Whats a good wood preservative?

[alchemysa]

OK, I might be stretchin' the boundaries of what constitutes a 'tractor project' here, but I need some advice (and I've only got to this point after a lot of tractor work: demolishing, clearing, backhoeing, carrying, forklifting etc, etc.)

I'm about to put a heap of hardwood decking and railing around my new house and I want to know what you guys would use to preserve it with. I know I can buy 'brand name' preservatives and oils but I wonder if that's just paying through the nose for something that's half the price under another name. I'd like something I can slap on fairly easily every 12 months or so. The decks will get plenty of exposure to rain and sun. The place is by the sea so salty air might also be a factor. Any advice will be appreciated!

[VABlue]

I'm no expert on woodwork, but Consumer Reports says that Cabot yeilds the best results. It's a little expensive @ ~$120 for 5 gallons, but I don't think its much more than anything else. CR claims it lasts around 3 years before a reapplication is needed. But if you really plan on reapplying every year it shouldn't matter what stain you use. Go with the cheapest you can find...

[ToadHill]

I built a deck out of hemlock and treated it with used motor oil about once every 5 years. It gave it a nice brown color and I never had to replace a board in it for the 20+ years I had it up. Only problem is it takes about 1 week for the oil to soak in enough that you won't pick it up on your shoes, I just treated it before I went on vacation.

[Iowachild]

I realize this info doesn't help you at all alchemysa, but people around here swear by good old Pennsylvania crude oil! It has a very high paraffin and other waxes content.

[DieselPower]

I use Polymerized Tung Oil on my deck. It makes for a highly water resistant coating. It is made from pressing the oil from the seeds of Tung trees and has been around for thousands of years.

[Tony_S]

I remember years.....ok...decades ago my uncles were always slapping
"Wood Life" onto any exposed wood. I don't even know if they still make the stuff. I think I'll see what Google says.....

.02

*on edit...yep they still make it...it's by Wolman...shows online @ $15/gal. I guess it's better suited? for non PT wood. I mainly remember that it was real easy to slap on and clean up after.

[mikeyd]

Originally Posted by DieselPower

I use Polymerized Tung Oil on my deck. It makes for a highly water resistant coating. It is made from pressing the oil from the seeds of Tung trees and has been around for thousands of years.

You sure thats real tung oil, it's virtually non-existent today. What is sold as tung oil is really diluted poly or just plain old oil. A guy named Bob Flexnor has written many books on wood finishing including"just finishing" where he discusses what is marketed as tung oil today bears no resemblance to true tung oil. I make furniture for a hobby so this is of particular interest to me.

[DieselPower]

This is where I get my exterior grade polymerized tung oil. Sutherland Welles Tung Oil Products I to am a hobby furniture maker and I also use tung oil as a furniture finish. Sutherland Welles has a very high grade tung oil. Their high luster polymerized tung oil comes out to a mirror finsh after a couple coats and a good hand rubbed out polish.

Here are some other suppliers. There are lots of suppliers of "real" tung tree seed pressed tung oil, you just have to do a little searching to find it. People now day's are more interested in a speedy finish than people like us that can appreciate a fine hand applied and rubbed out finish. That's probably why it's harder to find now day's.

Real Milk Paint ® - Pure Tung Oil Finish - Wood Finishing - All Natural Finish - China Wood Oil
Behlen Tung Oil at Stewart-MacDonald
Rockler's Tung Oil - Rockler Woodworking Tools
Pure Tung Oil Tung Oil Tung Oil Varnish Tung Oil Finish Tung Oil Finishing Product Tung Oil Wood Finish

[WayneB]

I use Sikkens on our Decks and think it is really great stuff. Cost about $40 - 50 a gallon, but worth every penny>

Sikkens: Simply Beautiful Woodcare Products For Your Wood Home

[mikeyd]

I read the manufacturers data on the stuff you are using.They claim thier "polymerized tung Oil" forms a "hard but flexible finish". True tung oil, no matter how many layers you apply never forms a finish, all it does is penetrate the wood and perserve it. It is impossible to get a "mirror finish" with real tung oil. Thier explanation of the polymerzation process is a bit hazy but they state that they add chemical dryers etc. in the "process". They also state they replace the "base oil" with this polymerized product. Note that the word "polymerization" contains the root word "poly".

The first link you provided , the real milk paint company, provides a link on the topic of "pure tung oil and tung oil", click on the link and they describe that what is sold as tung oil today is actually thinned down varnish (poly)or something called polymerized tung oil which contains distallites and dryers. These are not tung oil.This is in line with my original statement, what is sold as tung oil today bears little resemblance to real tung oil, it just thinned down poly.


For what it's worth, pure tung oil is a so so finish anyway and I wouldn't recommend it especially for outdoor use. There are many other products that are far superior to real tung oil, hence the low demand and the subsequent problem finding the real stuff. I would recommend something that forms a finish like the product you are using. A company called Sikkens makes outdoor finishing products that are the only thing I have seen standup to our Northeast weather. Excellent but expensive.