outdoor finishing WIP

Hi guys,

Over the last few months I've been trying to find the perfect outdoor finish for furniture, and I think i'm narrowing it down.

My criteria is for reasonable longevity, easy maintenance (for example ragging over a finish every 6 months is easy maintenance in my opinion, compared to varnishing and having to strip/recoat completely every 12-24 months) and most importantly good looks

my criteria for good looks requires the natural grain to be very visible, no sickly/fake looking pigments, etc, and this is a very subjective one but i like a nice satin sheen.

after some advice from a member on here i have arrived at a simple homebrew of boiled linseed oil and exterior poly, half and half, applied like any off the shelf danish oil (ragged on, wiped off after 10-30 mins, repeat)

application is very easy and the results look awesome so far. I have done a few small pieces of redgum as testers, and it really brings out the natural colour and grain and gives a very smooth and even satin sheen.

What i'm going to do is leave my test pieces out in the sun and elements and periodically check how they are going, posting the results on here.

I have tried a lot of different oils and products over the last few months to try and get the look i want, and nothing has come close to this mix. so it's down to the longevity and suitability for outdoors as the final hurdle.

I will post some pics once the last coat is dry of what the pieces look like now, and i'll dig this thread up in a few months time when they've had some time in the sun.

Which exterior poly did you use ?

bondall.. i had an unopened in the garage.

says it has UV inhibitors, i guess we'll see :D

here are the 'before' pics.

with light behind the camera:

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/5180/p2071294.jpg

and light infront of the camera:

http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/3838/p2071295.jpg

they'll be sitting outside and i guess i'll see how they weather, but i'll be happy if the finish holds its look for 3-6 months before needing a rag over with some more mixture.

Nice looking finish, time will tell the tale. :)

Hi Corgan,
Can you explain what does boiling linseed oil do, and how hard would poly mixed with oil be after it's dryed.
Today i visited a woodcrafter and he suggested using boiled linseed oil as well with a hardner mixed in for my redgum table.

Cheers
Ken

boiled linseed oil is available in bottles just like raw linseed, my understanding is that it has driers added to it- not that it's physically boiled.

the finish doesnt form a thick/hard film as you wipe it off thoroughly before it gets too tacky after each coat. cant say much more there are plenty more experienced with this type of finish than me

Thanks for the reply corgan
Cheers