Wooden ladder treatment

[dannydan3]

I have a very nice older wooden ladder that I want to protect and not let it dry out. I keep it inside of course.
Anyone know what I should put on the wood?

Thanks!

 

[Dozernut]

Danish Oil would be one option or a straight tung oil. The hard finishes like varnish and polyurethane might get a little slick with moisture or spilled paint plus the oils are easy to touch up with a little sanding and application of more oil.

 

[dannydan3]

Great! Yes, the poly or usual finishes I thought would be inappropriate, but the ones you mentioned sound like the wood will get the proper protection without getting slippery.

Thanks!

 

[California]

I found a 12 ft orchard ladder buried in a mess of lumber and plywood, outdoors, when I started to go through the stuff Dad had accumulated. From the style I estimate it is well over 50 years old. It must have been lying in that pile 10 years minimum, probably more.

It had far too many fine splinters to use, until I sanded the whole thing. I also put penetrating oil on the tension rods and got them tuned up snug. It's now an excellent ladder with no further treatment.

There must have been some kind of penetrating sealer in it originally for it to be free of dryrot after this neglect.

Then I bought a similar 14 ft ladder from an active cherry grower who was selling several. He stored his in a barn, but they didn't look much different from mine. He recommended sanding the splinters down then treating it with a couple of coats of his special recipe - used motor oil thinned with diesel. Since his ladders didn't look any better preserved than my neglected one, I haven't put anything on either one.

I agree that any treatment should be penetrating, not a coating.

But I far prefer to use my aluminum orchard ladder. It's lighter, stiffer, and no chance of splinters. The wood ones are mostly for guests who want to come up and pick some apples.

 

[jimmysisson]

We use one third boiled linseed oil, one third spar varnish (not urethane), one third turpentine (not paint thinner). It works on lots of exposed wood, even house doors, etc. Not film forming, so doesn't trap moisture. Diesel/old motor oil mix much cheaper...
Jim

 

[diyDave]

If you are using a varnish-type finish and want a non slip surface, sprinkle a little fine sand into the wet surface.

 

[jmfox]

I've never thought about using it on a wooden ladder, but I've found tung oil to be good for wood.

jmf

 

[California]

Here's that 14 ft wood ladder, the one that got motor oil/diesel sealer when it was in orchard use years ago. It still feels sufficiently stable today after tuning up the tension rods.

The 10 ft aluminum ladder is on the right. (that's its top visible). Both ladders are the 3-leg orchard variety which is much more stable on soft ground.


For this old tree, only the taller ladder will get me to the top, and I've braced it against a limb so I can lean farther into the middle of the tree.