One of the most timeless and continuous question among the woodworkers and not only , is the question of the preservance of wood and how can you make it permanently waterproof .

I suppose this question is colossal one because water , moisture and the general wet conditions are maybe the most dangerous situations for wood , after fire of course .

Since the beginning of the interaction and use of wood from humans , people tried to find effective ways to make wood waterproof , the longest they could .

The Ancient Greeks and the engineers of Alexander the Great , they burned wood with the Shou Sugi Ban method , they boiled wood with several types of oils , waxes and pine tar and they were very effective , but these solutions weren’t timeless .

** Tar from burning pine or chemical from petroleum , is very toxic and you should avoid it , even if it preserves wood very effectively .

They kept wood in a very great condition for many years , decades , centuries , but not for ever .

In our modern times , we use technology and machines to impregnate wood with borate salts , et.c , we use polyurethanes , resins , oil mixtures , waxes and teflon and many more elite techniques to preserve wood .

All these are very effective , but not for ever .

Unfortunately there is no way , material or method to make wood waterproof perfectly and for ever with zero wear during time , because even the best oil and wax mixture or the best polyurethane ( which is the best modern element ) , resin or other chemical and natural material will wear through time , leaving wood unprotected .

The polyurethane which is literally liquid plastic , will create a plastic shield – crust all over the mass of wood , but eventually will start to crack slowly and steady till the total peeling from the surface , leaving wood totally unprotected .

The same applies for the resins , the oil based paints , the water based paints , the oils , the waxes , the shellac , the entire field of the wood preservatives .

We can delay very long the wear of wood even for centuries and milleniums , but not perfectly and not for ever .

The roof of Partenon is from Greek cypress and it’s in very good condition . We ‘ve found ships buried in the sea for many milleniums and in very good condition also , but their damages and wear are big and we treat them constantly , to delay the wear from time and conditions .

What can i put on wood to make it waterproof ?

Even if we cannot make wood totally and perfectly waterproof , we can delay the wear of water and other dangers with the best chemical preservetive which are the wide variety of the polyurethanes and their mixtures , along with the resin mixtures and paints and with oils – waxes and shellac in the natural area preservatives .

Polyurethane is the best chemical preservative in our modern times , as the USA forestry agency says and not only of course . The polyurethane which is literally liquid plastic creates a super strong layer – shield in the surface of wood , making it very durable to the several danger , wood has .

Of course after a while this crust shield will crack , leaving wood totally unprotected , but with constantly finishing repeat ( after sanding the previous one ) you can protect your wood in a very high level .

Remember in HERE , some of my best natural & chemical ways to preserve your woodworking projects .

Can you make wood 100% waterproof ?

Yes , you can make it totally and 100% waterproof for a specific period of time but not for ever without any wear , because the crust film you’ll create to make it 100% waterproof ( and it’ll be polyurethane which is the best chemical solution ) , eventually will get tiny cracks , leaving the wooden surface unprotected .

That’s why the woodworkers repeat their crust finishings with new ones , after the total sanding and clearance of the surface , from the previous crust coating .

Whatever natural or modern and sophisticated chemical element you’ll use to try to make your wood 100% waterproof permanenlty you’ll fail , because there is no material on earth “immortal” to wear caused by time and conditions .

Yes , you can delay the wear process , but not avoid it .

See in the below photos an epxeriment i’ve done , using linseed oil mixed with beeswax for my first small desk i’ve done .

Hot linseed and wax penetrated deeply into wood , but when i left a bottle of cold water in the summer above its surface for many hours , the wax shield didn’t protect it perfectly .

You can see the round rot from the cold bottle and the moisture it had externally from the fridge .

Yes the oils and waxes make wood very durable against water , but not for ever and not for constantly tough with water .

Now i’ll sand the rot area and reapply all the process from the beginning , not leaving the bottle for too many hours again above it .

What is the best waterproof Coating for wood ?

The best waterproof chemical coating for wood is polyurethane which makes a crust above the surface , not leaving anything to penetrate inside , but of course this crust shield doesn’t last for ever and in the natular preservative area , are the waxes and shellac .

Of course you can combine polyurethane with all the variety of oils and whatever else you want , in order to delay the wear of your coating and make it , the toughest possible .

The oil penetrate inside and deeply inside wood( acting as sealer – primer ) and then for the last coating a very durable polyurethane , is a very capable finishing solution .

How do you waterproof wood Naturally ?

You can use any combination of a natural oil you want( linseed , teak , etc ) with the use of a totally natural beeswax for your last coating or shellac if you like more shiny results and make your wood very resistant( and not totally ) in front of the water conditions and not only .

If you want to be 100% and totally natural the oils , waxes and shellac are the materials you should use and avoid totally the chemical preservatives and finishing products .

Let the oil penetrate deep inside wood ( if you can warm it a little even better to be thinner ) filling the pores and then seal the surface with the waxes and shellac .

The oils are very capable natural sealers – primers for wood .

I’ve done an experiment with a mixture of hot linseed oil and wax applying it to my first small desk .

All went very well , but when i left a cold water bottle above the surface for many hours , water broke the wax shield and penetrated the wood , starting to rotting it .

No protection is “immortal” and reapplying your wood protections against water and external conditions , is needed no matter what product you use .

See in HERE , my top only natural suggestions for woof finishing .

Does Oiling wood make it waterproof ?

Yes , it can make the wooden surface and generally its entire mass very resistant in front of water and moisture , even if it cannot make it 100% waterproof and for a very long time without re-applying , but the oils are very capable natural sealers and primers .

Oils penetrate deep filling the pores of wood , sealing the surface in a very high grade preparing it for the last coating .

Does Priming wood make it waterproof ?

Yes , it provides wood a very high level of resistance in front of the water and moisture , but of course it doesn’t make wood 100% waterproof and for a long time without re-applying and the use of a very durable last coating .

Does Staining wood make it waterproof ?

The staining helps and improves the durability and resistance of wood in front of the water and moisture conditions , but of course it doesn’t make it 100% waterproof anf for a very long time without any other treatment and a very tough last coating .

Paints , stains , sealers , primers oils , waxes , resins , etx , help wood very much for the wet conditions , but there aren’t pernament solution , for ever and with zero damage and wear .

In HERE , you can remember and get some of the most capable stains , to use .

What is a best Natural wood Preserver ?

All the natural oils ( mixed or not )targeted for the woodworking use and finishings , are excelent wood preservers , bugs and fungi protectors and for million of years have been used from humans for their woodworking projects , with linseed oil , tung oil , teak and cedar oil , being best .

Does Linseed oil , make wood waterproof ?

No it cannot make wood 100% waterproof and totally moisture “armored” , but it can provide to wood a very durable internal( fills-seals the pores ) and external reiforcement by penetrating the wood deep enough , making the mass of wood way stronger than the unprotected one .

If you constantly re-apply linseed oil and maybe combine it with a nice wax , you can make your wood very strong and resistant , generally and not only from water .

See some of the best linseed oil products to get in HERE .

What is the best Natural wood Sealer ?

The wide variety of the 100% pure and natural oils which are suitable for wood and woodworking , are the best internal sealer for any kind of wood , filling its pores and not letting anything more penetrate inside , reinforcing wood generally .

If you want more deeper penetration into the mass of wood , rub it with a rough sandpaper to wide open the pores , and then apply your oil which if you can warm it a little to make it more thinner , even better .

Does Polyurethane , make wood waterproof ?

Yes the polyurethane which is literally is liquid plastic can make wood waterproof for a very long time , because it creates a layer – coating above the wooden surface and not letting anything to penetrate inside , but of course this membrane doesn’t last for ever with zero wear .

If you re-apply your wood with polyurethanes , resins , oils , waxes and whatever else suits you , you can refresh this film above your wooden surface for years , decades .

What is the Longest lasting wood sealer ?

In the chemical preservatives area , the best polyurethane possible you can find in the stores , it can provide the longest sealer protection against the cheaper ones and in the natural preservatives area , the oils , waxes and shellac can be very effective , especially if you constantly reapply them .

What is the best waterproof Method ?

In the chemical area , use the best possible sealer – filler you can find to fill the pores and then use the best possible polyurethane for your last coating and in the natural field , use your oils to penetrate deep the wood and then shield all this , with a top beeswax or a shellac last coating .

Keep woodworking and happiness will “visit” you for sure .