HELP: Trouble Staining Pine Wood

[AntAstrophY]

Hey All

So firstly appologies if this is in the wrong thread. So I've been making some DIY climing frames to attach my epiphytic air plants. Since I'm intending these frames to live outside in somewhat direct to indirect lighting conditions and also come in contact with water on occasions I'm working to weather proof the timber I've been using for as long as possible. So stain and varnishing is something I've only just started experimenting. I've been trialing various Feast and Watson products with and I've had very limited sucess since I've found the pine doesn't seem very receptive to absorbing the stains I've tried. What I'm hoping someone can help me with is a few bullet proof suggestions which might help me over come this issue.

Cheers ^_^

[verawood]

Try wiping a sample with acetone or turpentine before staining.
Testing is your best approach.

[Xanthorrhoeas]

Epiphytic plants are sensitive to what they grow on. Be very cautious about how you treat the timber. In many ways it would be best not to treat the pine all, that is to let it rot and disintegrate, rather than poison the plants you are growing.

Most stains and finishes that will stand up to the weather for some time do so because they are invidious to life forms.

David (PhD in botany)