Finish for a garden bench

[Jack Fearnley]

I have just completed a garden bench and need to finish it in a suitable manner. It is built of a South American hardwood (extremely hard!) and is very light in colour. Lighter than maple.

I would like the grain of the wood to show through but would prefer a darker shade. It looks quite good when it is wet.

We live in Montreal so it will be exposed to strong sunlight and harsh winters.

I tried Sikkens Cetol 1re teak on a test piece. A one coat application looks OK but the recommended two coat application looks like plastic.

I would welcome any suggestions you may have. I would hate to create a plastic monstrosity. On the other hand I would not want to be finishing it again this time next year.

You can see a picture of the bench on the cover of Fine Woodworking No.

198 of June 2008.

Best regards, Jack Fearnley

[Ed Pawlowski]

I've had good results with Penofin Oil, bad luck with Cetol.

[Jack Fearnley]

Ed Pawlowski replied

I've had good results with Penofin Oil, bad luck with Cetol.

Thanks Ed, I'll look into that. I guess that's an oil finish rather than a film/varnish finish? I think I would prefer an oil finish but am a bit confused about the alternatives.

Jack Fearnley

[Ed Pawlowski]

Yes, it is oil. Easy to apply and pretty good UV protection.

I built a chaise lounge with cypress and painted it with Cetol. Couple of years later it was rotting away.

I do have a bench with Helmsman poly that is holding up well, but it is never in the sun.

[Lew Hodgett]

-------------------------------------------------------------- Check out Epifanes at Jamestown Distributors.

Lew

[Jack Fearnley]

Thanks Ed and Lew. I have found a Montreal distributor for Penofin Oil, so I will look into that. Epifanes only seems to have one location in Canada and it's way north of Toronto.

Best Regards, Jack Fearnley

[Lew Hodgett]

----------------------------------------------------------- Check for a marine chandlery.

Got to be at least one in Montreal.

Lew

[Jack Fearnley]

----------------------------------------------------------- Check for a marine chandlery.

Got to be at least one in Montreal.

Lew

------------------------------------------------------------ Absolutely right! there's one within a mile of my place. I looked in and, sure enough, they stock Epifanes.

However, I think I'll pursue the oil alternative. Thanks anyway.

Jack