Clear Finish for exterior use

[machone]

I have made a couple of horse name boards from a piece of American white oak. I’ve sanded them and really like the colour. However, I have used yacht varnish before and this gives a yellow finish making it look a bit like pine.

Any recommendations for rough use finish that will keep the nice Gandalf the grey colour?

thanks

 

[TheTiddles]

If you want it to grey.... isn’t it no finish at all?
Aidan

 

[machone]

With all the damp and dirt I think it probably needs something or it’ll split.

 

[machone]

Any other suggestions? I have just used oil & varnish on this one but it looks very different & I still like the light colour pre-treatment.

 

[sometimewoodworker]

I have made a couple of horse name boards from a piece of American white oak. I’ve sanded them and really like the colour. However, I have used yacht varnish before and this gives a yellow finish making it look a bit like pine.

Any recommendations for rough use finish that will keep the nice Gandalf the grey colour?

thanks

Virtually the only finishes that don’t give a yellow tone are water based ones, so that’s what you need to look for

 

[Cabinetman]

But the water-based ones won’t stand up to outdoor treatment, I don’t think you will find what you are looking for I’m sorry to say. Cuprinol type finishes are likely to last longest but probably not the look you wanted.

 

[machone]

Ok, thanks. Went for Danish oil then epiphanes gloss in the end. Very different look but should hold up. Still interested in finding a finish that preserves the ‘unfinished’ looks and colour of white oak. Will look for water based and do some experiments.

 

[TheTiddles]

I think you’re chasing your tail here.

Unfinished oak will look like unfinished oak, go grey and probably last a long time.

Finished oak will look like finished oak, eventually go grey and probably last a long time.

What look are you actually after?

Aidan

 

[Woody2Shoes]

I have made a couple of horse name boards from a piece of American white oak. I’ve sanded them and really like the colour. However, I have used yacht varnish before and this gives a yellow finish making it look a bit like pine.

Any recommendations for rough use finish that will keep the nice Gandalf the grey colour?

thanks

A water based finish should minimise yellow discolouration. But as already said, won't be longlasting. Why not just save effort and let the timber weather naturally?

 

[sometimewoodworker]

A water based finish should minimise yellow discolouration. But as already said, won't be longlasting.

Why should a water based exterior polyurethane not last a similar time to an oil based exterior polyurethane? A spar varnish like Epifanes is in a different category sure and will probably last longer but all exterior finishes have a shorter life and need renewal quite often (every year or five depending on the strength of sun exposure and film thickness).

 

[machone]

This is the look/colour I am after but if I leave it outside it will look like that for about a week, whereas with varnish it looks very different but with a few coats will stay like that for years, after a wipe down with a wet cloth!

 

[sometimewoodworker]

This is the look/colour I am after but if I leave it outside it will look like that for about a week, whereas with varnish it looks very different but with a few coats will stay like that for years, after a wipe down with a wet cloth!

Perfect use for a water based finish.

 

[Droogs]

Believe it or not but a spray can of Halfords car laquer is what you are after. It has lots of UV filtering to help prevent colour fade on a car and if you give it just a coule of light feather coats the board wont be too glossy

 

[Cabinetman]

Believe it or not but a spray can of Halfords car laquer is what you are after. It has lots of UV filtering to help prevent colour fade on a car and if you give it just a coule of light feather coats the board wont be too glossy

Well that’s wonderful if it’s going to work Droogs, will it stand up to outdoors weather?

 

[Droogs]

Does your car? Its what is the clear coat on your car

 

[baldkev]

Plus 1 for droogs suggestion, but also, osmo do white tinted oils which limit the yellowing. The more ciats you build up, the whiter it'll get, but 2 or 3 usually works well. They do samples for 3 quid, a little pouch of the oil to test

 

[Cabinetman]

Does your car? Its what is the clear coat on your car

Yes but my car isn’t made of wood, will it stand the movement slight though it will be?

 

[baldkev]

I would think a plasticote laquer would be slightly flexible, but even sadolin exterior clearcoat cracks after a couple of years

https://www.toolstation.com/plastik...7wIVDNTtCh0gHQu8EAQYAiABEgLv4PD_BwE#full-desc

 

[Droogs]

Yes but my car isn’t made of wood, will it stand the movement slight though it will be?

yes it will fine. I have done a fair few things for outside and never had a problem. you will be very surprised at how much the panels on a car will expand and contract just in the course of a hot summers day with no effect on the paint coatings

 

[machone]

Will give it a go next time, thanks.