Armstrong Clark vs. Ready Seal vs. Woodrich Timberoil

[Beth n Rod]

I prefer a longer lasting oil. I also like an oil that dries. Armstrong Clark has both drying and nondrying oils, the drying oil locks the color in closer to the surface, thus it is longer lasting....

Beth

[RPetry]

Beth, do you think geographical areas, i.e. North vs. South states may have something to do with your dislike of RS. Up North you guys get snow and inclimate weather much more than we do in the south ( Texas anyways.)

Does RS just not work as well up north?
Or am I just way off base.

I really am curious to know as I have asked this question before.
It seems if the wood is continuously cold then it may stop the penetration factor. Whereas maybe with warmer climates wood expands a bit and allows penetration.

Or like I said, I may just be way off base.
I know Rick P. is in Jersey and they get alot of the colder weather as well but he swears by it.

Adrian,

Straight paraffin oil stains, ie. RS, some TWP's, Baker's, TimberOil, penetrate quite well in colder weather. We stained two 1 yr. old ipe' decks yesterday. The temps were in the high 40's to low 50's during a cloudy day and the wood took a good amount of oil. Will be back at the job site this morning to strip some cedar on another part of the property and will see if the ipe' needs a quick "wipe down" or, though doubtful, another light oiling.

Tested A-C rustic brown on my own ipe' last year. It certainly lasted as long and held its color on this tough wood as a previous application as RS. Subjectively, on ipe', in this one case, there was little difference in longevity.

We do have a fairly large "test" cedar deck also done with 2 coats of A-C rustic brown stained in the summer of 2008. It looked very good when checked this past spring, and I'll see how the A-C has held up next summer at the expected 2 yr. maintenance mark.