Water based eggshell for sleepers outside

rome1067

Hi Can anyone tell me if I can paint sleepers in water based eggshell? I don't want them too shiny and would guess that oil based would have more of a sheen? I am looking at Sanderson Amsterdam Green and on the style library website it asks what you are painting and leaves the suitable options which for outside woodwork it leaves 
Oil based eggshell
Water based eggshell
If I use the water based will I need to prime the sleeper first?
Thanks

rome1067

They are new ones we were warned about the old ones doing that!

daveyjp

Oil based eggshell isn't shiny at all.  It will look shiny when you first do it, but after a few days once it starts hardening off it will go to a matt 'eggshell' finish, just as it says on the tin.

You will get a much tougher and longer lasting finish with oil based.  The timber will need primer and possible knot treatment if knots are evident.