I’m a DIYer building a wood gate. It is to be painted white. I tried building with pressure treated pine 2×4 but as it dried it warped, bowed, and twisted so much I gave up and am using untreated pine 2×4 for frame. I’m looking for suggestions on how to pre-treat the pine end grain prior to prime and paint. I seem to recall Tom Silva or someone on This Old House suggesting pressing caulk into the end grain prior to priming. Is that a workable solution? Is there a better one? I expect to use a latex outdoor semi-gloss for finish. Maybe use an oil based primer?
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why not dip the ends in preservative for 10 mins and treat them that way???
Thanks for your response. When you say "preservative" do you have a particular kind or brand in mind? I read about treating with a solution of ethylene glycol and borax for fungus and rot, but have no idea where to get such a solution. It sounds like a mixture of borax and anti-freeze but there was no indication as to the proportions. My main concern is water invasion because the end grain will be exposed.
You want to yse a PAINTABLE WOOD PRESERVATIVE AND PROTECTANT and then prime them. That contains copper naptha (or tin or zinc) (that is the wood preservative) along with a some wax (that is the water protectant). But the amount of wax is small enough that it does not inhibit painting.
The US Forest Labs have some pictures of pictures of a exterior window cases done with and without this. Without it the where the end grain runs into the long grain the paint on the untreaded window was pealing after a couple of years, while that on the treated one was as good as new.
This appears to be a very good tip. Thanks for taking the time to reply.