Wood bed QUESTION!

[bolton66chev]

So how did you guys stain the wood in your bed?
-What stain?
-Where can I buy it?
-How much?

If anyone could throw some options out there that would be awesome!!

[joe231]

here is some good info
http://mar-k.com/wood_finishing.html
http://mar-k.com/wood_finish_testing_i.html
http://mar-k.com/wood_finish_testing_ii.html

[PrerunnerRob]

Are you looking for the wood or just the stain?
If it's just the stain, you should be able to use any commercial wood stain available at home depot or your local hardware store. If they have a stain , and a high traffic outdoor sealer(I'm thinking for a wood outdoor deck) that should work awesome. I imagine that a wood outdoor deck would be subjected to alot of the harsh environment that a truck bed would be. Another possibilty would be to contact a local wood construction contractor and see what they could recommed.

[Greg63]

I did not stain my wood, but on my oak bed floor I used 6 coats of Minwax's Helmsman outdoor wood finish in gloss.
After each coat dried I used 240 grit sandpaper to prep for the next coat.
So far, so good.

[63 & 64 Bowties]

I bought a 54 several years ago that the PO had put new bed wood in, then sealed it with polyurethane. DON'T USE IT. Polyurethane is for indoor use. That sealer starting peeling off within a year or so. Marine Spar Varnish is the ticket. Home Depot or Lowes don't sell it. They have gotten away from oil based paints. You'll have to go to a paint store. Marine Spar Varnish is what they coat old wood boats with, so you know it works.

[MikeN]

Red oak with one coat Sherwin Williams oil-based exterior primer, two coats Sherwin Williams oil-based exterior semi-gloss black, polished stainless strips and hardware...

[slorio]

A couple of questions that you need to consider are what are you going to use your truck for? What kind of wood will you use in the bed?

My truck sees some hauling duties. I used untreated No. 2 pine for the boards which is similar to the originals. Treated lumber, although good for exterior decks is bad for our trucks. The reason is that lumber is now treated with borates that will cause rust on anything that contacts them (i.e. rails, cross members, etc.) Hardware for treated lumber is now either hot dipped galvanized or stainless. Although my boards are untreated, I applied copper napthanate (sp?) to them. It is an exterior preservative that is sold in hardware stores under a number of brands, but the one I found was Jasco. I had the hardware store apply black tint to the product from their paint mixing rack. The good thing about this product is that it soaks into the boards. The folks that apply varnishes risk peeling and scraping the finish if the truck sees any action. Using the Jasco, the boards have a black stained look that has held up well with moderate use.

I hope the above is helpful.
regards,
Steve
New Orleans

[fuelpump]

Just took my wood out and put 3 coats of Marine spar varnish on it.