Thread: how to preserve old sleeper?

When you are planing down, when you start to see solid timber , you will know you are through the worst of the weathered timber, which is what you are really looking at,.

When you start to see colour then you are through the worst, If you still have deep checking, then I would consider filling these with EPOXY Resin , without any fillers, to leave it clear .

I would do 1 side at a time, and clamp a board to each side ( coat with packing tape to avoid sticking to the epoxy), then work from there.

Jeff

Originally Posted by vk4

THEN COAT WITH A COMMERCIAL WOOD REPRESENTATIVE.

The wood representative may not think this is a suitable use of his person

some times you have to be cruel,.

I missed the spelling error.

I did mean PRESERVATIVE


Jeff
VK4

Hi All,

I've plane the top layer off and the wood looks to be ok, it doesn't look to be sleeper, will post a pic later. so now I will need some sort of external varnish to protect the top surface only. have been to bunning and got recommended to use cabot's exterior clear(oil based), so it could penetrate deeper to last longer, but when I read up on the fine print, it says Not suitable for walk on area and outdoor furniture, so now I'm not quite sure. any suggestion?
and another bunning staff recommend to use water based instead for furniture.

I also bought some wood filler for those deep checking, might swap for epoxy resin for the clear look, but I think epoxy resin are much more expensive.

Thanks for the help.
Cheers

Originally Posted by aquanow

Hi All,

I've plane the top layer off and the wood looks to be ok, it doesn't look to be sleeper, will post a pic later. so now I will need some sort of external varnish to protect the top surface only. have been to bunning and got recommended to use cabot's exterior clear(oil based), so it could penetrate deeper to last longer, but when I read up on the fine print, it says Not suitable for walk on area and outdoor furniture, so now I'm not quite sure. any suggestion?
and another bunning staff recommend to use water based instead for furniture.

I also bought some wood filler for those deep checking, might swap for epoxy resin for the clear look, but I think epoxy resin are much more expensive.

Thanks for the help.
Cheers

Perhaps the best approach would be to go to an independent paint shop who sells nothing but paint. Thay have a much more vested interest in selling you the correct product/ As well, it would be a good idea to do for all products what you have done with the Cabots product: read the imanufacturers instructions and advice on the can, combine both these and you are unlikely to have a product that will not do the job properly.
As for the epoxy or other filler, if one side is cleaner than the other, invert and use other side as underneath side. Only use a filler of some sort if absolutely necessary, and again take advice from a paint shop.
It would be recommended to paint ALL sides, as water and the eleme nts will still get underneath, so for the small additional cost you will preserve the whole.