"Chris" wrote in message
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Anybody have experience using solar lux on exterior projects? I know
someone who had an ipe bench made and asked for a solar lux stain because
they like the color. They also asked that no sealer coat be applied as
they believed it would be easier to restain in the future if needed. Today
while raining they tried to install the bench and got stain all over their
hands, even though it was dry when inside. Any ideas on what will be the
best course of action now?
It sounds like it needed a sealer, but now when it dries if it's smudged
then what would be the easiest approach? Ipe would not be to easy to soak
stain into in the 1st place as it's so oily & dense.


Ipe is extremely dense and oily. Stains probably are not going to penetrate
like they will in a softer wood like OAK. Out doors you are looking at
refinishing every 2 or 3 years regardless of what finish you are going to
use.

Out doors in sun light Ipe will eventually turn to a silvery grey like most
all woods. To keep that color you are going to have to work on it every
year or two.

Ipe will do fine for 50 years outdoors with no protection but the color will
change. Resanding or revarnishing with a tinted varnish will probably be
the only way to keep it looking new. The suns rays have a devastating
effect on most any finish.