Trailer wood

[Rob Mo.]

This may not be an implement to some but it is vital our operation. I built a 16’ trailer in high school, just cuz I didn’t want to always borrow the neighbors trailer all the time. It was a good idea since we hauled hay out of the field with it all the time & in the winter, I would sell cedar logs to a mill not far away. Back then, the deck of the trailer was red oak. While not a desirable piece of timber, I didn’t want to pay a treated lumber price at the time, nor do I want to now. The trailer has been restored & again I have a red oak to deck it with. Question is what can I put on the wood to get it to last for years to come?

 

[old]

Used motor oil thinned with diesel fuel. Lots of it and many coats and even better if you can soak them in the mix for a few weeks

 

[Bret4207]

Red Oak soaks up moisture like crazy. I don't know what to recommend, but you need to do both sides and the edges and the ends. Thinned pine tar might be a start. Old oil can help. Keeping it covered is probably the best idea, even if it's old tin roofing when it's not being used. I built a trailer bed out of Red Oak and it was a waste of effort int he end. Wish I'd used something else, like locust, tammarck or white oak.

 

[Michael Soldan]

I have my own formula for wood protection. I used boiled linseed oil and varsol in a 50/50 mix and I dissolve a block of parafin wax into it. The paraffin is tricky , you have to melt it and slowly stir in varsol,once it starts to blend you can stir in the rest of the varsol. You can't add wax to the varsol or it solidifies. I apply this to our hay wagons ,my deck at the cottage as well as the stairs to the beach. With wagons or trailer throw a handful of sand over the decking so it is not slippery when wet. I have one wagon that is over 20 years old that still looks like new. You can make this preservative for about half the cost of Thompson s water seal.

 

[ASG]

I know several guys that used pine in the 1960s to build wagons and never treated them. They are as good today as they were when new; it helps a lot that they are stored under a roof and rarely sit outside. If you are restoring the wagon, my recommendation would be to store it inside.

 

[grayrider]

That’s what I do, I use diesel fuel mixed with used motor oil and I like to do it on a sunny day , seems like it soaks in better on hot sunny days

 

[C.Amick]

Where do you buy the boiled linseed oil and varsol? I assume you buy large containers

 

[showcrop]

I use the used motor oil too, but I don't thin it. I put it on when the temperature is above 75 degrees and in the sun. It soaks in quickly and doesn't drip off.

 

[Bret4207]

(quoted from post at 21:54:34 11/18/20) Where do you buy the boiled linseed oil and varsol? I assume you buy large containers

Boiled linseed oil should be available at any place that sells paint. "Varsol" is Canuck for mineral spirits or paint thinner IIRC. I think it's short for varnish solvent.

 

[Michael Soldan]

Boiled Linseed oil and Varsol( paint thinner) are available in gallon jugs

 

[gmcdeadhead]

did you ever consider looking into using that composite decking? it would last practically your lifetime and the maintenance would be minimal