What's the best oil to use on a slate house name/number sign? So far I've heard suggestions of baby/massage oil, olive oil, linseed oil and mineral oil such as WD40. Which of these is best? Long term, would any of them damage the white paint on the lettering, or the white painted house wall behind if allowed to run onto it.
Try vaseline, which is essentially a thick mineral oil. It will give it a "wet" look which won't be displaced by the rain (unlike linseed, olive, or other vegetable oils).
Ah, that sounds like a good idea. I was prompted to ask by the appearance of a new house number sign which has a 'wet' look, and on close inspection (and touch) the surface appears to be coated with a greasy substance which, now you mention it, is exactly like vaseline.
diesel is quite good.The light fractions evaporate.
Or just use exterior varnish
snake oil - I can sell you some.
Varnish wouldnt pick up crud the way oils do. A dot on the side would check for the wanted result first.
NT
Not sure I like the idea of varnish - it's not pretty when it starts to peel. I was talking to someone who works with slate the other day and they were saying something about putting silicone on it. Anyone had any experience with this?
None seems to have worked fine for the last 30 years on my parents' one (slate from Honister Pass, Lake District).
Yes, yes - I know you *can* use none, but I rather like the darker shiny look they have when they're new, and I know its some kind of oil they apply.
Have a look at the Lithofin site -
There are English pages as well as German.
For a slate floor, indoors, laid several years ago, I wanted to have the appearance of wetness but without a glossed/polished surface - in other words the appearance of slate after it has been dampened but is not so wet that it shines. This involves sealing and intensifying the colour without using a polish or varnish. Personally I hate high gloss finishes on stone floors.
The two products used were MN Stainstop and MN Colour Intensifier. Both are suitable for exterior use as well as interior. The Colour Intensifier will last for a couple of years in terms of raising the colour and about 5 for protection.
Lithofin products are available in the better tile shops and on line. They appear to be expensive but go a very long way. The smallest sizes of 500ml (cost c. £12) would be enough to handle your sign plus those of all the houses in the road probably for a generation. However, if you are planning any projects involving tiling then it is a great grout sealer as well.
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