What kind of polyurethane did you use on your bed ? Guessing i need a high UV RATING.

 

read this. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...rd-finish.html
I think I'm going with the Product from Spar, If I remember it was called man-o-war or something like that. Did a little reading on line about it and it came highly recommended by the guys that own sail boats that had lots of deck and railings to stain and seal.

 

There are a number of threads about bed wood finishing. If you use the Advanced Search Function on the forum page and type in "Bed finish" in quotations, you will find them.

Also MAR-K has a tech library with bed finish tests you may want to look at.

MAR-K Classic Truck Parts made in Oklahoma City, USA

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...od-finish.html

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/786918-56-bed-wood-install.html

 

That's McClosky Man o war spar varnish, and you can also Minwax Helman Spar varnish. The trouble with polyurethanes is that they tend to yellow.

 

Thanks guys and gals. I have some very nice cherry boards to put in my 51. Going to put some on my running boards also. think it will look good a nd save the screaming yaller paint job.[ YALLER] its a redneck thing. LOL We dry fitted the whole front end today. Hope to get it back off tomorrow and start painting next week. WOOHOOOOO

 

Hey arrowheadfred are you going with screaming yellow clear as your paint job? Thats the color I'm going to paint mine. Started priming my sheet metal last weekend. That is an awesome color!

 

Ya man thats as bright as it gets. I can't wait to get-r-done.

 

There is a difference when looking at actual "spar varnishes". I think the perception is that if something is called a "spar varnish" then it must be good to use if it was designed for marine applications.

I have been doing fine furniture/wood finishing for close to 30 years and have studied and applied many different types of wood finishes. When it came time to finish my truck bed, I was performing the same research you are now...

I am attaching a link below that I found informative when reviewing varnishes. You may find it helpful.

Brushing Varnish

For what it is worth, I ended up using a true Marine Spar Varnish that is expensive but has a good reputation and does contain UV inhibitors. I had to purchase it from a local marine shop which are plentiful here in Mobile AL. I ended up using 2 full quarts at around $40 a quart if I remember right. I do not think the final appearance was as nice as I would have gotten from say Helmsman Urethane Spar Varnish, but the varnish I purchased is used on high-end yachts and should hold up well in my bed.

Good luck...
Fred

 

As stated before in this thread before the only top coat I would suggest for outside exposure would be WFS coatings Alphatic Urethane . It is about $130 for a gallom kit .It is UV/H2O resistant . Mix it 1-1 and it will look like the final finish on the ash boards in firstrider's album . You will not be dissappointed .Almost bullet proof .This is testimony from a lifetime wood worker / cabinet , furniture maker .