The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Making a Stovebolt Bed What did you use on your bed

Ready to finish my oak bed on my truck. I am interested in a natural finish. What product did you use? How durable has it been. Let me know.

Tom

Minwax natural stain, minwax spar urathane 6 coats.....6 months ago...Check out Mar-k's webside for comparisons of different finishes...They leave samples up on the roof for a year or two and compare the "damage".....

I used Minwax "Helmsman" clear on mine, UV resistant and for marine environments ...it scored high in Mar K's test.
So far so good on my 52.
Tim

what radial said....

Same here, What Radial said!!!

Same here, What Radial said!!!

My wife has some fluffy pink "blanket" that can't be used as a blanket on my bed. Oh wait, you're talking about the truck. I haven't done mine yet.

Radial
How's the yellowing? Where do you get it?
Thanks for your help.

Tom

We still have the 2005 test samples out in the weather, but all have failed except the black painted boards. The "final" results were printed a couple years ago, http://www.mar-k.com/final_summary.html , for a brief analysis of what we observed. If you compare these results to the test done in 2004, there is a noticeable improvement and we believe it is due to using two coatings on these test samples, a durable primer/sealer type coating, and then a UV resistant topcoat product. Helmsman by itself failed earlier than Helmsman over another product such as Pelucid or epoxy.

The black painted boards are looking great after 4 years in the weather 24/7. We attribute that durability to the POR 15 applied under the gloss black topcoat. The Behr black in the 2004 test was coated over Behr primer and failed early.

Mar-Ktech

Tom,
So far no yellowing, but then again I keep my 52 inside the shop.
Helmsman is available at Walmart and most any place that carries Min-Wax products.
Tim

Tom, if you put several coats of Helmsman on it your good to go... BUT most of the time the cracking or looking bad will start at the ends of the boards as they soak up the moisture.
Tim once mentioned how it stood his boards up in a pan of it and let the ends soak up all they could. This may be a key to less work later on down the road...... Right Tim!!

EDIT: Mine lasted 8 years with the back of the bed exposed to some sun and even some rain that "blew in" on it. It still looked "good" but I took them out and redid them just "because"!!! Like Tim, I keep my inside most of the time but it sees its days in the sun and even its share of rain now and then! Just put on at least 4 coats.

I am surprized that no one seems to have mentioned Marine Spar Varnish that is recommended for boats. This stuff has been around for years and is well proven. Has a lot of natural ingrediences. I am not ready yet for my bed boards put this will be my choice. I know of a friend who has a 53, he has had his varnished since 2000, still looks very good. (6 coats)
Ayone who wants a natural clear finish will also benefit from the natural hew that all woods developp over time.
This just an example. Click on site below to check it out.
http://www.jamestowndistributors.co...p;familyName=Circa+1850+Exterior+Varnish

..... SPAR is the magic word here. That is the ingredient that will let the finish expand/contract without breaking or cracking, which is what lets moisture in and ...well, you know the rest.
Perhaps I should have said Helmsman SPAR urethane. At that point I guess its the % of concentrations that probably makes one "More better" than the other.

Yup Alvin,
here is what I did with my Hickory boards.
I used several simple aluminum Bread pans ya buy to cook in ..they have 3" sides an was wide enough for each board, to reduce the amount of finish needed.IM GETTIN BETTER AT THIS OR CHEAPER YOU PICK..lol.
I put 1/4" of finish in each pan an stood each board in them over night on its end to soak up as much finsh as it could.
Just wrap it with plastic wrap after ya immerse to keep the air out.
next mornin wipe off the excess to a dry point ..an flip an repeat.
now ya KNOW your end grain is saturated with finish, then proceede with at minimun 4 coats of Helmsman ..I personally did 6..to get the DEPTH I wanted in the finish ...FOLKS JUST SAY WOW ..AN WANT TO TOUCH IT ...lol
My Hickory should last longer than I do!!
Tim

I know that Mar-K has an extensive report testing of various finishes on bed wood resistance to weather. probably more than you want to know. go to:

http://www.mar-k.com/wood_finish_testing_i.html

and

http://www.mar-k.com/wood_finish_testing_ii.html

John Lupton

I used Helmsman Spar Uerathane on mine. Truck is used as a daily driver, rain or shine. The finish os holding up very well. Most sites suggest 2 coats. I talked to my cousins husband, who is a woodworker/house remodeller, he told me no less that 8 coats, sanding between coats, for best protection. I went with 9, just because I still had some in the can, plus 2 base coats fo Minwax stain/sealer. I also wax the finish after washings, using the same wax that i use on the paint. That has worked very well for me keeping water out and preventing stains. Also makes it very easy to keep clean.

I did what Mar-K said to do for the factory black wood. Looks great.

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2124887660054402330IYfZPR

No matter what varnish product you use, you're going to have to plan on sanding and refinishing it on a regular basis. I used a wide range of product on sailboat brightwork over a course of years, and the best that I got out of any was about a year and a half. The sun and weather just breaks the coating down, no matter what additive you have in the mix. Ironically, it is often the most expensice coating that fails first! The Helmsman UV resistand coating began to crack and peel after 10 months. Sikkens, who are supposedly one of the top finishes, shows wear and tear after a year. Varnish is just not a good finish for a truck bed. That's why they used the black paint! A working truck for the working man.