Bed Wood

[57chevyman]

I think the top left, but with stainless strips would be my favorite

[57chevyman]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

yes, truk's bed ''wood'' is trex
only comes in one width and few colors; 5.1'' wide, gray and brown

original finish for wood beds was black paint
look at any truck at any show that has a polyurethane finish in the bed
the edges and ends of the boards will have bubbles under the finish

this is why we don't polyurethane the wood siding on our homes, or our wood decks or the wood furniture on our decks
unless you always keep your truck in the garage and never get caught in the rain or a hot sun; all poly finishes will peel
even trex will eventually fade in the sun, except mine, which is always in the shade

you have a good point. I don't have a garage for the truck and it will be in the sun and rain. perhaps my idea of making it look like a bowling lane isnt such a good idea. maybe I should stain it and seal it like people do with their backyard decks around here.

[Trucknut57]

57chevyman,

I put red oak in mine. I did just like everyone else hear has said to do. sand, sand, coat, sand, coat, sand ... It looked perfect, then I had to park the truck outside for awhile. Needless to say the finish didn't hold up to the weather.
The protectant pealed off and the wood greyed. So I pulled the wood out and redid it again, sand, sand, sand, coat, sand... you get the picture. Again it looked smooth as glass.
Then I had to move some stuff, want to guess what happened? Yep the bed got all scratched up.
Best advise I can give you is, determine where your truck will be sitting most of the time. Outside, garage, carport.... then determine how you will be using the truck. Show, off road, street, work.....
These factors will determine how often you will be redoing the bed wood....

[dbash]

Some awesome beds, and great information/advice here.

The Garage factor is huge.

There are options to protect your bed from scratches and sun like carpet (soft side down) with a rubber bed mat to hold it down while your hauling something.

But rain, daily condensation and fine sands or grit getting to your bed under carpet would cause damage so its not a perfect solution either. A fabric truck cover can condensate and "rain" on your wood bed in the right conditions. A tonneau cover would solve most issues, If you want that look to your truck.

Wood Beds are a maintenance issue, no matter what.

Any number of sealers will suffice as long as you keep re applying it and seal all sides. I would still make an effort to cover the bed somehow the sun is a big enemy to the life of the wood.

Even with just sealer, Oak will outlast Pine if taken care of.

Decisions......... its part of the fun of it all.

[BuckeyenNJ]

White oak will last longer than red oak, if left unsealed it may even turn gray, but of coarse it is not a finished look. The old masted ships like the USS Constitution are made from white oak.

I was thinking about installing a sheet of acrylic over the wood, the edges would have to be sealed, and not sure about condensation. Acrylic would stop the UV damage to the finish and might be easier than trying to get a high gloss finish...just a thought I wanted to share.

[fabguy]

Originally Posted by 57chevyman

Your bed looks awesome. did you cut the wood yourself, or is there a vendor that sells this wood in a wood kit ?

Thank you very much, Me and a friend who owns a cabinet business cut & grooved the wood. I got it from another friend of ours who did furniture.
I have the measurements somewhere if anyone needs them.

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by BuckeyenNJ

White oak will last longer than red oak, if left unsealed it may even turn gray, but of coarse it is not a finished look. The old masted ships like the USS Constitution are made from white oak.

I was thinking about installing a sheet of acrylic over the wood, the edges would have to be sealed, and not sure about condensation. Acrylic would stop the UV damage to the finish and might be easier than trying to get a high gloss finish...just a thought I wanted to share.

Moisture will end up under the acrylic. I assume you have average humidity, which the wood will absorb, as the bed heats up the moisture will move towards the warmest side, up towards the acrylic. I deal with it all the time in building design.

[sqrlnts]

Its Douglas Fir, burned with a torch, and come to think of it I can't remember why I did it this way...

[gag1025]

A friend avcross the creek uses Sikkens on his deck and in his gazebo (which gets flooded a couple times each year when the creek rises) swears by Sikkens. He said that he has uses a lot of different sealers over the years and the Sikkens penetrated the wood deeper and protects longer. He said that when he used all the others he had to do it every year but the Sikkens makes it an every 3-4 year ordeal. I personally do not know. I am going on what he told me. I am thinking about using Sikkens clear with a matte finish. I have been thinking about sealing of both ends of a piece of gutter and soaking each piece of board over night to get the maximum amount into each board so that each board is 100% saturated instead of brushing it on over and over until it will not absorb anymore.

[paintman]

Originally Posted by gag1025

A friend avcross the creek uses Sikkens on his deck and in his gazebo (which gets flooded a couple times each year when the creek rises) swears by Sikkens. He said that he has uses a lot of different sealers over the years and the Sikkens penetrated the wood deeper and protects longer. He said that when he used all the others he had to do it every year but the Sikkens makes it an every 3-4 year ordeal. I personally do not know. I am going on what he told me. I am thinking about using Sikkens clear with a matte finish. I have been thinking about sealing of both ends of a piece of gutter and soaking each piece of board over night to get the maximum amount into each board so that each board is 100% saturated instead of brushing it on over and over until it will not absorb anymore.

As a self employed painter, and someone who has used Sikkens on his own house, I can tell you that the stuff is great. However I will say this, I don't care what product you use, there is nothing, NOTHING, that will hold up on horizontal surfaces if its repeatedly subjected to water. Water will always find the smallest hairline crack and penetrate the wood.it will also fade from the UV light.
Furthermore, due to all the new EPA regulations, all paints have been dumbed down. Most all the good stuff has been removed.
I have always wondered why no one uses Cypress wood in their trucks. It does not rot or decay and the insects will not chew on it. Probably because of the cost.
Back when my wife and I were in the planning stages of building or home we considered Cypress but soon found out the cost was about double that of Engleman Spruce.
Here's a pic of our house with Sikkens Cetol 1-2-3 this is a first coat stain and 2 coat colored clear product they make. I still have to topcaot it ever 3 years or so as it fades over time. It is not recommended for for horizontal surfaces. If you want to use Sikkens on your bed wood you have to use there decking product. Bottom line, knowing what I know, I am seriously considering using some kind of composite decking for my 46 project. Flame me if you want but it is what it is.

[gag1025]

Sikkens Cetol DEK Natural Finish is the one I am mthinking about. I was considering their Marine finish but the cost makes it a non considered product for me. BTW I love your house, especially the way you have your basement.