Most weather resistant clear finish for wood

[jyl]

I have a piece of wood outdoor furniture. After a couple years in Portland rain, the finish failed. Today I started sanding off the finish and will refinish it with . . . What is the clear finish that is most resistant to the elements? Something like marine spar urethane?

[Evans, Marv]

With my limited knowledge of finishes, I would think marine spar urethane would be the best route. I have a wood front door I recovered with it. It gets some weather and sun, and hasn't weathered any that I can see in the three years since I did it.

[sc_rufctr]

POR-15 make a clear coat called Glisten PC.
It's intended for alloy but I've been thinking about using it to refinish some wood trim in my old MB.

It uses a catalyst, cures water clear and it's UV resistant.

[look 171]

Nothing last under the rain and sunshine, even sunshine in Portland.

I really like a penetrating oil like Penofin. I use it on lots of decks and have had great result. Again, I can only speak for socal weather as I have no experience elsewhere. if you are looking for a clear coat, then I would woould look at a finish by General Finishes. I have had great result with all their products. You need a flexible top coat that will expend and contract with the lumber. I have tried marine varhish but we also get the crappy Ca formula (not sure if there's such thing as we almost never use varnish anymore). Boat builders have been using epoxy (can be brushed on) for a long time. It looks a little like plastic, if protection is your priority. We did an exterior kitchen finished with epoxy (I suggested based on their requirement on durability) on all lumber. It was a bit shiny and the owner looooovered it. Myself, not so much. I like oil for a none intense, more calming look.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by afterburn 549

Like said, it is all sacrificial.
Do what us boat people do for maintenance as the redo will be a lot more EZ.
West system epoxy and others make a real thin clear epoxy coat.
Then 5 coats over it with your favorite varnish .
For a better gleam sand between coats.
This will be good for 5 years or more.
Hint-
After two years sand dwn a little ,and add more coats of varnish.
Good for another 3 years.
Repeat every couple years and that way a total strip is not necessary.

The varnish will adhere to the epoxy?

[VincentVega]

Timely thread

What kind of wood? I need to rebuild/repair a few outdoor benches. My initial thought was dimensional cedar but I havent found it locally.

On the boat I've had good results with Cetol and Rustoleum spar varnish. Both a little different. If you like the Cetol colors its hard to beat for simple application.

[Don Ro]

A Teak table that sits in the Arizona sun all year long, as well as our monsoon rains, and I use Pure Tung Oil. Slightly sand down every 3 years and reapply.
.
https://www.realmilkpaint.com/shop/oils/pure-tung-chinawood/

[Don Ro]

I oiled (Pure Tung) because Teak will turn a beautiful grey if left outside...I wanted to keep the original Teak color...and it has lasted.

[Charles Freeborn]

I'm having good results with Zar.

[jyl]

I don't care if it looks like plastic. The most vulnerable part is the arm (shown), because it is wide and flat. If the next finish doesn't last, I'll simply wrap copper sheet around the surface.

This is a weird piece. It is a "courting chair", two seats separated by a wide arm and facing different directions. Attractive but bizarre. I bought it at a charity auction, we've never really had a use for it, so now I'm going to refinish and stick it in my front yard as lawn art.

[jyl]

So, about teak outdoor furniture. I have a bunch of teak tables and chairs in the back yard. I don't oil them, since I (a) like the grey look (b) am lazy. The stuff has lasted for decades with no obvious issues. At some point, should I apply oil?

[Don Ro]

^^^
Not an expert by any means. But I've seen my own outdoor Teak items in CA get that beautiful grey and them begin to split. That's why I'm now keeping this lovely table oil-treated. It's a 2 - 3 yr. deal here in AZ.
That's all I can offer.

[LWJ]

Cetol is ugly but really is weatherproof. I oiled my teak trim on my boat last year. It looks like hell now.

[JeremyD]

Awlgrip Awlwood MA Clear Gloss

and

Epifanes Wood Finish Gloss Varnish

are my favorites for lasting (Florida is brutal for finishes)

[88-diamondblue]

We have our wood floors done in the WocaOil interior. It has been great. I was going to use this on the fence outside. Just haven't gotten there yet.
https://wocadeckoil.com/products/woca-exterior-oil/

[rammstein]

I refinished a table in my backyard. It came with my house, and was just raw wood and looked like hell. I was about to throw it out and decided to play with my sander. Low and behold, under all that sludge was a nice mahogany (or at least looked like it). After staining, I used Epifanes varnish:

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/epifanes--clear-high-gloss-varnish--P004_128_001_002?recordNum=3

I believe it is meant for sailboats, so my logic was that if it works on a sailboat it should be suited well for my back patio. So far, it has held up beautifully and I get compliments all the time about it. Its not cheap, but it sure looks purty and has held up great.

[Charles Freeborn]

Put that thing in your front yard and you'll have the historic district design police on yer butt in no time...

[jyl]

Originally Posted by Charles Freeborn

Put that thing in your front yard and you'll have the historic district design police on yer butt in no time...

Nope. No rules for landscaping or anything other than house exterior. It could be a 200 sq ft outhouse, no restriction.