Hello,

We have just built a garden gate out of mahogany. I have been searching the
archives for the group, and there seems to be a number of options for
finishing. I am a newbie, so I would appreciate help figuring out the best
option. We live in Houston, so we don't have snow but we do have a lot of
rain.

Here is what I have pulled up as potential finishes:

do nothing -- let it age
tung oil
water sealer
polyurethane

I don't mind letting it weather to a silver finish, but after all this work,
I would like it to last for at least 20 years.

Thanks!!

Doreen

"Golden Christmas Girl" wrote in message
We have just built a garden gate out of mahogany.
Here is what I have pulled up as potential finishes:


You can also use Penofin oil. It has UV inhibitors and is for outdoor use.
Makes the mahogany a very rich color. I used it on a bench and tables I
made this years.

If you go the polyurethane route, use a spar version such as Minwax
Helmsman. It has UV inhibitors and remains more flexible.

On Tue, 21 Dec 2004 00:55:16 GMT, "Golden Christmas Girl"
wrote:


I don't mind letting it weather to a silver finish, but after all this work,
I would like it to last for at least 20 years.

This is GREAT stuff:
http://www.ppg.com/ppgaf/olympic/maxhome.htm

A local cedar furniture and pergola maker
http://www.baldwinlawnfurniture.com/
uses it exclusively, as he has for years. I tried it last year when
refinishing some wooden spa sides, and it truly is nice stuff.
According to the factory owner who recommended it, the tinted offers
much better UV protection than the clear version. He did not sell the
product when he recommended it to me. I get the stuff from a local
paint store.

This guy has a LOT of furniture out there, and claims his customers
never complain about the protection and ease of recoating the Olympic
Maximum product.

Test on scrap!

Barry

Golden Christmas Girl wrote:
Hello,

We have just built a garden gate out of mahogany. I have been
searching the
archives for the group, and there seems to be a number of options for

finishing. I am a newbie, so I would appreciate help figuring out
the best
option. We live in Houston, so we don't have snow but we do have a
lot of
rain.

Here is what I have pulled up as potential finishes:

do nothing -- let it age
tung oil
water sealer
polyurethane

I don't mind letting it weather to a silver finish, but after all
this work,
I would like it to last for at least 20 years.

Thanks!!

Doreen

On Tue, 21 Dec 2004 00:55:16 GMT, "Golden Christmas Girl"
wrote:

Hello,

We have just built a garden gate out of mahogany. I have been searching the
archives for the group, and there seems to be a number of options for
finishing. I am a newbie, so I would appreciate help figuring out the best
option. We live in Houston, so we don't have snow but we do have a lot of
rain.

Here is what I have pulled up as potential finishes:

do nothing -- let it age
tung oil
water sealer
polyurethane

I don't mind letting it weather to a silver finish, but after all this work,
I would like it to last for at least 20 years.

Thanks!!

Doreen

Spar varnish. I don't think mahogany would stand up worth a darn
outdoors if it weren't protected.

--RC




Projects expand to fill the clamps available -- plus 20 percent

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:

If you go the polyurethane route, use a spar version such as Minwax
Helmsman. It has UV inhibitors and remains more flexible.

I don't recommend this. I put this on a mystery far eastern hardwood bench.
It looked great the first year, but started to crack. The cracks let the
wood age. I stripped it, re-did it for the second year. It looked great
except where the wood had aged. Then it cracked again, and more wood
aged. So I stripped it and re-did it for the third year. It looked great
except where the wood had aged. So I stripped it and said the hell with
it, and let all of the wood weather.

I'd look into some of that "real spar varnish" the boat builder types keep
talking about. This Helmsman stuff ain't it.

--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/
http://rosegarden.sourceforge.net/tutorial/

"Silvan" wrote in message
I don't recommend this. I put this on a mystery far eastern hardwood
bench.
It looked great the first year, but started to crack. The cracks let the
wood age. I stripped it, re-did it for the second year. It looked great
except where the wood had aged. Then it cracked again, and more wood
aged. So I stripped it and re-did it for the third year. It looked great
except where the wood had aged. So I stripped it and said the hell with
it, and let all of the wood weather.

I'd look into some of that "real spar varnish" the boat builder types keep
talking about. This Helmsman stuff ain't it.

It has kept my oak rockers in great shape for five years so far, the cypress
bench is perfect after three. Maybe the mystery wood moves more than most?

Edwin Pawlowski wrote:

I'd look into some of that "real spar varnish" the boat builder types
keep
talking about. This Helmsman stuff ain't it.

It has kept my oak rockers in great shape for five years so far, the
cypress
bench is perfect after three. Maybe the mystery wood moves more than
most?

Or gets more sun? Mine is in full sun, out in the yard. I don't think wood
movement could account for where and how the finish kept failing. Nor
could butt rivet damage, for that matter.

--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/
http://rosegarden.sourceforge.net/tutorial/