Wood Bed Finish? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

WinDancer · 12-06-2007, 02:38 PM

Would those of you who have refinished [or put finish on a new] wood bed tell me what you used, how long ago that was and are you still happy with the finish? I am getting ready to finish the wood for my truck and will probably use Spar Varnish unless you guys change my mind

Thanks!

zacut · 12-06-2007, 03:23 PM

Used marine spar varnish 8 months ago, still very happy.

However if I had it to do over again I would use teak wood and simply oil it. That way I could still use the bed and if it gets any minor dings a simple sand and re-oil and it would look like new again.

drunkbus · 12-06-2007, 03:25 PM

I did a wood bed in a 53 Ford I used to have and used Spar varnish. The first coat I thinned to a 50/50 mix of thinner and varnish after that I used the straight varnish for each additional coat sanding after each coat. Mine turned out great but I am not sure how it held up because I got rid of the truck about 6 months later.

BarryB · 12-06-2007, 03:29 PM

The guy that makes the kits for LMC and other vendors is a member on this site. Might want to ask him what he suggests. I will have to look and find his screen name.

BarryB · 12-06-2007, 03:38 PM

His screen name is Bad69 Bowtie. I found a thread where they are discussing a finish for bed floors, He has a post the naming the product he like using. Try using this link.Hope that helps
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...6#post1909146g.

C10-Driver · 12-06-2007, 05:05 PM

Mar-K has been testing various finishes on the wood beds and have a wealth of information on their website.

http://mar-k.com/wood_finish_testing_i.html

http://mar-k.com/wood_finish_testing_ii.html

WinDancer · 12-06-2007, 08:29 PM

Thanks, guys! I have some reading to do

67L30WGN · 01-03-2008, 08:08 PM

Be sure not to apply the varnish in the sun because it will heat up the wood as you go and create out-gassing resulting in lots of small bubbles in your finish.

Richard Dobson · 01-04-2008, 03:41 AM

Marine Spar Varnish, several coats with light sanding in between. Find a spot in your garage to keep down all the dust. I brushed mine on since the varinish is self leveling, you must keep the boards level when applying.

**John Fabris** · 01-04-2008, 05:47 AM

Some good replies here.

I used Interlux GoldSpar Clear on my teak wood, did 2 coats reduced (thinner and varnish) This acts as a sealer. Then I did 10 coats of varnish with 24 hours of drying time for each coat, then a light sand before the next coat. Also, treat the situation as though you are painting a car or truck, clean and wet the area that you are varnishing in as that will keep the dust down. I made a clean room in my garage with plastic (taped from ceiling to floor). Also agree with the keep the boards level tip, and to add to that, make sure that you do all sides (bottom, top, sides, and both ends)....

Have Fun!!

**MikeN** · 01-04-2008, 09:34 AM

My truck is not a show truck, and sits outside in the weather most of the time. After reviewing the Mar-K tests, it looked to me like the most durable finish was oil-based exterior house paint. I finished my new bed wood (red oak) in one coat of Sherwin Williams oil-based primer and two coats of Sherwin Williams oil-based black semi-gloss exterior house paint. It turned out beautifully...you can still see the natural wood grain in the paint. If you want a stock appearance and good durability, it's really nice, and not very difficult.

12-06-2007, 02:38 PM	#1
WinDancer The Original HotRod KnifeMaker Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tenino, Washington Posts: 811	Wood Bed Finish? Would those of you who have refinished [or put finish on a new] wood bed tell me what you used, how long ago that was and are you still happy with the finish? I am getting ready to finish the wood for my truck and will probably use Spar Varnish unless you guys change my mind Thanks! __________________ Dave 69 GMC SWB 2WD 454 Turbo 400

12-06-2007, 03:23 PM	#2
zacut 67 chevy SWB Fleetside Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: 61115 Posts: 80	Re: Wood Bed Finish? Used marine spar varnish 8 months ago, still very happy. However if I had it to do over again I would use teak wood and simply oil it. That way I could still use the bed and if it gets any minor dings a simple sand and re-oil and it would look like new again. __________________ 67 Chevy C10 Short Wide 350/350 ... Front Discs ... ECE Lowered 2.5/4 Vintage Air ... Oak Bed Floor ... Painless Wiring Brothers 1 pc Windows ... Lokar Pedals, Shifter, E-brake Ididit Column ... VDO guages

12-06-2007, 03:25 PM	#3
drunkbus New Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Coos Bay, OR Posts: 1,077	Re: Wood Bed Finish? I did a wood bed in a 53 Ford I used to have and used Spar varnish. The first coat I thinned to a 50/50 mix of thinner and varnish after that I used the straight varnish for each additional coat sanding after each coat. Mine turned out great but I am not sure how it held up because I got rid of the truck about 6 months later.

12-06-2007, 03:29 PM	#4
BarryB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Blountville, Tn. Posts: 3,904	Re: Wood Bed Finish? The guy that makes the kits for LMC and other vendors is a member on this site. Might want to ask him what he suggests. I will have to look and find his screen name. __________________ We could learn a lot from crayons... Some are sharp; some are pretty;and some are dull. Some have weird names; and all are different colours;but they all have to live in the same box. You may be only one person in the world, But you may also be the world to one person. * Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once. Two rules in life. 1. Never sweat the small stuff! 2. Everything is small stuff!

12-06-2007, 03:38 PM	#5
BarryB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Blountville, Tn. Posts: 3,904	Re: Wood Bed Finish? His screen name is Bad69 Bowtie. I found a thread where they are discussing a finish for bed floors, He has a post the naming the product he like using. Try using this link.Hope that helps http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...6#post1909146g. __________________ We could learn a lot from crayons... Some are sharp; some are pretty;and some are dull. Some have weird names; and all are different colours;but they all have to live in the same box. You may be only one person in the world, But you may also be the world to one person. * Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once. Two rules in life. 1. Never sweat the small stuff! 2. Everything is small stuff! Last edited by BarryB; 12-06-2007 at 03:38 PM.

12-06-2007, 05:05 PM	#6
C10-Driver Chevy Truck Addict Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Kelowna, BC Posts: 1,176	Re: Wood Bed Finish? Mar-K has been testing various finishes on the wood beds and have a wealth of information on their website. http://mar-k.com/wood_finish_testing_i.html http://mar-k.com/wood_finish_testing_ii.html __________________ . 1970 Chev C/10 SWB, 355 SBC, 700R4, 3.73 Posi, Air Ride (Click to view Build Thread) (SOLD) 1978 Chevy C/10 SWB 1970 Pontiac Lemans .

12-06-2007, 08:29 PM	#7
WinDancer The Original HotRod KnifeMaker Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tenino, Washington Posts: 811	Re: Wood Bed Finish? Thanks, guys! I have some reading to do __________________ Dave 69 GMC SWB 2WD 454 Turbo 400

01-03-2008, 08:08 PM	#8
67L30WGN Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Burlingame, CA Posts: 96	Re: Wood Bed Finish? Be sure not to apply the varnish in the sun because it will heat up the wood as you go and create out-gassing resulting in lots of small bubbles in your finish. __________________ 1972 Cheyenne Super 10 LWB 1965 Nova SS Evening Orchid 1967 Nova Wagon Factory Disc (1 of 565), 327/PG 1964 Ford Fairlane 500 HT 1962 Nash Metropolitan Convertible (Wife's car)

01-04-2008, 03:41 AM	#9
Richard Dobson Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Easley, South Carolina Posts: 491	Re: Wood Bed Finish? Marine Spar Varnish, several coats with light sanding in between. Find a spot in your garage to keep down all the dust. I brushed mine on since the varinish is self leveling, you must keep the boards level when applying. __________________ Richard Dobson

01-04-2008, 05:47 AM	#10
John Fabris TOTY 2006 Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Magalia CA USA Posts: 2,270	Re: Wood Bed Finish? Some good replies here. I used Interlux GoldSpar Clear on my teak wood, did 2 coats reduced (thinner and varnish) This acts as a sealer. Then I did 10 coats of varnish with 24 hours of drying time for each coat, then a light sand before the next coat. Also, treat the situation as though you are painting a car or truck, clean and wet the area that you are varnishing in as that will keep the dust down. I made a clean room in my garage with plastic (taped from ceiling to floor). Also agree with the keep the boards level tip, and to add to that, make sure that you do all sides (bottom, top, sides, and both ends).... Have Fun!! __________________ John Fabris 67 C10 SWB Last edited by John Fabris; 01-04-2008 at 05:48 AM.

01-04-2008, 09:34 AM	#11
MikeN Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 779	Re: Wood Bed Finish? My truck is not a show truck, and sits outside in the weather most of the time. After reviewing the Mar-K tests, it looked to me like the most durable finish was oil-based exterior house paint. I finished my new bed wood (red oak) in one coat of Sherwin Williams oil-based primer and two coats of Sherwin Williams oil-based black semi-gloss exterior house paint. It turned out beautifully...you can still see the natural wood grain in the paint. If you want a stock appearance and good durability, it's really nice, and not very difficult.



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