We used POR15 on one of the wood finish tests and topcoated it with Behr water base enamel. We used gloss but could have used satin. So far it has held up well, but it has only been less than 6 months continuous outdoor exposure. 3 coats of POR15 and 3 more coats of Behr makes a pretty thick coating but the grain texture still shows slightly. It is obviously a paint not a stain and would not pass for a stain like the original.

We have no recommendations about how to copy the "original" black stain look you describe. I had a customer that mixed Thompsons Wood Protector with some kind of carbon black powder until he got the stained appearance he was looking for. He was an elderly man who had always been in the body shop business so he knew how they did it in "the day". As I remember he was pleased with the result, but its been years and I have not seen the truck since.

Mar-K will send small samples of our bedwood for a UPS charge to readers who want to experiment with finishes.

Mar-Ktech