Weather board finishes

[Yakawaka]

G'day everyone, I am just starting to mill weather boards with a chainsaw mill I designed and built myself. I am looking for a finish that will permanently protect the wood that has little or no stain in it, suitable for outdoor exposure. Hopefully, one that doesn't need re-coating every year. The idea is to apply it straight onto the rough sawn timber without sanding or planing it. I was thinking of 2 pack clear epoxy but that is far too expensive for me. The weather boards are for cladding a new house I am building on the property. We are in the tropics, so the sunlight blasting on the southern and western sides is pretty fierce in summer.

Any ideas?

[mic-d]

You're asking the impossible. Modern paint, well applied is the best way for maximum protection, maximum life and minimum cost.

[dr4g0nfly]

I agree with Mic-D, even the old poisonous finishes like Tanalising or pressure treating did not do that.

You invent it, you can write your own cheque!

[soundman]

All clear finishes even marine epoxies overcoated with UV inhibited varnishes (which is about as good as it gets) have very limited lives.

The issue is all clear finishes allow light and UV to penetrate into the film of the finish and to the underlying substrate....thus all degrade.

There is no such thing as a long term clear finish.....ask any yacht owner.

Pretty well THE best and most durable outdoor timber finish is a modern white paint properly applied.......nothing else comes close.

cheers