What is the best way to weather proof wood that stays outside 24/7?

Define the piece a little. Furniture, deck or other?

@kmealy

7 hours ago, Ron Dudelston said:

Define the piece a little. Furniture, deck or other?

It's just a windmill I built out of scrap wood that sits in front of my garage.

Well Bubba IMO, the "best" way is to use  good quality, oil based, exterior paint. Probably not what you may want aesthetically, but will require less maintenance than any form of "transparent" finishes.

 

Anything but paint will need cleaned and finish reapplied at least every 3-5 years.

 

BTW, really nice job on the windmill.

Like Lew, I will defer to Keith but Thompson’s water seal could be on option or a marine spar.

Buy some plastic deck material and build with it.

 

Thanks for the idea @HandyDan. I'm not looking to build another windmill just make the one I have last a little longer.

I can see how that material might work for future projects. Is it very expensive? I'm a cheapskate.

 

2 hours ago, Bubba said:

Thanks for the idea @HandyDan. I'm not looking to build another windmill just make the one I have last a little longer.

I can see how that material might work for future projects. Is it very expensive? I'm a cheapskate.

 

I don't like to spend money either and the deck material isn't cheap.  I know a guy that builds decks and he gives me cut offs he would just throw away.  Makes it very affordable to me.🙂

10 hours ago, kmealy said:

 

 That was an excellent way to finish outdoor wood. The problem I have with it in the present day is finding the exterior oil base paint. The Olympic is a ghost, and I've tried some others that just haven't worked out. The shift away from oil base anything in finishes is the problem (I think). Consolidation in the finishing industry may have also contributed to the loss of a lot of good finishes. I'd love to find an untinted  paint base that I could use outdoors, but for now my search continues.

Moved topic to Finishing forum from Woodworking tips.

I use Thompson's water seal. Good stuff.