Wood Protection Advice?

[toml]

Having replaced my dried cracked somewhat rotten wood that my pagoda had when I bought it, I don't want a repeat with the new french walnut (gorgeous by the way)!

So, how should I care for it? (product brand? and regimen?)

Bonus points for recommending a commonly available (USA or Canada) product as opposed to exotic german-import only $50/oz oils.

Here comes the sun! (it's alright!)



TomL, Portland, OR
1964 230SL Euro 4-speed Silver+Black w/ Red Interior
1973 280C DOHC Metalic Blue w/ Tan interior

[Douglas]

Tom,

I think one of the most essential things is to simply avoid U-V explosure. Unfortunately, the wood is positioned in a particularly vulnerable way for sunlight damage.

Buy a cockpit cover. That's one of those covers that just covers the interior when it's parked in a sunny spot.

Douglas Kim
New York
USA

[toml]

That's for parking Doug. But we should spend more time driving in the sun than parking in the sun. I park in my garage but I do have a cockpit cover too if I were going to park outside (at my house though... i couldn't really bring myself to cover up like that at work, or in public... both because it seems dorky and it prevents showing off the car

Seriously though, you still have to condition the wood every so often with something, don't you?

TomL, Portland, OR
1964 230SL Euro 4-speed Silver+Black w/ Red Interior
1973 280C DOHC Metalic Blue w/ Tan interior

[Douglas]

Personally, I like zymol car wax on wood. Just enough to form a barrier between the wood and any dirt that lands on it.

Douglas Kim
New York
USA

[wgl]

Tom,
I use Goddard's cabinet makers wax. It is an English product that costs about 12 bucks for 5 ounces. It really brings out the color of the wood after several applications. You can find this at Rockler woodworking in Beaverton Town Square.

Bill Lindquist
280 SL

[jsaylor]

Tom,

Did the wood come with any finish on it?
If not I would use a good exterior marine varnish.  Thin the first coat 50% then full thickness for the next 5 coats, yes thats 6 coats.  You must sand between each coat also.  Marine varnish has great UV protection.  When complete wait a week before creating a less glossy finish w/ 00 or 0000 steel wool.

Having a wooden sailboat and living in the tropics I've had a bit of experience with UV.

Jim Saylor
Kauai, Hawaii
'65 230SL

[Cees Klumper]

My car is garaged most of the time, like most of our cars. So I did what Douglas recommends: I put on a coat of simple wood wax on my new dashboard wood when I bought it, unfinished, now about 7 years ago. The wood still looks like the day I put it in.

Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic