Wood hardener

[ozeb]

I'm making a shower mat using red cedar. The last one I made out of western red cedar and after 5 years or so it started to rot at the ends. I didn't give it any finish and will probably give the new one the same treatment. I have read previous threads on shower mats and I also talked with a local slip yard.
I was wondering if wood hardener could be usefully applied beforehand to prevent rot. I may be barking up the wrong tree, so to speak, but it would seem to have some logic to it.
Does anyone have experience with this?

[ian]

Options that come to mind are:

one of the anti-fungal or anti-rot paint treatments

flood the end grain with diluted varnish till it will accept no more – a recent Popular Woodworking or FWW recommended this as a finish for end grain chopping boards


ian