Thursday 10/22/2009

Well it is that time again. It has been 7 years since I finished my cabin. I have stained it twice already and it is due again. Each time you stain it it lasts longer, which is nice because it is a messy, nasty job. I'd have to check my notes, but I think it has been 4 years since the last staining. Last time my Dad and Brother J helped me. This time it is all me. A few weeks ago I had washed the exterior to clean it in preparation for the stain. Last weekend I stained the front and back. I had a great idea to remove the window screens and put them in a 55 gallon trash bag and reinstall them. This keeps the stain off the screens and windows quick and easy. Sometimes the best ideas are the simplest!

I modified a garden sprayer to make the job easier. I grafted a longer tube onto the sprayer and fitted an air coupler to the body. No pumping needed now! The sprayer works great and since it now has a long tube, it limits the time spent on the ladder.

Today was forecast (correctly!) to be warmer than usual, so I took the day off work to finish the staining. I used about 8 gallons of WoodGuard wood protector and about 3/4 of the can of colorant ("Tamarack" is the color). The stuff is not cheap, but it does a great job.