Deck treatment

[Farmwithjunk]

I've been using used motor oil/diesel fuel "cocktail" on traile decks, hay racks, fences and barns for near 40 years. I've got acouple hay racks that are almost that old. They've held up well. Motor oil repells water. SOME waterproofings and/or paints SEAL the surface but can trap water inside the wood if it enters through a crack or scraped area. Oil soaks in and has "depth" to its protection. After a few days to soak in, I've never had an issue with oil "tracking" on my shoes. Also, it raises the grain on many woods, actually giving MORE traction. I use a long nap paint roller. Put a sheet of plastic down under the trailer to catch drips until theoil is absorbed fully. (Soundguy gets rather irate if you don't )

 

[dirt clod]

My gooseneck is starting to show some weather cracks in the boards.
i've been wondering about useing the black fence paint that is pretty well much diluted roofing tar. would think it would add traction.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

My gooseneck is starting to show some weather cracks in the boards.
i've been wondering about useing the black fence paint that is pretty well much diluted roofing tar. would think it would add traction.

This may be a little off topic, but it relates to the traction comments...

I need to get some of that traction tape or something on the metal frame at the back of my wooden deck. If I can get enough of a running start to get my wheels onto the wood, I can load anything on the tilt trailer. If not, my wheels just slip on the metal.

I wonder if I could just turn the heat way up on my stick welder and hold it back as far as possible. Basically just put a bunch of spatter down without a bead.

In the mean time, I'm just looking for a good time a place to paint my deck with oil and diesel.

Anyone have any ideas for adding pigment to the mix to make it even darker?

 

[john_bud]

I just added a coating to a trailer Friday. I looked at the wood getting checked and saw a lonely paint roller and it clicked -- Hey, that one needs a coat! By happy chance, the bush broom handle fits the paint roller. The 12 qt oil pan is more than big enough for the roller. It took about 3-4 gallons to do the 8-18' trailer. I gave it 3 light but complete coats. There are still areas that are showing light. It might be that I used 1/2 engine oil and 1/2 hydraulic fluid with just a 2qt fuel filters worth of diesel. Traction on the deck is good as ever, water beads up with no "rainbow" and the smell is nearly gone. Unless you sniff at it. It was pretty cloudy all weekend. I imagine that if it was hot and sunny, the smell would be gone pretty quick.

If you want it dark, get some oil based stain and add it to the mix. Or go to a paint store and get some black dry pigment powder. Seems like a lot of work though.

If you want to add traction, use a truck bed coating on the metal. It will last a long time and if you do it yourself is pretty cheap at about 20-25 a qt at the big box hardware and farm stores. Your idea probably won't work as the splatter will probably get removed by the tires spinning pretty quick.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Your idea probably won't work as the splatter will probably get removed by the tires spinning pretty quick.

I was afraid of that.

After I posted, I thought of just putting down some beads in parallel to each other. It would be more permanent than the Rhino liner. I think it would do the trick too.

One of these days when I'm bored and ambitious, I may try it. The trailer can't get much uglier than it is, so I'm not too worried about the appearance.

 

[john_bud]

I was afraid of that.

After I posted, I thought of just putting down some beads in parallel to each other. It would be more permanent than the Rhino liner. I think it would do the trick too.

One of these days when I'm bored and ambitious, I may try it. The trailer can't get much uglier than it is, so I'm not too worried about the appearance.

If you don't care how pretty it is, why not weld on 12" long 3/4" rebar on 8" centers to make a set of metal ladders? That would work and be about as permanent as it gets.

 

[Highbeam]

So after a weekend I can admit that the dirty soot oil and diesel combo is a fantastic deck stain. The color has mellowed into a mahogany with just enough brown showing through from the wood to make it a classy deal.

So the wife looks at it. Touches it, dry on her finger, and tells me.... so how much of this can you mix up? She wants to paint a whole freaking 200 foot long 5-6 foot tall board fence with it. It passes the girl test. Trouble is that I will need maybe 10-15 gallons.

One important thing to note though is that the color of the finished product seems very depenent on the "dirtiness" of the oil. You can't use new oil and then switch to used black oil or hydro fluid since the color will be different.

I'll shoot to change the powerstroke's oil here soon and that'll get me like 5 gallons of the oil.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

If you don't care how pretty it is, why not weld on 12" long 3/4" rebar on 8" centers to make a set of metal ladders? That would work and be about as permanent as it gets.

I only need to "texture" the first 4 inches. The rest is all wood. Once I can get a wheel on the wood, I don't have any traction problems.

This is an old trailer and years of use has polished the metal up pretty slick.

 

[Bentwrench]

" It passes the girl test. Trouble is that I will need maybe 10-15 gallons."

I've got a 55 gallon drum just about full ready for the trip to the oil recycle plant. If you want it come and get it !

 

[Iplayfarmer]

One important thing to note though is that the color of the finished product seems very depenent on the "dirtiness" of the oil. You can't use new oil and then switch to used black oil or hydro fluid since the color will be different.

You could take oil from various sources and mix it all together to get a single color for the whole job.