How would you seal a sign?

January 17, 2020, 05:10 PM

Large wood sign for a business. It needs to be water- and weather-proof, and UV-resistant as well.

I'm thinking a UV-resistant marine sealant, and a topcoat(s) of polyurethane.

How would you do it?

January 17, 2020, 05:13 PM

Batty67

Funny, thinking baseball, I thought it read "how would you steal a sign." No help on your question.

January 17, 2020, 05:39 PM

C-Dubs

I’d look at using a spar varnish.

“I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. I won't be laid a-hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.”

January 17, 2020, 05:39 PM

Sunset_Va

The problem with some of the polyurethanes, is over time they will yellow.

I paint barn quilts, and use a high grade exterior paint on them, never use a sealer. I have seen barn quilts sealed with clearcoat that discolor in the sun after a few months.

January 17, 2020, 05:44 PM

fpuhan

There are three surefire ways to waterproof your wood for years to come.

Use linseed or Tung oil to create a beautiful and protective hand-rubbed finish.
Seal the wood with coating of polyurethane, varnish, or lacquer.
Finish and waterproof wood simultaneously with a stain-sealant combo.

You can't truly call yourself "peaceful" unless you are capable of great violence. If you're not capable of great violence, you're not peaceful, you're harmless.

NRA Benefactor/Patriot Member

January 17, 2020, 05:48 PM

Tinyman

quote:
Originally posted by Batty67:
Funny, thinking baseball, I thought it read "how would you steal a sign." No help on your question.

Guess there are now two of us -- on both points.

Tinyman

January 17, 2020, 05:55 PM

kkina

quote:
Originally posted by fpuhan:
There are three surefire ways to waterproof your wood for years to come.

Use linseed or Tung oil to create a beautiful and protective hand-rubbed finish.
Seal the wood with coating of polyurethane, varnish, or lacquer.
Finish and waterproof wood simultaneously with a stain-sealant combo.

I think Bob Vila would agree.

January 17, 2020, 05:57 PM

kkina

quote:
Originally posted by Sunset_Va:
The problem with some of the polyurethanes, is over time they will yellow.

That would be a concern. How about a sealer, then a couple coats of tung oil?

January 17, 2020, 05:59 PM

kkina

quote:
Originally posted by C-Dubs:
I’d look at using a spar varnish.

Is that the same as spar urethane? Does it yellow over time?

EDIT: read up on spar urethane and it might be what I need. No need for a sanding sealer either.

January 17, 2020, 07:32 PM

doublesharp

be sure to seal the backside.

January 17, 2020, 07:36 PM

SigJacket

Spar urethane, and yes, all sides.

January 17, 2020, 07:38 PM

airsoft guy

quote:
Originally posted by Batty67:
Funny, thinking baseball, I thought it read "how would you steal a sign." No help on your question.

That's what I was thinking too.

January 17, 2020, 07:39 PM

RogueJSK

quote:
Originally posted by kkina:
How about a sealer, then a couple coats of tung oil?

Sealing the wood first would prevent the wood from absorbing any of the oil.

100% Pure Tung Oil, properly applied and cured, will do just fine. Just understand that pure tung oil takes weeks to dry fully.

If you want a somewhat similar finish that won't take so long to cure, there's various flavors of "Tung Oil Finish" out there (which is varnish mixed with thinners and a bit of oil). These will dry in a day or so, not weeks. But it's not the same as using Pure Tung Oil.

January 17, 2020, 09:58 PM

jimmy123x

I’m in the marine industry and deal with this all of the time. Do not mix 2 different products.

Awlwood by awlgrip would be my first choice, Made by awlgrip. Can mix the primer and clear together, but need to use both products.

Sikkons cetyl marine clear would be my second choice. This is a true one part system, just use the clear and put on 3-4 coats, no need for primer etc.

Both are eurethane based. Both can be found from west marine.

Traditional captains varnish, nor tung oil last nearly as long.

January 18, 2020, 10:57 AM

straightshooter01

Don't know if you already have the sign or not but if you have not bought the wood for the sign yet I highly recommend getting a product that is made for freeway signs. I think it is HDF?? High density fiberboard. I may be not remembering that correctly but it is what the government uses for highway signs. I bought some to make two basketball backboards out of and it has remained perfectly flat and free of weather damage for years now. I just painted it with a high quality latex house paint for my use.

January 18, 2020, 11:41 AM

LS1 GTO

quote:
Originally posted by Tinyman:
quote:
Originally posted by Batty67:
Funny, thinking baseball, I thought it read "how would you steal a sign." No help on your question.

Guess there are now two of us -- on both points.

Tinyman

Make that three of us.

Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

"If dogs don't go to Heaven, I want to go where they go" Will Rogers

The definition of the words we used, carry a meaning of their own...

January 18, 2020, 11:46 AM

WaterburyBob

Spar urethane will hold up to sunlight much better than standard polyurethane.

January 18, 2020, 12:20 PM

quote:
Originally posted by LS1 GTO:
quote:
Originally posted by Tinyman:
quote:
Originally posted by Batty67:
Funny, thinking baseball, I thought it read "how would you steal a sign." No help on your question.

Guess there are now two of us -- on both points.

Tinyman

Make that three of us.

Me four. Thought this was an Astros Red Sox thread.

January 18, 2020, 12:57 PM

kkina

quote:
Originally posted by straightshooter01:
Don't know if you already have the sign or not but if you have not bought the wood for the sign yet I highly recommend getting a product that is made for freeway signs. I think it is HDF?? High density fiberboard. I may be not remembering that correctly but it is what the government uses for highway signs. I bought some to make two basketball backboards out of and it has remained perfectly flat and free of weather damage for years now. I just painted it with a high quality latex house paint for my use.

Sign's already built. It's an indoor sign that will now go outside.

January 18, 2020, 12:58 PM

kkina

quote:
Originally posted by WaterburyBob:
Spar urethane will hold up to sunlight much better than standard polyurethane.

That's what I'm reading. I think we'll go with spar u.

Thanks to all who responded.