Yes Brad's link has some good information. However when it comes to finishing the wood I would go to Mar-K's site where you can see how they have for years tested the different methods of preserving the wood. Also a Bolter posted here the other day (I don't remember his name) a great way to prevent the ends of the wood from rotting too quickly. He said to stand your wood ends in a pan of whatever you are using to coat the strips and let it take up the chemical. I thought that was excellent advice.

~Jim