How to preserve wood?

[SeaSlugs]

Someday this coming year i will have to purchase all new wood for my 29 AA cab. I know ford just painted the wood in the body the body color correct?

Was it painted with the body or painted separately?

I really want to preserve the wood to last as long as possible so i dont have to replace it in my lifetime. What products/methods out there can i use under the paint to preserve it?

[Y-Blockhead]

I would guess you could use a wood preservative such as Rustoleum Copper Coat before painting your wood. It "Prohibits termite damage, rot and decay" AND "Inhibits surface growth of fungal organisms: mold, mildew and staining fungi".

If you already have some wood softened from dry rot you could try Minwax Wood Hardener.

I have used neither on my car (yet) but have used them both on my house with good results...

PS Please don't pm me. I'm not pushing Amazon.com, it's just easier to show product descriptions using their link.

[Pete]

I use pentachlorophenol in crystaline form and disolve it in cleaning solvent. I mix it at about 10%. Mixed as such it penetrates extremely well so soaking time is short.
It is probably the best wood preservative there has ever been.
That is why big brother banned it for commercial use several years ago. (Government rule #1, protect the people from themselves)
You can still get it at chemical supply places.
You can paint over it or what ever you want to do.
Use rubber gloves.

[1crosscut]

If you are going to be driving your truck in all sorts of weather and leaving it sit outside. Then some type of preservative may be warranted. If not and you will be keeping it inside and not driving in less than ideal conditions I wouldn't worry too much about it.

[wrndln]

I just use Rustoleum black paint reduced about 50% with paint thinner to be like a stain and apply it with a rag - sometime 2 coats as it soaks in a lot. This seals the wood from moisture in the air which is about the only way water would get on model A wood now-a-days. Remember that our model A's will have a much easier life inside verses in the old days where they were driven hard, left outside and not cared for like we do now. The wood is all inside the cab, so worrying about rot and decay isn't a big worry in my opinion.
Rusty Nelson

[SeaSlugs]

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true, I do plan to keep it indoors. May get trapped in a rain storm occasionally. What about the body blocks underneath that wont be seen? Soak them in a bucket of water seal or something?

[Dale G.]

Seaslugs, e-mail Don Turley and ask him to send you a copy of my receipe for making your own wood preservative as Ford did when they made the Model A.

[Dale G.]

Seaslugs, e-mail Don Turley and ask him for a copy of my formula for making wood preservative as Ford did for the Model A including Briggs and Murray.

[Dale G.]

Sorry for two entries!!!

[Tim B.]

If you want to maximize the longevity of your wood apply your preservative and paint all surfaces after fitting it and prior to installing it.

I've been using Abatron products to stabilize and restore wood in historic houses for 20 years. Amazing stuff consolidates spongy and rotten wood and their filler has the same expansion and contraction rates as natural wood so it stay put and replaces the structural integrity of the piece. They also have a boron based preservative that you can apply by brush or spray and is paintable that you may want to look at. Here's their link. Tim

http://www.abatron.com/buildingandre....html?vmcchk=1

[Terry, NJ]

From what I found in my Town Sedan, Ford painted the wood inside the body. It was done with a black lacquer whatever the body color. These cars were being built to last at the outside , ten years. So Ford didn't take any steps to preserve wood, other than the lacquer. I don't see why the wood should,t last with no preservative. however, being the cautious type. I gave mine 2 coats of polyurethane and one coat of black semigloss. What wrecks the wood is water. Keep them dry. On restorable old, original wood. I use 2-3 generous coats of linseed oil. I really prefer spar varnish to the urethane, but it can be pricey and the urethane is in the dark. Sunlight seems to break it down.
Terry

Originally Posted by SeaSlugs

Someday this coming year i will have to purchase all new wood for my 29 AA cab. I know ford just painted the wood in the body the body color correct?

Was it painted with the body or painted separately?

I really want to preserve the wood to last as long as possible so i dont have to replace it in my lifetime. What products/methods out there can i use under the paint to preserve it?

[Mike V. Florida]

Based on what I found in the car we used;