OT: Preserving Wood

[Ben Arown-Awile]

I'm putting together a utility trailer kits from Harbor Freight and plan to put in a plywood floor and wood stake and strip siding. I'm not sure how to treat the wood. I don't want to paint it, and to sand and use spar varnish is more work that I want to do. What if I use the sealer for decks and fences like Thompson's Water Sealer? Opinions?

 

[ddean]

I don't know,
but I think.......

I hope that should work,
I bought just that to spray down a couple of wood ladders
that sometimes get left in the rain.

otoh,, don't bother with sanding at all
& spray light multiple coats of a tough clear finish
that's been thinned down.
(Walosi-fy it....just a little sanding.....)
I'm going to use a 2-gallon size pump-up sprayer for the ladders.

Would a urathane be better than varnish for this use?

Be sure to double seal the edges of the plywood;
then do it ahgain,
water will wick right thru the laminate
& the surface treatment won't much matter.
Would a layout of 2x# work for this floor?


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[Kismet]

Hey Ben,

Price check, but there is a variety of MARINE plywood available. Also used to be various grades of plywood, one being OUTSIDE grade. Don't remember the coding, something like A/A, A/B for various uses. Might be a thing of the past with particle board in such use.

Also, might be more cost efficient just to use junk and replace it every few years.

Watchoutforslivers

 

[Ben Arown-Awile]

..there is a variety of MARINE plywood available. Also used to be various grades of plywood, one being OUTSIDE grade. Don't remember the coding, something like A/A, A/B for various uses. Might be a thing of the past with particle board in such use.
Also, might be more cost efficient just to use junk and replace it every few years.

I built my little fishing pram out of marine plywood and fiberglass. The glue is waterproof so the layers won't de-laminate, but the wood layers are not waterproof. It still has to be protected or finished somehow.

You can still get plywood with exterior grade glues, but better surfaced grades like A-C are harder to find and pretty expensive compared to what they used to be. This, or 3/4 marine was what I was planning on using, but 2" planking is beginning to sound pretty good.

I went to Home Depot this morning to check out prices and couldn't even find any decent materials. What they sell as construction grade is what I used to call firewood. Their hardwood was nice though, but 1x3x3/4 red oak was $1.50 a linear foot. I ended up buying a couple cans of Rustoleum spray paint that matches my truck and I will repaint the red trailer frame. That will keep me busy until I can track down some decent wood that I can afford.

You are right, it might be cheaper to use junk and replace it, but as time goes on it gets more difficult for me to do those kinds of projects so if I can get to done once I feel lucky.

 

[Ben Arown-Awile]

..Would a urathane be better than varnish for this use?
Be sure to double seal the edges of the plywood...

Most modern varnishes are urethane. I think the name "Spar Varnish" is just traditional, but they are really poly-urethane plastic coatings.

You are sure right about sealing the edges. I have some fiberglass, resin, filler, and tape left over from a boatbuilding project and I figured I'd try that.

What usually happens with my projects is they get so complicated and costly that I could have gone and bought one commercially made for a cheaper price.

 

[Dave Rishar]

Use the cheapest wood and sealant you can. Apply plenty of sealant. On a trailer, I don't think that the differences between good plywood/sealant and bad plywood/sealant in terms of lifespan would justify the cost.

If you're going to be out in the western WA area in the next month, send me an email. I can hook you up with some interior plywood for free but you haul.

 

[ddean]

What usually happens with my projects is they get so complicated and costly that I could have gone and bought one commercially made for a cheaper price.

I can definitely identify with that.
Almost every project I start.

otoh, get a lot of pleasure (! and frustration !)
out of doing it myself.


~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
<>call me 'Dean' -FYI-FWIW-IIRC-JMO-M2C-YMMV-TIA-YW-GL-HH-HBD-IBSCUTWS-TWotBGUaDUaDUaD
<> Tips <> Baha'i Prayers Links--A--T--H--D

 

[arty]

I would recommend either a good exterior paint or an oil based stain-sealer. I have read that clear sealers like Thompson's won't work too well on wood for exterior projects.

I just made a step for the patio and used Olympic Maximum tinted waterproofing sealer. I hope the stuff lasts.