Best way to weatherproof white pine?

[dmftoy1]

I've been building a rifle rest bench out of scrap white pine I've got out in "Mantown" and I'm wondering what the best way is to treat it such that the weather doesn't destroy it too soon? I'm guessing that stain doesn't actually do much for you and water seal is the best you can get but if there's something better I'd like to hear it.

Have a good one,
Dave

 

[jvencius]

The way I would suggest involves burning it and building a replacement out of a weather-resistant wood like teak/cypress/cedar/redwood but I don't think that's quite the answer you're looking for...


If you do want to keep it, try using a good marine-grade spar varnish and lay on a couple of coats. It won't protect the wood forever (new-growth white pine is one of the least weather resistant woods out there) but it will help a little. Taking the rest inside when you're not using it will help a lot too...

 

[RenoF250]

I like Linseed oil, cheap and easy to recoat. I put it on all my shovel handles and it holds up for about 2 years. That is on Ash though.

 

[dmftoy1]

Yeah, the goal was to get the scrap would OUT of the shop. I wonder if I'd get any benefit from varnish AND linseed oil?

This rest is going to be sunk in the ground on my neighbor's range. The 4x4's that support it are green treat, and I wish the rest is, but you can't beat the price.

Have a good one,
Dave

 

[BJS]

you need to pick either varnish or linseed oil as the varnish won't stick to the linseed oil and once the varnish is on the linseed won't get to the wood.

Since it's not something that needs to look pretty I'd suggest a good exterior OIL BASED paint ontop of a good sealing primer.

 

[dmftoy1]

You think that would hold up better than varnish?

Regards,
Dave

 

[Mobeydick]

Man-O-War Marine Spar Varnish!!

 

[BJS]

take a look @ the exterior of your house especially the eves around here all they use is white pine for the soffit trims after 20 some odd years we had to replace some of ours and that's with a definately very sparce repainting schedule (maybe once or twice)

 

[rgdillon]

I like Linseed oil, cheap and easy to recoat. I put it on all my shovel handles and it holds up for about 2 years. That is on Ash though.

Another vote for Linseed - soak it as much as possible. Caution though - do not store any used rags or such in a pile in the house/shop or whatever. Combustion can and will take place.

About 12 years ago I built a train trestle/bridge for my Dad's garden train out of scrap red oak. Cut and fit the parts - then soaked them in Linseed for a day - the whole thing of course stays outside year round and still looks great today.

Ron

 

[rtxcoon]

marine grade varnish....