how do I treat/protect this wooden seat?

FFHillbilly

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/313072695860?hash=item48e4963a34:g:yeIAAOSwlkVesBlv&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAsJOGQBudauF%2B9wFW5BakcfH2ggQPH%2FAMK6ARFQz5zrS%2Fgawxg0xZEo1s3I8vAWjxess0HJnay33RzS76pPAnwOJeAS02485gh15edaOT7phWtowXNATguKrttGifbEQu%2B%2ByXW20fTDBNTMGOxPTSh1%2FCVQYwwkO0ZKDIz7P9198JuR%2Bli2E6rPq%2BNSWFXK6j0zWtNMgt8njdKukM1yy5gEfFulPVZ8iG89i0eq8UM71N%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR7iJv9C2YQ

I've had this for about 3 years, it's been outside all year round but this November I put it inside. starting to show signs of rot, just before I brought it in it was going green and was soaking wet and felt a bit rickety, one of the slats had snapped but I have repaired that with some long screws, and now it's dried it seems to be solid.

what should I put on it to protect it?
I have some of this left over https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/323364107507
and I also have some grey external paint https://paintwell.co.uk/ronseal-garden-paint-charcoal-grey?paint_can_size=750ml&gclid=CjwKCAiA5Y6eBhAbEiwA_2ZWIf2y_Qe0esifcl7Qh8wwI9iXW8KJ9MeBp_OEE2jfDDkgYoL90MBqQRoCwC8QAvD_BwE
and do I need undercoat if painting it?
or do I put on the preserver, then paint it with the grey paint?

dharm999

I use a mix of bleach, water, and laundry washing powder and a soft brush to clean our hardwood benches and table, works a treat.  Then leave to dry in the sunlight.

We painted a couple of the benches with a Cuprinol paint, didnt work that well, so now, I just put covers on them through the winter

TELLIT01

Teak oil or similar is often recommended for hardwood furniture, but it still benefits from being covered during the winter months.  Ensure that any cover allows air to circulate freely.

Eldi_Dos

After cleaning and allowing to dry a couple of coats of Screwfix own brand Danish Oil, it's good price and easy to apply.

twopenny

I've tried different oils and none did much apart from linseed but that never seemed to dry.
I've tried a waterbased varnish for wooden garden furniture and that was the worst. Looked lovely for a couple of years. The water got under the varnish and did some real damage took a lot to get off and deal with.
I'd agree that the best comes from covering during winter.

FreeBear

twopenny said:

I've tried different oils and none did much apart from linseed but that never seemed to dry.

I've used linseed oil on a lump of oak. It takes a long while to "dry" - Leaving it out in the sun helps to harden the oil and then the tackiness disappears.

Apodemus

Thinning linseed oil with a suitable diluant makes a big difference - I've used turps substitute, petrol and diesel in different situations.  For the bench, I'd use Teak oil, with linseed/turps as a second choice option.  Linseed won't dry quickly at winter temperatures.

FFHillbilly

thanks for the replies, I've got plenty of Danish oil so I'll give it a few coats of that.

Apodemus

FFHillbilly said:

thanks for the replies, I've got plenty of Danish oil so I'll give it a few coats of that.

Just make sure the bench is properly dry first.

FFHillbilly

Apodemus said:

FFHillbilly said:

thanks for the replies, I've got plenty of Danish oil so I'll give it a few coats of that.

Just make sure the bench is properly dry first.

it's been inside a heated garage since November, so I think it is but I'll give it another month just in case

Apodemus

FFHillbilly said:

Apodemus said:

FFHillbilly said:

thanks for the replies, I've got plenty of Danish oil so I'll give it a few coats of that.

Just make sure the bench is properly dry first.

it's been inside a heated garage since November...

Lol!  That should have done the trick!