What do you treat your wood items with

[VinnyPass]

I am new to the camp and would like to know what treatment, paint or stain is used on wood items around the camp ( chairs, table, boxes, etc ,,)to protect them from the elements..

 

[mazo kid]

I use milk paint on some bare wood items and satin varnish over stained woods.

 

[Muskeg Stomper]

Milk paint would be ideal but I tend to use modern latex in period shades. Other items I just leave natural (haven't gotten to them yet mostly) and some things I use boiled linseed oil on.

 

[Poor Private]

My wood stuff that I have around the camp is mostly in the bare mode. Why, you ask? I feel that since most stuff in a camp is just that a camp. You wouldn't have access to paint out in the field. That is unless your portraying a static camp or in garrison(in the case of civil war). Take a look around your camp and you will see that most of the stuff we have though it may be period how much of it actually got into a camp site? We carry most of our stuff along with us for our convenience not actually how it was.
Heck I know a lady who takes everything along with her---even a kitchen sink. She has a hand pump hooked to a barrel which is then hidden under a kichten countertop with sink. It takes a trailer and Large SUV for her to set up her supposedly refugee civilian camp. 6 hours setup and teardown. sheeechs.

 

[VinnyPass]

Thanks to all, I will probably use a light stain with a satin finish.

 

[PaulN/KS]

Mixing the stain with boiled linseed oil and a little thinner works for me...

 

[Coot]

Old Village makes nice oil based paints in colors based on those found in several 18th c buildings. I use it on furniture and tent poles. Linseed oil is correct & good on tool handles & such. Barrels and crates I leave natural.

 

[VinnyPass]

Thanks, maybe i'll try them ..

Vinny

 

[mmahlock]

Stained and unstained get a fresh coat of furniture paste wax every year and sometimes more if they have been exposed to rain.