Durable finish for exterior wood sign.

[Nick]

It's late and I can't sleep. Been to our daughters wedding today, that's a
reason, not an excuse.

I'm making a house sign for the newly weds home. This will be exposed to the
elements.
Made of solid oak. Fretsaw cut lettering applied to a solid base board.
Intention is to stain the base dark and leave the lettering natural -ish.
Any recs please for a durable and low maintenance clear finish for the
completed sign?
Thanks,
Nick.

 

[bm]

It's late and I can't sleep. Been to our daughters wedding today, that's a
reason, not an excuse.

I'm making a house sign for the newly weds home. This will be exposed to
the elements.
Made of solid oak. Fretsaw cut lettering applied to a solid base board.
Intention is to stain the base dark and leave the lettering natural -ish.
Any recs please for a durable and low maintenance clear finish for the
completed sign?
Thanks,
Nick.

And the text "I told her not to do it"?

 

[Brian Gaff]

Well, I don't know about Oak but a neighbour has one made from an unknown
wood and did it with Polyurethane varnish. I do have my doubts though if the
stuff will crack as the wood ages and moves.
Brian

 

[Jim K]

It's late and I can't sleep. Been to our daughters wedding today, that's a
reason, not an excuse.

I'm making a house sign for the newly weds home. This will be exposed to the
elements.
Made of solid oak. Fretsaw cut lettering applied to a solid base board.
Intention is to stain the base dark and leave the lettering natural -ish.
Any recs please for a durable and low maintenance clear finish for the
completed sign?
Thanks,
Nick.

some sort of oil thin enough to penetrate rather than "sit on" the
surface (and then start to peel off eventually).
easy to recoat too just clean up and slap another coat on as required
- no stripping, sanding or titing abt

Osmo?
http://www.osmouk.com/osmocolorexterior.cfm?page=0&chapter=2

there are others about too

Jim K

 

[The Natural Philosopher]

It's late and I can't sleep. Been to our daughters wedding today, that's a
reason, not an excuse.

I'm making a house sign for the newly weds home. This will be exposed to the
elements.
Made of solid oak. Fretsaw cut lettering applied to a solid base board.
Intention is to stain the base dark and leave the lettering natural -ish.
Any recs please for a durable and low maintenance clear finish for the
completed sign?
Thanks,
Nick.

If it oak, nothing at all

 

[The Natural Philosopher]

Well, I don't know about Oak but a neighbour has one made from an unknown
wood and did it with Polyurethane varnish. I do have my doubts though if the
stuff will crack as the wood ages and moves.
Brian

+1
I am all oak exterior wise.
Either resign yourself to it cracking and peeling - sepecailly if it
gets rained on HARD, or simply leave it natural.
a pressure wash in spring cleans off the gunk.

yacht varnish works for a few years.

 

[stuart noble]

The oak in my pergola has managed the past 15 years without any finish
at all applied to it. That is one of the reasons for choosing oak surely?

Colin Bignell

+1

 

[Nick]

And the text "I told her not to do it"?

Not quite. A Latin word that can be construed in a number of ways. The pun
involved is entirely intentional.

 

[Nick]

Well, I don't know about Oak but a neighbour has one made from an unknown
wood and did it with Polyurethane varnish. I do have my doubts though if
the stuff will crack as the wood ages and moves.
Brian

Thanks Brian,
many years ago I was told never to use anything with poly in the name as a
finish for an article that will be subjected to sunlight. Don't know if this
is right or wrong but I've never forgotten it. Haven't used polyurethane
varnish for a very long time.
Nick.

 

[Nick]

some sort of oil thin enough to penetrate rather than "sit on" the
surface (and then start to peel off eventually).
easy to recoat too just clean up and slap another coat on as required
- no stripping, sanding or titing abt

Osmo?
http://www.osmouk.com/osmocolorexterior.cfm?page=0&chapter=2

there are others about too

Thanks Jim,

I have used some Osmo stuff before. It is good but I am probably not up to
speed with current products.Will have a look. Thank you for the link.
Nick.

 

[Nick]

If it oak, nothing at all


--

Yes, it will me made of oak. Applied lettering to a solid base. Theory being
that there should be some distinct contrast between lettering and base. If
left untreated all will quite soon meld together. I normally use tung oil on
oak. Once a day for a week, once a week for a month, once a month for a year
etc. Not the right thing for this though.

 

[Nick]

The oak in my pergola has managed the past 15 years without any finish at
all applied to it. That is one of the reasons for choosing oak surely?

Colin Bignell

After 15 years would you be able to discern any applied lettering that had
been applied at the time of construction?
Nick.

 

[fred]

I didn't stain any of the wood, so I don't know whether the contrast you

are hoping for would still exist. However, unless you are planning to

attach the lettering with oak pegs, it will probably have fallen off

after 15 years. Tannin corrodes most fixings eventually. IMO you would

do better to engrave the lettering and pick it out with paint.



Colin Bignell

I'd just make the second one now