Old Plow

[Bendboater]

I have an old horse drawn, single bottom, plow that was my great grandfather's. It has been stored sheds/barns in multiple states for ..... decades but I have decided that I would rather have it out as "yard art" than let it lived such a sheltered life. It's in GREAT shape, though obviously well used. I have it blocked off the ground, under a tree, and away from irrigation. But I would still like to protect it (mainly the wood) as much as possible (it even still has some of the original red paint/stain on it). What would the collective wisdom of the group recommend I put on it to help preserve it?
Thanks.

 

[bigtiller]

oil based paint

 

[Cycledude]

Sell it or give it to someone that’ll take good care of it.

 

[Topzide]

Tung oil on the wood. Black Star on the metal.

 

[SARG]

I have seven of them that dad got at auctions & gave my wife over the years that are displayed.
I keep the metal painted and the wood soaked with linseed twice a year.

 

[Bendboater]

Topzide,
What is Black Star?

Sarg,
What color paint do you use on the metal?

 

[SARG]

All mine (wife's) are painted bright red.

 

[Topzide]

www.mrochem.com

 

[Bendboater]

Topzodi,
I like it. Do you think a quart of Black Star will cover the metal of a single bottom plow or would I be better off getting a gallon?
Ahh, the projects never end

 

[Topzide]

I'd get the gallon. You'll find plenty of other items that need a coat. It gives a purplish-black finish without a top coating. (Which isn't needed) I coated the frame of my dually and after I did it a few years back, looked like a new frame! Cleans up easily and environmentally friendly!

 

[Bendboater]

Topzide,
Done (ordered the Black Star and Tung Oil). Thank you for the suggestions.

 

[arrow]

Danish oil is a tougher oil than tung as it also has linseed and varnish mixed into the tung.
Withstands weather very well.
If the wood is bear, use 3 coats of either oil you get.
Waxed base oils are also very good for weather protection such as Osmo.

 

[Bendboater]

Thank you for the information. The Tung oil ihas already been ordered so I will be using that. I plan to thin it out and apply multiple coats until it stops soaking in. The plow will see more loving next week than it has seen in, probably a century. And, it will be appreciated rather than just collecting dust in my barn.

 

[arrow]

Thank you for the information. The Tung oil ihas already been ordered so I will be using that. I plan to thin it out and apply multiple coats until it stops soaking in. The plow will see more loving next week than it has seen in, probably a century. And, it will be appreciated rather than just collecting dust in my barn.

Nothing stopping you from coating it with other stuff such as Osmo or marine polyurethane after the tung oil.
I wouldn’t thin out the linseed oil on bare wood.
It’ll soak down deep enough to protect it on its own. If you thin it, you are sacrificing the protection quotient..
It may soak deeper into the wood thinned but it will have less capability of withstanding the surface elements. You need it strongest on the surface.
Three coats of the stuff are all you’ll need.

 

[Egon]

I am late but just for interest.

For the wood; Boiled linseed oil mixed with 1/3 varsol and stain applied several times a few weeks apart.

For the iron; rattle can rust restorative paint. Again two coats several weeks apart..

 

[RayIN]

If you want to preserve it, get it out from under a tree!