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Treating wood for outside use

GunStreetGirlGunStreetGirl Posts: 62
in Problem solving
Hello everyone. I am hoping to turn some cot rails into trellis for the garden. Obviously they are not made for outdoor use, so I'm looking for product recommendations really. I'm assuming I would have to sand away the varnish before using a sealant of some kind? Never done anything like this, but thought it would be a lovely use of my kids cotbed.
Thanks.

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Sand and stain - certainly sand thoroughly.
    Paint would do as well, but stain lasts longer, although it's dearer. Doesn't need doing so often though. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • GunStreetGirlGunStreetGirl Posts: 62
    @Fairygirl wouldnt it need some kid of waterproofing treatment, before a wood stain?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited November 2020
    No - the stain is waterproof. You need to do a two or three coats of it. 
    I've become a convert to it  :)


    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Big Blue SkyBig Blue Sky Posts: 716
    Sorry about the off top, @Fairygirl what is the purpose of that green net in your miniature pond please? I’ve seen them before in other people’s ponds but never had a chance to ask...
    Surrey
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited November 2020
    It's just to stop anything falling in @Big Blue Sky. It's a little extra pond purely for the water lily, so I don't want any wildlife getting in and being stuck, as it's about fifteen inches deep. The wires are attached to the underside of the surround, and it stays in place by using some dowels which are fixed into the corner posts. No screw holes showing on top then   ;)
    It also allows me to remove it easily to attend to the lily

    Dave the pigeon likes to have a drink out of it though - almost goes headfirst through the wires  :D


    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Big Blue SkyBig Blue Sky Posts: 716
    edited November 2020
    Thank you @Fairygirl , makes sense 😊👍
    your miniature pond looks amazing - mine is just an old water butt with the top half cut off 😅
    Surrey
  • InglezinhoInglezinho Posts: 568
    Creosote then boat varnish.
    Everyone likes butterflies. Nobody likes caterpillars.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Varnish of any kind just gets stripped off here with the weather  :)
    The edging is a bit wider than I wanted @Big Blue Sky, but wood of any kind was in short supply this year when I needed it. A minor problem considering the situation  :)
    The other pond wasn't really sunny enough for the lily, so I decided to have another project.  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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