Anchorseal alternatives

[John Landis]

Anchorseal seems pretty pricy. Are there other less expensive products that accomplish the same purpose? Would latex paint work?

[Steve Schlumpf]

John - I started out using latex paint and then moved up to anchorseal. Water based latex paint will crack as it dries - so it will require a few coats of paint to seal the wood. For a temp solution it will work but you need to monitor the wood as it dries. With anchorseal, I apply 2 coats and don't have to worry about it again.

[Bernie Weishapl]

Steve is right John. I started using latex paint. I bought the cheap stuff from walmart. It will work in a pinch but as Steve said you do have to keep a eye on it. When the paint cracks the wood will to. Anchorseal is the way to go. Yea it is pricey but with two coats you don't have to worry about it. I have some I have anchorsealed 1 1/2 yrs ago still good.

[Randy Hoch]

Recommend Clay Johnson @ Choice Woods for an anchorseal source. A little cheaper it seems. Just bought two gal.

Randy

[Alan Trout]

Elmers Glue All works well. It dries fast and It does not crack and seals very well. I have used it more than once in a pinch and at the right places can be bought for less than $10 a gallon.

Good Luck

Alan

[Bob Hallowell]

You can buy it straight from us coatings with free shipping. I bought 5 gallons several years and it doesn't go bad. Worth the money

https://www.uccoatings.com/Home/WebStore

[Dave Lehnert]

I have been told that Anchorseal goes a long, long way a can.

They use it on "The Beast" wooden roller coaster at Kings Island.
http://www.learnalittle.com/travel/beast-roller-coaster.htm

http://static.flickr.com/31/89603229_67fa33ae97_o.jpg

[Jeff Brockett]

You can also use paraffin - melt it down carefully and slop it on the end grain. I have used latex paint with some success, but the paraffin and anchorseal work best.

[Jake Helmboldt]

As has been said, a can goes a long way. I built a 400 sq ft deck from ipe and all the cut ends need to be sealed on ipe. I used maybe a 1/4-1/3 of the quart can. Latex paint doesn't work nearly as well.

The little extra money is well worth what you save in wood.

[John Landis]

I tried paraffin once, but it cracked and fell off

[Scott T Smith]

John, the last time that I purchase some it was around 60 bucks for 5 gallons. Why don't you team up with some other woodworkers and divvy up a five gallon pail?

[Dennis Puskar]

I have been using a mixture of paraffin and mineral oil for about a year and haven't had any cracks.

Dennis

[Joe Pfeifer]

I have been using a mixture of paraffin and mineral oil for about a year and haven't had any cracks.

Dennis

I have had good success with paraffin and mineral oil, too. I use a crock pot to melt the wax for safety, and use a chip brush to spread it.

[Kirk Miller]

I have had good success with paraffin and mineral oil, too. I use a crock pot to melt the wax for safety, and use a chip brush to spread it.


What is the mix ratio of this?

[Bob Haverstock]

I have been using a mixture of paraffin and mineral oil for about a year and haven't had any cracks.

Dennis

Dennis,

What are the proportions?

Bob

[Dennis Puskar]

Bob, Kirk,
I don't have any set mixing proportions, I just added some mineral oil to a block of parafin.

Dennis

[Mark Norman]

Bob, Kirk,
I don't have any set mixing proportions, I just added some mineral oil to a block of parafin.

Dennis
Would that be two tablespoons or two gallons Dennis?

Somewhere in between?

Two cups maybee?

[Dennis Puskar]

Add a quart of mineral oil to half pound of paraffin and see if it is pliable with a brush if not add accordingly.

Dennis

[Joe Pfeifer]

I only use a couple of tablespoons of mineral oil to 1 lb of paraffin.

[Bill Bulloch]

Our Club buys it by the 55 Gal Drum. Club members then get it a cost -- about $8.00 a Gal.