanks guys, tree branch is a good idea. That's helpful Crooked Stic with the G10. I had wondered about the health risks also but didn't know about creosote. Last question I have some wood still seasoning/ drying out with the ends sealed do I need to do anything to it to stabilize it or can I just cut lams out of it when it reaches low humidity.

[Tim Finley]

I know some fellows that were making arrows from wood in power poles it was Douglas fir  and DF makes a good bow. The creosote ( or what ever they use on poles) only goes in so far on power poles but I think rr ties it may go all the way through  . 
  You don't want to try and glue any lambs that have burns on them glue wont normally stick to burn spots .