Yellow Pine Bed Wood - Finishing Suggestions ?

[Green Machine]

Going to replace the bed wood in our 71 during restore process. This will be a very nice driver, so we are going to use Southern Yellow Pine to replace the wood, same as original, but use unpolished stainless strips.

I want to use an oil finish, or maybe some thinned paint, something that does not build a top caot and peel off, just something that can be cleaned and then re-appled as needed. I don't want to get into stripping finish off, we would like to be able to use this one as a truck, but keep it looking decent, not perfect.

Thought I read on here about using some thinned out black paint to simulate how the older wood bed trucks were done, any one remember ? Thanks

[mbgmike]

Originally Posted by Green Machine

Going to replace the bed wood in our 71 during restore process. This will be a very nice driver, so we are going to use Southern Yellow Pine to replace the wood, same as original, but use unpolished stainless strips.

I want to use an oil finish, or maybe some thinned paint, something that does not build a top caot and peel off, just something that can be cleaned and then re-appled as needed. I don't want to get into stripping finish off, we would like to be able to use this one as a truck, but keep it looking decent, not perfect.

Thought I read on here about using some thinned out black paint to simulate how the older wood bed trucks were done, any one remember ? Thanks

Why don't you check out Mar-K's site about their wood finish test

[Green Machine]

Yep, I did, just looking for more options, they mostly used finshes that make a top coat, I'm looking more for a stain or oil finish that does not build up a layer on top, maybe a wood deck oil finish, or thinned out paint type thing.

[Hottrucks]

teak oil you can wash it with a good chemical ever couple years and redo it if it gets lookig shabby

[Green Machine]

Teak oil, I'll have to check into that, holds up pretty good outside ? You mentioned a chemical to clean, what can you use that won't damage any other parts on the truck ?

[Hottrucks]

bleach and a stiff brush cleans it check wally world for it it's what all the boats use on there wood and you can just apply it with a sponge let is soak in, then wash the bed with dish soap or what ever you use on your truck to get it off the steel parts

[Green Machine]

Any other suggestions ?

[Gray Ghost]

If you want the stock black stain look, there's two ways to do it.

1. Thin black porch paint with water [usually 50/50] and then coat the wood all four sides and wipe off soon after coating to produce the stain look.

2. Use deck stain in a semi-transparent black color. The deck stain is defintely the best option of the two and will last longer. This one is coat only, no wipe.

Neither one of these is a top coat like polyurethane/varnish is.

[63 & 64 Bowties]

I know this sounds crazy, and it's not EPA approved. But, I did it years ago on a homemade flatbed on an old International I had.
Dissolve asphalt patch in kerosene to the desired color then paint it on. When it's done, you can spill used motor oil on it and you won't see it. Of course you have to let it completely dry out and cure before you mount it cause it's gonna be pretty flammable when wet. Kinda gives the wood that old telephone pole creosote look.

[Boog]

Anyone using pressure treated wood for the beds? It will hold up to usage and weather, no top film either. Use it like a truck.
Kelly what do you think? Corrosive problem?

[stllookn]

I just replaced a board in my Longhorn that the PO drilled. It is clean and original...like new. It was painted with, what appears to be, black enamel or black lacquer...very thin...which was top-coated, after assembly, with Anniversary Gold inside the bed. The underside is still black enamel with some undercoating sprayed over that. If it is going to be a working truck bed...I would use a hardwood rather than a softwood. Most of these that I have seen deteriorate from the end grain where dirt and moisture collect. I would make sure that I soak the ends of the boards for a few days in the finish you are going to use and allow the finish to penetrate the wood as much as possible. Just some thoughts.

I will have a VERY PRETTY working truck bed...I will use one of those cheesy plastic bed liners since it will keep most of the abrasive damage off my wood. People give them away for free around here and they really do protect the bed pretty well.

[juliejacobs]

You may not be aware but the original finish on the wood beds was a paint that matched the color of the vehicle. I have a 1971 longhorn, and the wood still shows some original green paint finish. If you want your bed to be authentic to the period, I'd recommend this approach. If not, then anything goes.

One thing that has kept my/dads truck bed in good shape is some type of oily finish on it, I'm sure it was aplied by dad (used motor oil for all I know). It does attract dust, but a spray at the car wash is all that's needed to get the surface muck off. This of course, is for a usable bed, not a show bed, and some of the oily can come off on whatever I'm hauling in the bed. FYI.

[stllookn]

You may not be aware but the original finish on the wood beds was a paint that matched the color of the vehicle. I have a 1971 longhorn, and the wood still shows some original green paint finish.

Julie...correct me if I am wrong but I believe that only the fleetside wood beds were painted the color of the truck. All of the stepside wood beds, I have seen, even in the Chevrolet brochures, were black. I always wondered if this was an option but I can't find it listed in my restoration manual either.

[stllookn]

67 and early 68 had the bed floor in black, then after that, body color.

Longhorn Man has all the answers!