Finish for Tack Trunk

[Steve Mcmahon]

First Post - Been hanging out and reading up

I just finished a red oak tack trunk for a neighbor - I have stained it with a water based stain (General Finishes).

My question is what will be the best satin clear coat to apply? This trunk will be taken to horse shows and will store the leg wraps / blankets and other horse items.

It will most likely sit outside under a canopy of their motor home on the ground, I did elevate the trunk on 4 cedar 3 x 3 legs (pocket hole screwed so they could be replaced if they start to rot)
Thanks

[Larry Fox]

While I have never done anything that is intended for outdoor use, I just looked on the General Finishes site and they have a WB product called Exterior 450 that looks to be just the thing for your use. Another option would be to look at a spar varnish or some of the marine coatings.

The thing that I would be concerned about with your particular piece are (in order I suppose);

1) Wear and tear
2) Sun
3) Moisture (rain, morning dew, using the top as a claning surface etc).
4) Alcohol (someone sets a beer or glass of wine on it sorta thing).

I know Target has a WB product that can be used outside but you don't mention whether or not you have the ability to spray or not.

I also would not get too hung up on the sheen and avoid an option just because it happens to have more gloss than you might want. That problem is easily remidied with some steel wool or Scotchbrite (sp?).

Oh yeah, welcome to the Creek as a poster.

[Steve Mcmahon]

Larry

thanks for the advice

I spoke with the people at rockler also and went with a marine varnish

hopefully attached will be the completed trunk

[Larry Fox]

wow - THAT is a tack trunk??? That thing is fantastic looking - very nice work. When you mentioned that you were building a tack trunk I envisioned something completely different - the version I had in my head was nowhere near the quality of your piece.