Hey everyone! I'm diving into woodworking as a beginner and I've got a question about finishes for a planter I'm making. I'm planning to use the yakisugi technique to treat the wood, and I'm considering sealing the boards with linseed oil. However, living in a humid, subtropical climate, I want to make sure it stands up to the elements. I was thinking about adding a layer of Minwax water-based spar urethane on the outside for extra protection against sun and moisture. I know yakisugi provides some level of protection, but since it can deteriorate over time, I'm looking for some insurance. Have any of you tried this combination? I'd love your insights and suggestions, thanks!
2 Answers
While spar urethane has been my go-to, I've found it doesn't hold up as well as you'd hope. It can crack over time, letting moisture in, and then you might deal with rotting wood underneath. I used to keep my railings looking good with regular reapplications, but they still suffered from water damage eventually. If you can really soak the wood with linseed oil, it could last a lot longer, but that takes quite a bit of oil!
I'm not a fan of using linseed oil outdoors because it tends to get moldy and gathers dirt. Spar urethanes are a much better choice for protecting wood in harsh conditions.
That's interesting! I thought the linseed oil could work if it's treated properly. Do you think there's any way to use it without mold issues?
I only plan to apply it on the outside, away from the plants. I was thinking of thinning the spar urethane a bit so it seeps into the wood better. Do you think that approach could help?