Garden Project - Deck & Stairs

Nice result, Zuki. I love the way the wood has weathered. Good luck on your entry to the Summer comp.

-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.canterburybaptist.org/

It’s kinda mesmerizing…. Nice “outside of the wood box” thinking

-- Roy "Woodboxman" Coos Bay, Oregon

Neat! Does the is the soya oil boiled (polymerization to cause the formation of resins) or have dryers in it? I’ve never encountered soya oil except as a stain carrier with Varithane oil based stains.

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

Very cool design….looks great weathered.

Yes, share more on the soy oil. Sounds interesting.

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

I love it !!!
It has the appearance of a carpet runner draped over the stairs, guiding you to the house. Walking the red carpet kinda.. I feel very special! :)

Love it.

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Very nice! I had to look at it a few times. Very nice!

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

Boiled soy oil ?? Um . . . I just buy it at the grocery in 1L containers and paint it on. Its the stuff you cook with.

I will post a picture of our back deck already cured with soy oil.

I also use it as a lubricant in my electric chain saw, brad nailers, mountain bike chain, etc instead of using petroleum based products. Works quite well actually. I also use it as an “armor all” alternative – gets things nice and shiny. We use olive oil for undercoating our vehicles – they usually smell like french fries for about a week after application. It stays tacky until road dust gets into it.

NOTE OF CAUTION – do not use olive oil as a lubricant. I used it in the locks of my old car . . . within a week they were gummed up solid.

-- The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them

Neat look you created, there.

-- Jesus is Lord!

Very nice design.
How does soya oil stand up to the elements? My wife has allergies, & the smell of linseed oil bothers her.
Do you thin it down when applying?

-- Dick Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

No I do not thin it. I just use it straight from the container and apply with a brush. It soaks into the spruce decking quite well. Its stays “tacky” for a while . . . but after one season its ok. On your next trip to the grocery store, pick yourself up a small bottle and try it on some wood. See how it works for you.

Im looking at trying some hemp oil on interior projects. I found it here http://www.homesteadhouse.ca/

Cheers

-- The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them

The grand staircase at the St Louis Arch has steps that change wide with each step. I never liked them. But, in their case maybe 50 steps and the tread went from 1 ft to over 3 ft. It looked great as a design but it was murder to walk up them.

Sometimes you had to take 3 steps on some treads before you get to the next step others were 2 steps and others were 1. It was very hard to walk up the steps because you couldn’t get a standard gate going. You always had to watch your feet to see where they were going to step.

With only 4 steps I assume you don’t have that kind of problem.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

Creative and unique. Great job.

-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX

I like the look

-- Do it right the first time. Becuase fixing it is a wast of time.

Unique design, Zuki. The missus should appreciate the creative flourish at least, nice work.

Hemp oil! Hmmm… I know you get plenty of moisture where you are but I’m guessing you don’t have too much trouble with mildew? Natural oils including linseed, are subject to the heinous invasion of the black powdery substance as they become food for the stuff. Living in the subtropics, I have to include an additive to avoid having to scrub everything down with TSP every year. The soy oil sounds great but how does it compare $$$? Also, how often do you need to reapply?

Also, I understand you’re intention on avoiding petroleum but I’m sure you understand that most petroleum distillates used for wood finishes are way down the ladder of consumption when compared to fuel, i.e. gasoline. Also, you make your own glue? Another creative flourish or just cabin fever amusement?

Still, great work.

-- "Imagination is more important than knowledge" -- Albert Einstein

As I do not buy commercial stain\sealer I honestly have no idea on how it compares in price. If memory serves I bought it at Loblaws\Dominion (grocery store) and I believe it was $2 ish for around 1L.

Reapply . . . good question. Have not crossed that bridge.

Glue . . . I dont know about a creative flourish, could be a little cabin fever amusement, but the main thrust of building without the use of chemicals is so that DW can enjoy using the items as much as I enjoy making them.

Tks for the post jcees

-- The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them