water seal on wooden things

You'd do about as well with linseed oil.

Many (most?) of the proprietary sealers are linseed oil, thinner and a bit of wax (the wax is what makes the water bead). Some include a bit of clay.

I'd go with Penofin. It has served me well.

Thompson's only lasts a year. Is this one better?

I get a couple of years from it and it has good UV protection.

One of the most important aspects of protecting your furniture is to know w hat kind of weather you will be dealing with. Someone who lives in Arizona won't necessary need a water sealant, but may want to more heavily consider painting his furniture to protect it from the sun. A person living in New Jersey, however, may want to consider the water sealant. Most people know t he weather in their area, so be sure to acquire the furniture protection yo u will actually need. A good way to protect your outdoor wooden furniture i s varnish. Visit your local home store and look at your options. Different varnishes do exist, so be sure to acquire an outdoor varnish that is right for you. Again, like the water sealer, this will maintain the look of your furniture's wood, but won't protect it as well as paint. Also, with varnish , be sure to reapply a coat at least every few years to maintain its streng th. Get more information