Aside from polishing, you should also treat your pine furniture at least once every 6 months to keep it in tip-top condition and prevent the wood from cracking or splitting over time.
For this reason, pine is often called a ''blotch-prone wood. '' Many woodworkers avoid this problem by not using any stain. They simply apply a clear finish, like polyurethane. If you want to stain, it's best to apply a sealer first.
Untreated redwood, depending on it's age, has a projected life span of 50 years or more when exposed to the elements. Pine varieties have a projected life span of only5 to 10 years.
All unfinished wood or bare wood surfaces should always be primed prior to painting. This goes for both interior and exterior paint projects. The reason you cannot skip bare wood priming is that wood is porous and has a grainy surface. Because primer contains high solids, it helps fill grains in the new wood.
Spread a gel stain onto the pine for the most consistent finish. Apply a thin layer and let it dry completely before adding additional coats. Seal pine wood with 2 coats of polyurethane clear coat to protect it from damage and discoloration.
Use an outdoor-rated finish like polyurethane, epoxy, lacquer, or varnish. Make a natural oil finish with one part tung or linseed oil, one part mineral spirits, and one part polyurethane. Use a stain sealant combo that gives your wood some color and a durable finish all in one.
We recommend mixing authentic pine tar with purified linseed oil. These two products can work well to ensure the wood substrate is properly nourished. They can protect the wood against rot and damage. The treated wood can also deter insects.
The best way to treat untreated wood for outdoor use is by applying a wood sealer, varnish, or finishing oil to the surface of the wood.
Also, the type of wood you're using will determine how long you need to season it. For example, pine and other types of softwoods may only need 6 months to properly season, while hardwoods like oak require at least a year.
Untreated timber is great in places where it is well protected so that there will be no risk to decay – such as internal walls. However, it can also be used externally, as long as it's finished with at least one coat of good primer and two coats of paint.
Linseed, tung, refined hemp, soy, and walnut oil are all-natural oils that on their own can be used to seal and protect wood.
Choose a latex or oil-based paint.
Outdoor pine furniture needs added protection from UV light to prevent sun damage. Latex or oil-based paints are ideal for deflecting UV rays and staying vibrant over time. If your pine has been pressure treated, choose latex paint.
Oil-based sealers are better for pine, cedar, oak, ash, and other types of wood that have a high absorption rate because oil-based sealers are not as easy for the wood to absorb as water-based products. However, an oil-based wood sealer typically has better UV resistance and tends to have a more even finish.
Species such as pine, poplar, and cedar dry very quickly. In the summer time in the south a 1” thick pine board will frequently air dry to 14%MC within 60 – 90 days. A poplar board will air dry in about 90 days.
When finishing pine, we recommend using a raw linseed oil. This type of oil will not contaminate food substances, which is perfect for pine dining tables. For pine furniture that is not in contact with food, danish oil will provide the most durable finish.
Keep in mind, like all woods, pine will also darken over time to a rich yellowish hue.
Traditional furniture paints require a lot of prep work before you can start painting pine. To create a lasting finish, these paints won't work well on pine unless the surface has been sanded and primed first. If you're looking for the best paint to upcycle pine furniture, look no further than Chalk Paint™.
Wood burned inside the home should always be dry and seasoned for at least 6-12 months. Wood burns most efficiently when the moisture content is at 20% or less. Damp wood burns at a cooler temperature, resulting in incomplete combustion, more smoke, and dangerous creosote build-up in the chimney (a fire hazard).
As the pine wood ages, with the help of UV from the sunlight it tends to turn more of an orange colour. In a similar way, as Oak oxidises with time, it tends to darken to a very dark brown and in some cases, black.
As wood ages, it dries out and becomes harder due to changes in the structure of the cellulose in the wood. Wood in your attic has dried out and has a very low moisture content. Even if the species is the same, new kiln dried wood will have a higher moisture content making it easier to nail or drill through.
Burns well but has a tendency to spark. Birch burns easily and can be burnt unseasoned. It also burns very quickly so is often best mixed with a slower burning wood such as Oak or Elm.
Generally, pine tends to harden as it ages, especially yellow pine when you compare it to freshly cut timber. It will get slightly stronger as it loses moisture content, but it won't harden a huge amount.