Weatherizing wooden wagon.

IaGary · Oct 23, 2009

I bought a wooden high wheel running gear. I plan to built a wood box to put on it and put it on display in the yard.

Looks like it was originally painted a red color but has faded to bare wood. It has been stored inside for many many years and is in excellent shape.

What should I put on it to preserve the wood from the elements? I don't think I want to put paint on it. I would like to leave it naturally looking wood.

Deere Scotty · Oct 23, 2009

I would not use Thompson Water sealant. Its the first thing You think of when it comes to wood preserving. Consumer reports ran an article some years ago, & said it rated at, or near the bottom on quality, & durabilty. It took me by suprise just because I wasnt expecting such a low rating, & being a higher $ Product.

Scotty

Dave in Tx · Oct 23, 2009

Maybe spray with several coats of satin polyurethane. Deere Scotty is right about the Thompsons. Maybe you can store it at my place cause it never rains here. I can have my son Kevin pick it up, he lives in CR. jk. I really don't know what would be best. Is it made out of oak??

Dave

Anonymous-0 · Oct 23, 2009

I like to use lindseed oil, but it does darken it quite a bit. Will lighten a bit over time. I've used it for years and it does do a good job. You could put a bit on the underside to try it and see if you would be satisfied. Are you sure you want to put a wagon that good outside?

omahagreg · Oct 23, 2009

I find that Thompsons is just water, not worth the price. I use Total Wood Preservative. It comes in clear, but also has colors if you want a tint. It is SO thin that I find using a cheap garden sprayer, the kind that you pump up and spray, works real well-just don't expect it to work again, as the mineral spirits mess with the o rings in them. I usually spray my stuff every spring, as it does seem to not last real long. Greg

IaGary · Oct 23, 2009

The only reason for buying it was for decor.

If I am going to leave it in the shed I didn't to buy it.

Just like this H I bought last spring. Thought I needed a H, it was cheap and I bought it. Now it sets in the shed and does nothing. I think I may sell it to someone who will run it.

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keh · Oct 23, 2009

Gary,

If you want to keep the natural color of the wood you could use marine spar varnish. It's expensive but should last 2-3 years before needing a new coat. You could also get new light weight motor oil and oil the wood before putting it together which won't change the color of the wood much. You could make it from red cedar. You could also make it from treated lumber, being careful to paint the steel where it is in contact with the treated lumber. The running gear, if it's wood, needs preserving also.
Good luck on the corn harvest.

KEH

super99 · Oct 23, 2009

I'll probably get flamed for this, but if it was mine, I would paint it with used motor oil. It will darken the wood, but will lighten up over time. Wood soaks up the oil, oil and water don't mix. I have done hay racks like this and the water will stand on the boards instead of soaking in. Rain all day yesterday and still raining today in NW Ill. Chris

oleblu · Oct 23, 2009

From a woodworkers standpoint, I'd use a product that penetrates the wood, such as tung oil or linseed oil, etc. After a year or two, or three, the wood will start to look "dry". Just reapply more "oil" and you are good to go.
Any finish that is designed to stay on the surface will sooner or later start to peel off. Then you will need to REMOVE the old finish to start over. That's a pain for a project such as yours.

Dean in iowa · Oct 23, 2009

I have a wood wagon that I restored. Use Bulls Eye shellac. It comes in clear or amber color. It seals the wood and brings out the natural wood color. I used the amber color and made the wood look beautiful.

thurlow · Oct 23, 2009

I see you've taken the fellow from NE as a mentor and haul them red tractors without tying 'em down; gasp, gasp, wring hands.........oh, the horror, the danger.

Lumpy · Oct 23, 2009

Gary, My dad swears by boiled linseed oil. Just brush on a good heavy coat and let it soak in. How much for the "H"?

John Harmon · Oct 23, 2009

Thompsons Wood Seal penetrates the best of any over the counter wood preservative i've ever tried. Being stored many years you can guess the moisture content of the wood,zero if any so a deep penetration of the tratment would be best. Give it many coats of prservative or your old wagon will melt down. Many years ago i had the same situation with an old "Formhals" wagon built at Ottawa ILL where I lived and I gave it an original paint color job with over the counter paint. Might as well saved the effort. So after the paint had dried I went over all the wood with some kind of crack sealer for wood and then painted it 3 coats of Rustoleum and the cracks in the wood still opened up so I put the wagon back in the barn where it still rests in all it's "painted" glory with a good dust coating .It is hard to stop mother natures program of return to earth . Thompson's and many coats of it is my recommendation.JH

flying belgian · Oct 23, 2009

I have a wooden wagon on display in my yard. It also came from a shed. I bought it 14 years ago. I first coated it with linseed oil which lasted about 2 years. Then another coat of linseed oil and another 2 years Then tried a marine varnish which lasted about 5 years. Nothing since then. Now after 14 years the wheels facing north are starting to deteriorate. Looks like they will last another 10 years before they fall apart completely. So I am going to do nothing and throw it away when completely shot. Figure I got my $$ worth out of it. By the way they look nice in a state of disrepair too. You have seen paintings of old farm sites and fence rows with dilapitated buildings and old junk farm equip. People pay big money for those paintings so it must appeal to some folks. So in that line of thinking mine will probably look good for another 75 years after which it will just be a pile of wood mulch on display. Nothing wrong with that either.

John Harmon · Oct 23, 2009

Consider your self Flamed. Motor oil is a hazard any where except in an engine. My opinion and not open to critisizim.JH

Anonymous-0 · Oct 23, 2009

I have a couple yard ornaments with old wood (one's a walk behind plow with wood handles) and I brush the wood a couple times a year with used motor oil. The oil soaks into the wood, I don't see how it's an "environmental hazard"- flowers grow under and around them just fine. However this causes the wood to become darker color and not what I'd use on a more valuable project, like this wagon. These will only get more rare and valuable over time is my guess. We have a friend with a wood spoke running gear in her yard and she's letting it go to nothing. I think it's a shame- it would be nice to know the individual stories behind these things.

ChrisLSD · Oct 23, 2009

IF YOU WANT IT TO LAST FOREVER, you could coat the whole thing with a penetrating epoxy - it soaks in, then turns hard - makes the wood stronger, stiffer, and it won't decompose - this is what they use to make sailboats, repair old wood boats, etc....... BUT depending on how many of the pieces you want to do this would cost anywhere from $100 to $1000, so I guess it really comes down to how long do you want it to last?
I have used some of the Low V stuff before

jwal10 · Oct 23, 2009

Gary, I always painted the iron and used boiled linseed over everything on my Sheepherders wagon, If left out here in Oregon it would need a small roof over the wagon and make sure the wheels were up off the dirt. If it was a real nice one I would have a hard time leaving it out in the elements during the winter. What you need is an early rubber tired wagon for the H so you can use it for hay rides, then a couple of horses for this wagon to take the grand kids out to show them how GreatGrandpa did it. Oh you would need some harness too, oil it good too. Neatsfoot oil....Smile....James

Charles Santhuff · Oct 23, 2009

Build a nice looking open sided shed to shelter the wagon while it is on display. Would be a shame to set it out in the weather after it was protected for many years.

sotxbill · Oct 23, 2009

Saw the report.. However, later reports bumped it up to number 2.. so they must have fixed the old "wax" formula with a new one.

jwal10 · Oct 23, 2009

Gary, Gary, Gary, Remember why you bought that H, It tugged at your heart strings. It was a good buy, so now you just need to enjoy it. A little plow, 2 row equipment, mounted cultivator, just like the old times? Now you remember!....Smile. I got to thinking (trouble I know) I used that log cabin sealer on the peeled Douglas fir posts on my front porch at the cabin, it looks as good today as it did the first day, no water spots even. I just spray it on every year with an old wagner sprayer. I used it on the old barn board siding on the cabin to seal up the fresh cuts, I really like the look, it brought out the grain in the new cuts and seals the old barn wood nicely. Just a thought....James

jwal10 · Oct 23, 2009

Here is what I used, Gold tone light....James

http://p4.hostingprod.com/@ozarkloghomes.com/transform.html

jwal10 · Oct 23, 2009

Sorry,

http://www.ozarkloghomes.com/trlogst5ga.html

HENRY E NC · Oct 23, 2009

After reading the posts I would sure not advise using Marine or Spar varnish. I had boats for 30 years and founf out lots about varnish. One of the worst things is it flakes off eventually and before recoating must be sanded, scrapes etc or it looks terrible. There are many stains available that penetrate and do not flake. I put it on my wagon floor 4 years ago and it is still like new and sits out all the time. Find a good cabin stain. it can be recoated in 5 or 6 years and looks fresh Henry

farmerjohn · Oct 24, 2009

I have seen many wood wagons, etc rotting away in peoples yards and I always feel what a shame to waste history. I say keep it inside an open shed so you can see it, but everyone has the right to do what they want with their money and stuff so have fun. My 2 cents.

Weatherizing wooden wagon.

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