Watco Exterior Oil Finish
 

Anyone used this Watco Exterior Oil Finish on the Bedwood?
I'm doing Oak and looking at this finish.
Truck is driven and will have stuff put in the back sometimes.

What is your experience with it?

Thanks
Mike

Re: Watco Exterior Oil Finish
 

I can't vouch for your brand of choice but can tell you the clear Varathane stain I used gave me very desirable results on my Elm bed wood.

I sanded it into the wood with 320 grit wet/dry paper.

Re: Watco Exterior Oil Finish
 

Never heard of it before but there is a first time for everything.

All I can say about oiled finishes is that my 9th grade wood shop teacher talked me into putting an oil finish on the stock of my Winchester single shot (i only took the bare stock to school) and that was in about 1961 and it still looks great, I wanted to varnish it and he said no you don't and he was right.

Only thing is that if you use a truck as a truck the bed gets skinned up. I think I would do the oil finish and get a mat to put on top of it when you use it as a real truck. Maybe just a piece of used carpet that you can throw in and use and throw away when it starts looking nasty.

Re: Watco Exterior Oil Finish
 

I used it on the bed of my '57.
Good stuff.
My wood is pine however. MarK told me that pine would last better than oak for a truck that gets driven. Don't know why.

The thing I like about it is that you can re-apply it anytime you feel it's necessary with no detriment to the holding strips. It won't stick to metal (or painted surfaces).

http://www.hotrodders.com/gallery/da...1/IMG_3021.JPG

Re: Watco Exterior Oil Finish
 

Thanks for the replies. Roger55 that looks nice, how long have you been using it? how often have you had to reapply?

Thanks

Re: Watco Exterior Oil Finish
 

Thanks. It's coming up 3 years now and I haven't re-applied it yet and it's still looking good.
It doesn't get driven that much but we have gotten it pretty dirty back there a few times and it's been washed several.

Also have a rubber bed mat that we put on top when using the truck for Home Depot type runs. Probably keep in there about half the time.

Re: Watco Exterior Oil Finish
 

I think it depends on your desired results. I recently researched this topic and found that Tung Oil is the best product for a bed that gets used. That's what I applied to the bed in my '49 GMC. Four hand rubbed coats and it beads water nicely.

The only down side to the Tung Oil is it does not have UV blockers, so the wood will age, which in my case is the desired outcome. (Even though my pickup sits inside 95% time, only sees sun when it's driven.)