waterproofing wooden caches

[+The_Incredibles_]

I've got a wooden cache I would like to waterproof. I'm wondering if there's any particular product people use and would recommend? TIA.

[+StarBrand]

Can you generally describe the cache??

 

I am thinking the lid/hinge/opening would be the most difficult to seal and keep sealed long term.

[+the4dirtydogs]

A wood(water) sealer and some paint should do the trick. Thompson makes a good sealer that is easy to use. A deck sealer would probably work better.

[+BigChiefS4]

If it's small enough, put it inside an ammo container or another container that is waterproof.

[knowschad]

Several coats of polyurethane varnish should do quite nicely as far as sealing the wood. Of course, sealing the wood and sealing the cache are two different issues.

[+Planet]

What kind of wood is it? Some woods do better outside than others. Spanish Cedar, Mahoganies, Ipe, Cumaru, to name a few.

Any wood will work IF you seal it completely. Polyurethane, several coats, and use glossy, it has more protection properties than a matte or satin finish.

If not, once water starts to seep in, it will twist, and cup and turn and begin to fall apart.

How is it put together? Glue? Glue and nails? Dovetail joints? That will matter too.

Can you seal the lid with a gasket, to keep water out? If you can't keep the elements out, it will rot.

What kind of climate do you live in? Desert, tropical, 4 seasons.....?

I have seen a couple of wooden caches that were pretty gross and not doing well.

 

And just as an FYI, I am in the lumber business.

[+The_Incredibles_]

Thanks for all your suggestions! I don't know what the wood is. I should have specified am only intersted in waterproofing the wood. This is a small cache with just the log inside a waterproof container. No room for swag.

Edited November 17, 2011 by The_Incredibles_

[+The_Incredibles_]

What kind of wood is it? Some woods do better outside than others. Spanish Cedar, Mahoganies, Ipe, Cumaru, to name a few.

Any wood will work IF you seal it completely. Polyurethane, several coats, and use glossy, it has more protection properties than a matte or satin finish.

If not, once water starts to seep in, it will twist, and cup and turn and begin to fall apart.

How is it put together? Glue? Glue and nails? Dovetail joints? That will matter too.

Can you seal the lid with a gasket, to keep water out? If you can't keep the elements out, it will rot.

What kind of climate do you live in? Desert, tropical, 4 seasons.....?

I have seen a couple of wooden caches that were pretty gross and not doing well.

 

And just as an FYI, I am in the lumber business.

 

Thank you, seems like you know alot about this. I don't know what wood. It is glued together by me, with Amazing Goop, as it fell into little pieces after being out in the moisture. It had started to get moldy too. We live in a very moist climate, lots of rain, rarely freezing temperatures though. We have some wooden caches here that are also not doing well, which is why I ask. I will go with your suggestions.

[+Packanack]

 

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CHYQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.westsystem.com%2Fss%2F105-epoxy-resin%2F&ei=lWfFToaZEYXZ0QGQn4WDDw&usg=AFQjCNEa5l9hgNeAgc4Q3kw0NReFTTJIxw

 

You want to waterproof wood, this is the way to go. I can personally attest to its ability to waterproof. That is me with the canoe I built using the same. Cedar Strips ripped from barn siding.

Edited November 17, 2011 by Packanack

[+Happy Humphrey]

Most of the wooden caches I've come across have been full of woodlice and earwigs. I'd say that a rubber gasket is essential to keep out insects and moisture. Then I'd put a plastic box inside the wooden box as a lining, even if that makes it rather small.

[+dfx]

or you can put it in an ammo can..... :P

[+The_Incredibles_]

Most of the wooden caches I've come across have been full of woodlice and earwigs. I'd say that a rubber gasket is essential to keep out insects and moisture. Then I'd put a plastic box inside the wooden box as a lining, even if that makes it rather small.

 

How would one make a rubber gasket?

[+Packanack]

Most of the wooden caches I've come across have been full of woodlice and earwigs. I'd say that a rubber gasket is essential to keep out insects and moisture. Then I'd put a plastic box inside the wooden box as a lining, even if that makes it rather small.

 

How would one make a rubber gasket?

 

Goe to Home Depot in the plumbing dept, they sell plumbers rubber gastkets ready to be cut.

[+Planet]

Yes! West System epoxy! Of course. That is what my boss sealed his boats with. Of course. Why I didn't think of that, I don't know. I was working on flooring orders all day, I guess. That is what you need, but it isn't cheap, and I don't know if you can buy a small portion. Got anything else you need protected too?

[+Planet]

If your box is already moldy and has moisture in it, try to bake that out first. 20 minutes in a very low temp toaster oven (clean the oven when done), watching it carefully, should help kill the mold. Don't overcook the wood, so it starts cupping. Or maybe just rub it with an alcohol, like isopropyl, let that dry/evaporate, to kill the mold. Or it could rot inside the epoxy. Got another box?

[+Planet]

 

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CHYQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.westsystem.com%2Fss%2F105-epoxy-resin%2F&ei=lWfFToaZEYXZ0QGQn4WDDw&usg=AFQjCNEa5l9hgNeAgc4Q3kw0NReFTTJIxw

 

Cedar Strips ripped from barn siding.

 

Sweet! Reclaimed wood at its best!

Edited November 17, 2011 by Planet

[+NYPaddleCacher]

What kind of wood is it? Some woods do better outside than others. Spanish Cedar, Mahoganies, Ipe, Cumaru, to name a few.

Any wood will work IF you seal it completely. Polyurethane, several coats, and use glossy, it has more protection properties than a matte or satin finish.

If not, once water starts to seep in, it will twist, and cup and turn and begin to fall apart.

How is it put together? Glue? Glue and nails? Dovetail joints? That will matter too.

Can you seal the lid with a gasket, to keep water out? If you can't keep the elements out, it will rot.

What kind of climate do you live in? Desert, tropical, 4 seasons.....?

I have seen a couple of wooden caches that were pretty gross and not doing well.

 

And just as an FYI, I am in the lumber business.

 

If you really want to waterproof it, get a two part epoxy resin. Brush it on thin with a couple of coats. If you want a shiny finish, you can use a clear varnish over the epoxy. The epoxy resin itself does not provide any UV protection but the varnish will. That's essentially how cedar strip canoes and kayaks are finished and they obviously get exposed to water a lot.

 

Thank you, seems like you know alot about this. I don't know what wood. It is glued together by me, with Amazing Goop, as it fell into little pieces after being out in the moisture. It had started to get moldy too. We live in a very moist climate, lots of rain, rarely freezing temperatures though. We have some wooden caches here that are also not doing well, which is why I ask. I will go with your suggestions.

[+NYPaddleCacher]

 

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CHYQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.westsystem.com%2Fss%2F105-epoxy-resin%2F&ei=lWfFToaZEYXZ0QGQn4WDDw&usg=AFQjCNEa5l9hgNeAgc4Q3kw0NReFTTJIxw

 

Cedar Strips ripped from barn siding.

 

Sweet! Reclaimed wood at its best!

 

I bought the ceder and clear white planks from a hardware store but I ripped all the strips myself and built this: