Non-petroleum, non-rubber waterproofing for wood? starting with a rattan-like material (not true rattan, but..

Question

similar to it) which of the following would make better waterproofing?

(This is for a writing project, not for school, and I can't do actual testing.)

possible choices: charcoal, wood alcohol, acetic acid, creosote, pine resin, turpentine, vegetable oil, rendered lard, floor wax, sharkskin. any combination of the above

Applied how? just soaked? Boiled in, painted on? In what order?

The object is to get a material that originally grew in water waterproof enough to withstand continuous soaking in water without becoming soft and useless again. It is to be used for building boats, cages for fish-farming, water's-edge construction, etc. No alternative materials are available, so we must learn to make do with what we have.

Thanks for all serious answers. If this isn't clear enough, ask for more details and I'll provide them. I won't award the best answer without checking your additional details, either.

Fair enough?

18 SEPT 07, 0639 hrs, GMT.

Answer 1

A 50/50 combination of turpentine & linseed oil. Sprayed , brushed, anyway to get it on. I use it to seal my deck. It is a great wood protector. If you don't have linseed oil try vegetable oil.

Answer 2

With no offense meant NONE of your examples will be very substantial in being soaked; especially over the long term; and some of your examples will only add toxins to a water supply already burdened.

Of all you offer; Pine Tar/ Resin would be the least offensive or affected; but certainly a labor intensive process to extract enough for any large scale ventures.

Creosote might be widely/ globally used; but it's not strictly environmentally friendly.

Answer 3

Yes and no. I didn't "come out" until well after I graduated high school mainly because I was a Christian up until about a yeat after I graduated. Every now and then someone finds out that I'm pagan and attempts to give me the cold shoulder. The problem is that they are outnumbered. Most people know me and like me and could care less that I believe in Thor. It's not like I talk about it to them, unless they ask. I'm your standard stay at home mom. One lady tried to "shun" me and looked pretty stupid in the process. All of my friends are either pagan, atheist or agnostic to be honest. Some of my high school fundie friends still have me on thier myspace but we don't talk often. We never did though so it's not a big loss. They've known me most of our lives and it's hard to see me as "evil" when I'm dressed in old navy and flip flops. You start to find real amusement in it all acutally. LOL Oh and you can always qoute Matthew 7:1-4. That always throws them for a loop too.

Answer 4

Without knowing exactly what the proposed building material is, it is difficult to know it's strengths and weaknesses. Try using tropical bamboo. Use the slick outer portion and build laminates to achieve strength.

If your material is not bamboo, I would suggest pressure injected oils to increase resistance to water penetration. Periodic inspection and additional treatment may be required to keep the product in working condition.