I purchased a M. W. Chase Co antique railroad bench with the back that can flip to face the bench in either direction. The hardware and wood seems to be original with a patent date of 1874. The wood appears to be oak and I sanded it to get rid of some of the scuffs, old finish, & varnish(?) but have left a lot of the old character spots on it, even after sanding. It will be sitting on a covered patio that probably won’t get direct rain or sun anymore, but our South Texas heat and humidity will be culprits. I have used one layer of tung oil on it so far, which has already absorbed and was planning to use a 2nd coat, but I like it’s present color, which the oil may darken a bit. Is a 2nd coat needed even though I’d like to apply a sealer? What would you suggest to seal it that would be suitable for excessive heat & moisture? I’ve had issues w/ polyurethane drying out and getting splotchy white, or peeling w/the heat. I’ve also encountered stickiness on finishes that don’t absorb properly. I’ve read that spar varnish is the best for outdoor furniture. Will that peel or get sticky in this heat? Appreciate any help. Here’s a couple of pics, maybe.
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I used spar varnish on the tiller for my sailboat, about 10 coats. It's a laminated piece.
Anything left outside in the weather will eventually need refinishing, but that's about the best I can think of except for paint, which you surely don't want to contemplate for this piece.
That's a beautiful bench, by the way. Will you take the iron pieces off to apply the finish? That may help delay the onset of more staining of the wood.
PS I used to live in Houston so I'm quite familiar with the two seasons there; hot, wet and miserable, and cold, wet and miserable :) (just kidding, Texas rocks!)
Thanks, Chip. I was going to use spar varnish if no one responded. Happy to know a pro has used the same and recommends it. I hadn't thought about the hardware. Appreciate the tip about removing the hardware. Certainly makes sense. I'll look at it to make sure I can remove/reattach w/o harming the original bolts. The stretchers between the legs are pegged so I will not mess with those at all since they've withstood the tests of time so far. Thanks again. And, the good thing about So Texas weather? Easy on the clothing budget. Shorts/flipflops for 9 months, jacket and closed shoes for the other 3.
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