Garden Bench Protection

redlee

We've been fortunate enough to be given a new garden bench for christmas and before i assemble it i'd like to treat/varnish/oil it - whats the best treatment from your experience?
Its Acacia (hardwood) and has a nice colour/grain so i'd like to keep that, would a clear exterior varnish be enough or linseed oil mixed 50/50 with turps or teak oil etc?

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Vibrant

There is often a label with the manufacturers treatment recommendations on new furniture. Better quality furniture often has a pre treatment already applied.

I usually use teak oil, applied before the furniture is stored for winter and then again around July time. I prepare the furniture by washing it down with a mild detergent and letting it dry for a week, before applying the oil.
It's best to store furniture under cover during the winter, or at least cover it with a tarpaulin, or similar. Furniture exposed to the elements all winter deteriorates quite quickly.

Exterior varnish is an option and provides better protection to furniture that over winters outdoors, but can be a pain when it starts to peel.