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Finish for exterior oak

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Finish for exterior oak

#1

Finish for exterior oak

Cooper Suter

>As an instructor at a Carpenters Union apprenticeship school, I get a fair amount of hand me down projects from the business agents.

Got one today that I'm glad to do, but sad that it's neccesary.

I don't know if it made your local news, but there was a horrific crane collapse at a local Toledo bridge project last Monday.

Four ironworkers dead.

I've been asked to build a cross for placement at a temporary memorial at the site.

It's to be out of oak, and is meant to age, but needs some protection.

Spar varnish or any other film type of finish seems out of keeping w/the desired esthetic, and would look bad if it began to peel.

This will probably be a short term exposure (6 months?), is there a good oil type finish/sealer that will offer some protection to the wood yet still weather gracefully?

Thanks, Coop.

Re: Finish for exterior oak

#2

Re: Finish for exterior oak

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>Very sorry to hear that. We had a bridge collapse locally, just one death but it still stuns -- I always put myself inside that toolbelt when I hear.

No experience with, but my local hardware store sells exterior "oil" finishes, probably long-oil varnishes. Penofin, which is produced out here but may be hard to come by back there, is the exterior finish of preference around here for those who don't want a film finish. I've also heard good things about the Flood co. finishes.

Re: Finish for exterior oak

#3

Re: Finish for exterior oak

Dirk Wright

>I kindof doubt that you would need any protection for oak, since it's only six months of exposure. White oak would be just fine on its own, since it is much more rot resistant than red oak. Otherwise, use a clear deck finish, they never last very long anyway.

Re: Finish for exterior oak

#4

Re: Finish for exterior oak

Ernie Miller Topeka

>Build it out of white oak and just add a couple coats of BLO. I made an English garden bench a couple years ago and it is just starting to weather to a nice grey. it has some protection from the weather as it sits under an eve but it shows no sign of rot. Even if left expesed it shoule last 5-7 years easily.

Re: Finish for exterior oak

#5

Re: Finish for exterior oak

Alan Hamilton

>Cooper,

I'll second--or third--the idea that white oak is so durable and rot resistant that you don't really have to do anything to it for it to last. In the environs where white oak is, or used to be abundant, it was often used to make the sills for houses. I've seen examples where the sill was simply laid on the ground; and the white oak still lasted half a century or more--untreated, no less.

Alan

Re: Finish for exterior oak

#6

Thanks

cooper suter

>

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